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This brick single-family home has vintage features including two brick fireplaces and original hardware.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Timeless Family Home

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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One of the fireplaces is in the primary bedroom. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for an architecturally interesting home with room for family and friends? Then this is the house for you.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are discussing a single-family home at 121 Wendell Ave.

This 1930 brick home has three bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms for total of 2,145 square feet. It comes with a renovated kitchen with dishwasher, refrigerator, range, range hood. There's a two-car detached garage and all on a corner lot of 0.20 acres.

It features two brick fireplaces (one in the primary bedroom), hardwood floors, curving staircase, original hardware, and a screened patio.

The asking price is $539,000.

We spoke to Victoria Standring with Lamacchia Realty.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Standring: This home is a rare blend of timeless architectural charm and fresh, modern updates — all set on a prominent corner lot in one of the area's most architecturally significant neighborhoods. Its walk-to-town location, combined with thoughtful interior renovations, makes it a standout for buyers seeking both style and convenience.

What kind of buyer do you see this house being perfect for?
 

Standring: This home is ideal for someone who values character, walkability, and a sense of place —perhaps a creative professional, an architecture lover, or anyone looking to be part of a vibrant community with easy access to shops, dining, and culture.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?
 

Standring: Absolutely — the recently refreshed kitchen is both functional and elegant, seamlessly integrating with the rest of the home. The addition of a chic, custom pantry elevates daily living. Original architectural details, including brickwork, wood floors, and window placement, create a rich backdrop for modern living.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?


Standring: This home has long been admired by locals for its stately presence on the corner, and it's said that its original builder chose this lot specifically for the sweeping views down both tree-lined streets. The original owner had ties to Norman Rockwell, was the very first woman in the state to obtain a driver's license, and operated a bed and breakfast on nearby Pontoosuc Lake.  

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?
 

Standring: Picture quiet mornings in the sun-drenched kitchen, afternoon strolls to downtown for coffee or shopping, and evenings entertaining friends in rooms that radiate warmth and character. This home invites you to live intentionally, beautifully, and with a sense of rootedness.

What was your first impression when you stepped foot into this home?
 

Standring: It was one of effortless charm. There's an energy here — a graceful blend of history and possibility. I immediately noticed how the light moves through the home and how each room feels both welcoming and unique.

Have you heard any memorable reactions or feedback from visitors?
 

Standring: People often pause in the entryway and say, "Wow, I didn't expect it to feel this open and bright." Visitors fall in love with the kitchen updates, but it's the overall feeling — the authenticity and quiet elegance—that tends to leave the most lasting impression.

You can find out more about this house on its listing.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice or an offer to sell. If you're interested in having your property featured, please contact our sales department at sales@boxcarmedia.com.





Tags: front porch,   Real Estate,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council OKs Tax Incentive, Historic District Study Committee

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has approved a tax agreement to transform a historical downtown property into housing, and an effort to designate a local historical district in that area. 

Last week, the council OKed a tax increment exemption agreement for Allegrone Company's redevelopment of 24 North Street, the former Berkshire County Savings Bank, and 30-34 North Street into mixed-income housing. Councilors also approved a study committee to consider a Local Historical District in the downtown. 

The subcommittee on Community and Economic Development unanimously recommended the TIE earlier this month. 

The historic 24 North St. with a view of Park Square has been vacant for about two years, and Allegrone Companies plans to redevelop it and 30-34 North St. into 23 mixed-income units. The total estimated capital investment for both sets of apartments is $15.5 million. 

The 10-year tax increment exemption freezes the current value of the property, base value, and phases in the increased property taxes that result from the redevelopment. The increased property taxes will be phased in over 10 years, with 100 percent forgiveness of the incremental increase in residential property taxes in the first year, decreasing by 10 percent each subsequent year over the term.

Last month, Gov. Maura Healey visited the site and announced housing initiatives that are expected to bring more than 1,300 units online, including units in Pittsfield and at the historic site. 

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren pointed out that the TIE triggers Allegrone's ability to receive state tax incentives and grants, recalling that they could see as much as $3 million. 

"We have a vacant bank building that's completely empty and everything, and we're going to be able to put something in it, and part of this project does have commercial, but it's a lot of apartments too," he said. 

"So I mean, it's a lot of advantage to the city of Pittsfield." 

Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody said the $15 million invested in the downtown will pay dividends to the housing crisis, and in her five years of working at General Dynamics, she saw young engineers moving to the area struggle to find a place to rent or buy.  Moody had many questions about the proposal, as her constituents did, but felt they were answered. 

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