Have you heard of it? The Carruth.
Similar to 285 Columbus Lofts, a new loft-style condo development on the border of the South End and Back Bay that overlooks the Back Bay T Stop, the Carruth overlooks a major public transportation hub at the Ashmont transit station. Both developments will boast easy T access, but only one can be had for $300 per square foot – the Carruth. Pricing at the Carruth ranges from $269,000 and $379,000, including garage parking.
With the continuing upward trend in Boston condo prices, the Carruth condos in Dorchester, a Dennis Duffy design, will provide pricing relief to Bostonians like a cool glass of water on a hot day. You’re paying for a lot of things when you buy a piece of city-center Boston real estate, namely location, which is of key importance to a lot of people, however, the Carruth, at 20 minutes outside downtown, provides a great option for those who don’t want or need core downtown accommodations.
The Carruth is currently accepting reservations for a 2008 opening, use the Contact Us link at the top of this page for more information on the for sale condos.
Keith Munsell 
True, both The Carruth and 285 Columbus overlook T stops, but that is where the similarities end. I would say that the fact that 285 Columbus is so close to the Back Bay T stop is truly a great selling point. For the Carruth, however, I am not so sure, given the area.
The Carruth will contain 42 market rate condos, with asking prices between 269k and 379k, plus 74 income-restricted apartments…NO THANKS! So basically for more than a quarter of a million dollars here is what you get:
-Decent finishes, fair location
-Pretty good price per square foot
-The opportunity to live in a building where renters will always be the majority
-The opportunity to live in a building in which the common areas will no doubt be trashed within the first year (the types of renters that the building will attract given the restricted income requirements are going to be a mix – you are going to have hard working people, professionals, students, and then the not so desirable. Unfortunately, probably more of the latter.)
-The opportunity to live in a building in which you probably aren’t going to want to leave the front door to your unit, let alone the front door to the building anytime after dark
In short, and in my opinion only, this place is going to resemble the projects more than a mid to high end condo development. Nearly 64% of the building is going to be both income restricted and rental….it’s just not a good mix! I would love to hear other peoples’ comments on this one!
285 Columbus will be a top project in Boston. Curtis Kemmeny developed 360 Newbury which is spectacular….and 285 will be done just as well if not better. Not to mention location…that entire Columbus Ave from Berkeley to Dartmouth and down to Stuart is going to be the place to live!
“The opportunity to live in a building in which you probably aren’t going to want to leave the front door to your unit, let alone the front door to the building anytime after dark”
You want a comment Jeremy? Why don’t you go live in Wellesley or some place where you can avoid people of moderate income (you really mean minorities don’t you) altogether? Have you even been to Peabody Square? There are plenty of people who aren’t afraid to go there after dark and no, they aren’t all low-income project dwellers. It’s nice to know that there are still people who are so transparently racist that they can be dismissed in five minutes. The fact that you assume that other people will be afraid to go out after dark speaks volumes about your own fears and character.
Dot: Get a cup of coffee and sit down. I’m about to school you in racism 101.
Shaquanda Cotten, Genralow Wilson and Mychal Bell & the Jena 6 = racism.
Louise Day Hicks standing outside of Hyde Park High School in ’74 screaming @ me N***** go home is racism.
Jeremy’s comment on The Carruth is NOT racist. Somewhere in between the insanity of Al’CPTIME’ Sharpton and Jesse ‘you are the father’ Jackson and guilty white people, the true definition of racism has been misplaced.
Permit a woman who was born colored, enlighten you to what Jeremy attempted to…During my divorce, and for economic reasons, I had to relocate from my home in Randolph to Plymouth. These apartments were based on income, so you would have someone like me who has worked since the age of 14, living next to someone (predominately white) who has never worked a day in their life. Needless to say the lifestyles of my neighbors severely affected that of my family. It is difficult to live next to people who don’t have a clue. I would prepare for bed while my unemployed neighbors would prepare to party. Yes, weekdays as well as weekends. I would arrive home daily to the aroma of marijuana mixed with the barbeque of prime steak washed down with Heineken. All financed with my tax dollars via the Massachusetts deformed welfare system.
