Home Buying

Want to live in a historic home in Newton?

115 Jewett Street is on the National Register of Historic Places, and now it is for sale in three units.

115 Jewett Street in Newton is a historic house. William Raveis

May 20, 2015

2 minutes to read

115 Jewett Street in Newton was once a single-family home that was converted into three, distinct units. After extensive renovations, all three units are now on the market to be sold again.

The home was constructed in 1860 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. The home is designed in the Second Empire style, known for being inspired by the boulevards and the public buildings Napoleon III built in Paris.

According to the Boston Preservation Alliance, buildings in Boston constructed with the Second Empire style in mind are known for having a mansard roof, dormer windows, and a central pavilion.

The developer on the restoration, Stephen Ballas, owner of The Ballas Group, said the home was converted into three units in the 1980s, but when it was first built in the 19th century, it was the only house on the block and was surrounded by farmland. Ballas decided to renovate the units, but it did not come without its challenges.

A custom mirror was installed at 115 Jewett Street #1 where a mirror originally existed in the house. – William Raveis

“It’s more difficult,’’ he said, regarding how to approach a historic home versus a regular one. “It had more controlled construction. You aren’t just gutting and ripping things out. We had to be very careful.’’

He said part of the ceilings still has original plaster on them, which they were able to preserve, while adding modern amenities.

“We basically just touched up the outside and kept it the same relative color,’’ Ballas said. They put in new windows but kept the original shape.

“It’s always nice when you can preserve history and especially in Newton; there is a lot of history there,’’ Ballas said. “Whenever you can preserve something, it’s always a plus for everyone involved.’’

Here are the listings:

– 115 Jewett Street #1 is listed as a single-family home at $995,000. It is 2,990 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms, and it uses the original front entry of the house.

– 115 Jewett Street #2 is listed as a condo at $995,000. The four-bedroom and two-and-a-half bathroom unit has 3,145 square feet.

– 115 Jewett Street #3 is listed at $799,000 as a condo. It is 1,747 square feet with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms and sits at the rear end of the building.