New Mid-Century Listings Offer Opportunities for Walk-to-Town Lifestyle

Maribeth Lynch, Thrive Real Estate Specialists

 
If you’re searching for a home right now, you’re sure to know that it’s a seller’s market and there is not a lot of inventory available for purchase. However, I’m very excited about several new properties I will be listing, and I want to share a bit of a preview with prospective homebuyers.
 
In the coming weeks, I will be listing five mid-century properties that were built in the 1940s and 1950s, during the era that is sometimes called “mid-century modern” or “contemporary.” These homes are enjoying a resurgence in desirability due to their simplicity; they are functional and lack the affectation and embellishment that characterized the rise of the McMansion.
 
There are some features that characterize mid-century architecture and décor, such as an uncluttered look achieved through sleek and uncomplicated lines – a home that is not fussy with detail provides a new homeowner with a clean canvas on which to apply his or her personality. These homes often incorporate a harmony between indoor space and outdoor space that might include screened-in porches, large or sliding glass doors, and small but established lots with plentiful opportunity for gracious landscaping that blends well with the lines of the house.
 
The popularity of mid-century homes may be due to a move toward a back-to-basics style of living characterized by a lack of pretension in architectural style. But if you ask me, another desirable feature of many of these homes is their location. There is a preponderance of mid-century homes clustered near Shrewsbury’s town center, and that location provides a nostalgic and highly-sought walkability that has begun to dwindle in towns as suburban sprawl has dictated a reliance on automobiles. Homes lining the streets near the town center feature mature trees and established landscaping, creating neighborhoods perfect for walking.
 
I’ve written before about the benefits of living near the town center. Easy access to our gorgeous new public library is just one such advantage, and if you haven’t visited this state-of-the-art building with its community feel and many amenities, I highly encourage you to do so. Our town common, too, is a beautiful place to spend time, flanked by the First Congregational Church and the Shrewsbury Historical Society, with the older sections of historic Mountain View Cemetery just footsteps away. Dean Park and Prospect Park are also close to the center of town and provide residents with a wealth of recreational opportunities.
 
I am fortunate to have served on the committee to develop Shrewsbury’s Master Plan, a document created to look forward toward the town’s future growth and development. Included in the plan is a proposal concerning the redevelopment of the downtown area to provide vitality and accessibility to residents. The goal is continued pedestrian-friendly access to gathering places, shopping, and services. Living near the center of town will only become more desirable as this redevelopment unfolds. I expect Shrewsbury’s center to enjoy a resurgence in vibrancy – that’s just one of the reasons that my office is located in the heart of town.
 
Keep an eye on my website and Facebook page, or contact me directly to find out more about these great new properties as they come on the market. I anticipate that they will generate a lot of interest and I look forward to working with clients who are interested in all that they have to offer.