Understand this Dot, you cannot, no matter the race, creed or color have someone on Section 8, some who I have witnessed evicted for late rent, (*sidebar* how can you be late on rent when it’s $7.00 a month?…if your rent is less than 100.00 monthly you pay annually, duh!) living next to another who is gainfully employed. And here’s the gotcha, guess where I now reside? Right down the street from the Carruth!
Jeremy was incorrect on one statement “The opportunity to live in a building in which you probably aren’t going to want to leave the front door to your unit, let alone the front door to the building anytime after dark”. He was wrong, I can’t enter The Store 24 (1 minute walking distance from the Carruth) in daylight without a gang of drug addicts begging for spare change. On the same day that the Sox won the series, I’m walking down Dorchester Ave, about to enter 1782 Dorchester Avenue, when a young black man, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with his feet secured in chains, hops past me. Before my brain could register what my eyes had witnessed, he was gone. Simultaneously, shopkeepers as well as customers gathered on the street to verify to one another what we all had just seen. Did Boston Police catch him? I don’t know, they were called. Am I scared living in this section of Massachusetts, hell no! I adore life in Dorchester. I love that I can walk into a shop owned by Koreans, and the one next to it owned by Irish. I love the atmosphere of oneness and unity.
QUESTION: When I’m ready to purchase my first condo will it be in Dorchester or the West End?
ANSWER: My mama didn’t raise no fools, I can always visit Dorchester.
Dot, don’t be so quick to judge others. Take time to listen closely to what others are truly saying. In life everything isn’t always black and white.
Get real, Dot. Below is a quote from my original post:
‘the types of renters that the building will attract given the restricted income requirements are going to be a mix – you are going to have hard working people, professionals, students, and then the not so desirable. Unfortunately, probably more of the latter.’
And what I mean by the not so desirable are people who have absolutely no vested interest in the building in which they reside. They aren’t interested in ‘community’, they are interested in taking out a cheap lease, moving in their extended family and friends and having loud and rowdy parties; after all they don’t have to go to work the next morning–the tax payers will provide. Want to evict them? Good luck evicting subsidized tenants in Massachusetts.
Have you ever lived in a luxury building that happens to have subsidized housing, Dot? I have and you can pick them out in a minute. Not due to the color of their skin, but rather their actions and behavior.
Most mortgage companies won’t extend their best rates to buyers who choose to purchase in buildings with low owner occupancy either; I guess they are all ‘transparently racist’ as well.
The fact is they are going to have a hard time selling market rate condos in a building that is not only primarily rental, but primarily low to moderate income.
This has nothing to do with race. But it is nice to know that there are still people who don’t hesitate to pull the race card at any and every opportunity.
I am stunned at the ignorance I am reading but not surprised. My mother had section 8 and we were poor and no one could ask for better tenants. Racism, classism, a closed mind is a closed mind. From my section 8 background I have down very well for myself and have moved into the Dorchester area recently and could not be happier with my neighborhood or the people around me. I am very excited about the development taking place in Peabody Square and the encouragement and environmental awareness it brings to the city. It is not gentrifying an area where the diversity is its lifeline. The proposed Cafes, art installments and park is only going to add to what the city is trying to accomplish as a whole. Look at the entire project and stop trying to cast doubt on others’ hopes and promises because of your own fears and whatever issues are rattling around in your head. I for one vote for positivity and forward thinking. I’ll be sitting in the coffee shop or the bistro with my laptop writing and creating and contributing to the community and the scene and hope to find other open minds in my midst.
Just for the record. The rents are not subsidized nor are they section 8. They are affordable units priced for around $1000 a month.
To add to the record, rather a correction to it, there ARE subsidized units. I know because I live in the CARRUTH and my unit IS subsidized. There are various requirements in order to have a subsidized unit though. I do not have section 8 or anything, so my current income, credit, and BACKGROUND RECORD (or lack therof) qualify me.
They are not just letting ANYONE move in here. I work, am a junior in college, have a 4 year old, and do extensive volunteer and community service around the metro-Boston area. I keep to myself, my family, and my studies. There are no parties or loud disruptions in my home. And I have yet to experience that with my neighbors (who also seem to be responsible as well).
It’s going on 3 months since I’ve been living here and I love it! There is security, cameras, and a highly secured access system they have installed. For instance, I have a key fob that only grants me access to the floor I live on, the lobby and garage. I cannot even go to any other floor…not that I want to.
To each its own. And do whatever works for you and your family. I just wanted to share my first hand experience.
I would like to 2nd Borax comments. I’ve taken a look at the Carruth and find the “idea” behind this building and the city planning as a great investment in a community who has great and probable potential. As far as a financial investment, I think it’s fair if you’re looking to buy to realize purchasing here is a gamble. The Carruth could be a vortex for vitality and new growth for Dorchester or (if not properly managed and executed) a depreciating loss. From what I understand, the apartment tenants are well qualified and are being given a great opportunity to live in “moderate luxury” at an affordable cost (this would not be possible anywhere else decent in Boston).
Well, at least we all have a forum to discuss some of the issues here. I am a real estate appraiser working on a job in this neighborhood, and I’m interested to see what effects the Carruth project will have on this neighborhood in the future. I currently live on the South Shore (closer to Plymouth than Quincy), but I have previously lived in Brighton/Cleveland Circle, Porter Square/Cambridge and Somerville over the past several years.
What catches my attention first is that Jeremy is quick to complain about the possibilty of a negative outcome. Just because something MIGHT happen, he rationalizes that it will ultimately fail. Apparently, a total of about $100 Million is being invested into the Peabody Square neighborhood, between the MBTA Station, the Carruth, and neighborhood beautification projects. I don’t think that $100M is something to sneeze at, and all this money could have been invested somewhere else in Boston.
I believe that the Carruth investors have taken a very responsible course in developing this project. Bamboo flooring (renewable resource) in the condo units, photovoltaic panels as a supplemental energy source, and energy efficient appliances.
Go outside and look at the building. It is attractive, interesting architecture, and some of the retail spaces will attract people to Peabody Square from downtown as well as out of town. What about the new T station? Apparently it will be state of the art.
It’s easy to complain. It takes effort to change things. It seems to me that the Carruth is a positive step for Peabody Square.
This is a great opportunity for people to buy a rather luxurious environmentally friendly (check out the building and units) condo, build into a newly progressive community, invest in Dot’s sustainability, and most importantly have access to anywhere in the city with a couple steps out the front door. True, Dorchester has some rough areas, Peabody Square is by far not “dangerous” relative to much of Boston or Dorchester. Especially with the new Ashmont-T and hip retailers, the equity is sure to rise relative to the market. The only issue the Carruth developers have is signing on a few “early adopters” and hitting their numbers in a timely matter. The mixed-housing (apts are NOT section 8 ) is becoming more popular and a progressive/urban idea…it’s not for the conservative home buyer. I wish I would have waited and bought in this complex; good luck.
I live near the Carruth in a nice triple decker rental. I would never want to live at the Carruth because I prefer a home more resembling a house with grass, trees, and porches.The Carruth will be a noisy place to live, not because of partying tenants but because of heavy traffic and buses on one side and subway trains on the other.
However, I was relieved to hear that the Carruth won’t be strictly luxury homes for well-to-do yuppie types. Gentrification destroys the true character of a neighborhood, prices out the long time residents as values and rents usually soar. (Rents are already quite high here)
Beautification leads to gentrification but maybe this time it won’t and this diverse wonderful neighborhood will stay the way it is.
Ok so I was upset with the fact that I missed out on getting into one of the the apartments in the Carruth. I have a cousin who is living in an income restricted apt. building and she also was trying to get into the Carruth and was told all units were filled.
I just looked at the Carruth this weekend and plan to move there soon. They are currently leasing the condos as well with an option to buy at anytime during your 12m lease. Let me clear up a few things I just learned.
The affordable apartments are on floors 1-4. They are not section-8 but they are income restricted.
The apartments and the condos have separate lobbies. If you live in the condos you can only go to your lobby and floor, you have no access to the apartments and vise-versa. But even if you ilve in the condos you can’t go to the other floor unless your bussed up on the elevator.
It’s not too noisy. There is some ambient noise but you are living in the city. We’re going to get one on the train station side. We visited in rush hour and sat and listened to the trolleys and trains for a good while. It wasn’t bad at all. Barely even noticed it. The windows are triple pane.
The views great on the train station side. Plus when the new ones done it will look great.
The condos include a parking garage space.
The restaurant and cafe look awesome.
I’m excited to move in!! Oh they’re having a leasing special too. 2 months free. That’s one reason we’re taking it. So it makes rent a bit less expensive but comparable to living in Boston but with better amenities. I mean geez they have Bosch DW&WD, granite and marble!
PatB, please explain to us all how ‘Gentrification destroys the true character of a neighborhood, prices out the long time residents as values and rents usually soar’?
While the Carruth is a nice building and is helping low income resident’s in Boston. I don’t see where this has really made one difference to the community that helps continue restoration & redevelopment processes.
I’ve been involved in planning & development for some time and I would have to say that this is one of the most poorly planned building I’ve run across. The developer really has not offered anything to residents of Boston besides lower rents. I’ve spooken to many Real Estate Agents that all agree the chances of ever selling any of theses condos are slim to none. I doubt anyone will view theses condo as any kind of a good investment. Even if your buying one to live in, I think it would be real questionable if you would ever be able to resell it. Then if you could not resell the condo, you would be competing with the low income rentals in attempting to rent it. Really would turn out to be a no win game you would be stuck in.
I was asked to look at this building by a friend of mine, because he felt Winn Mgmt. was going to be doing a better job with the building. While Winn Mgmt. I feel is a good company I highly doubt they will be able to turn the building from being anything other than a low income apartment building.
I’ve built 100 Million + projects in New York, L.A., & Florida, & I’ve built them around historical communities. Out of my 30 years experience I would say the Carruth actually does more to harm & endanger the historical community around it than help it.
My take, great for low income resident’s needing affordable housing. Bad for anyone looking to buy a home/condo. Bad for a historical community that is starting to gain national attention. Poorest use of Transportation Oriented Development I’ve seen so far. Developer & City get an F Grade on this one.
Old shabby neighborhoods, with broken sidewalks, run-down storefronts are not very pretty but may be home to working class people, many of whom have lived there for years.
Investors and flippers buy the old buildings cheaply, fix them up with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances etc. The neighborhood now looks great, buildings re-sided, new porches, flower boxes, Starbucks. The down side is that many renters work hard and still can’t afford the $1700 mo rents or buy $300,000 condos so are forced to find affordable housing elsewhere. Some people took out exotic loans to buy an overpriced home now in foreclosure. A lot of Dorchester people commute from Brockton because DOT rents are not cheap. I have noticed Dorchester landlords advertising for Section 8 tenants because they can get $1700 for a triple decker apartment.The Carruth helps a few people but lack of affordable housing is a huge problem in much of MA.
I might add that in some areas like Allston, absentee landlords buy buildings to rent to large groups of students. They get astronomical rents there. All night loud parties, garbage, beer cans etc, etc are the norm. Poor people don’t carouse around in large groups, drunk and out of control. College students do. The quality of life for whatever locals remain there is awful. Most of the old working class in Allston though are gone, priced out or driven out by too many sleepless nights. Gentrification can ruin a neighborhood and you can’t blame the poor people.
No one should be driven out of their homes to make a landlord or investor rich. And consider this – Who is going to do the service jobs required to run this city if only the rich can afford to live here? Widespread gentrification doesn’t make sense and it is just plain wrong