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Listing broker remarks

A Provincetown icon. Two centuries of art, history, and extraordinary design. Featured in ELLE DECOR, 72A Commercial Street is a single family home that presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of Provincetown's most distinctive and storied properties. Originally built around 1800 as the workshop of noted shipbuilder Sol Nickerson, the historic structure evolved over the next two centuries from workshop to artist's studio to an extraordinary private residence, its history intertwined with Provincetown's own evolution from seafaring village to legendary artists' colony. Set back off Commercial Street's west end along one of Provincetown's rare grass lanes, the setting feels almost impossibly romantic. The house and its spectacular garden have become among the most photographed and painted scenes in Provincetown, appearing in artwork throughout town and even serving as the backdrop for a Gucci campaign. Beyond the gate, layers of flowers and greenery provide color through every season, enveloping the house in a private, ever changing fairy tale setting across from the waterfront, restaurants, shops, and galleries.The home has been completely and meticulously overhauled, marrying its historic soul with the comforts of modern living. The structure was raised three feet and placed on an entirely new foundation, with all new systems and central heating and air conditioning. A private rear patio surrounded by additional gardens extends the living outdoors, while coveted off street parking for one car is accessed from Soper Street, just across the grass lane. Glimpses of the water appear throughout. Inside, acclaimed interior designer David Cafiero has brilliantly reimagined the residence while preserving the history, eccentricity, and soul that make it irreplaceable. Original architectural details mingle effortlessly with rich color, vintage furnishings, collected objects, and exceptional artwork. Every room feels layered, intimate, sophisticated, and entirely original. Most extraordinarily, 72A is being offered turnkey, including its carefully curated furnishings and the art that was painted in this very house over the last 100 plus years. The home itself once served as the painting studio of noted artist F. Coulton Waugh, adding another extraordinary chapter to its artistic provenance. There are beautiful houses, and then there are houses that could exist nowhere else. 72A Commercial Street is the latter.— Gibson Sotheby's International Realty

Key details

  • 1,042 sq ft
  • 2,000 lot sq ft
  • 2 beds
  • 1.5 baths
  • 2020 built
  • $2,586 / sq ft
  • $8,472 2026 taxes
MLS #
7⁠3⁠5⁠8⁠1⁠4⁠3⁠4⁠
Last updated
Address
72-A Commercial St
Town
Provincetown, MA
ZIP
02657
Deed (Bk/Pg)
31669 / 251

Historic designations

Local Historic District
Provincetown Historic District
MACRIS Inventory
Nickerson, Sol A. Dyer Carpenter Workshop · includes PRO.1414

What this means for buyers →

Map

Neighborhood: West-End

National Historic Landmark

Federally designated as nationally significant — the highest U.S. historic recognition. Section 106 review applies to federal undertakings affecting the property.

National Register

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Owners may qualify for the 20% federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit on certified rehabilitation work.

State Register

Listed on the Massachusetts State Register of Historic Places.

Local Historic District

Inside a Local Historic District. Exterior changes visible from a public way require approval from the local historic district commission.

Local Landmark

Individually designated by the town as a local landmark. Exterior alterations require commission approval.

MACRIS Inventory

Documented in MACRIS, the state historic inventory. Informational only — no regulatory constraints.

Article 85 (Boston)

Subject to Boston Article 85 demolition-delay review, which can pause demolition of buildings 50+ years old for up to 90 days.

Ch. 91 Waterways License

An active MassDEP permit for a dock, pier, seawall, or other structure on or over a Massachusetts waterway. Many older licenses are not digitized; this record is provided for reference only.

Massachusetts Great Pond

A Great Pond under M.G.L. Ch. 91 — the Commonwealth retains public rights to fish and navigate these state-designated waters. Private docks and other waterfront structures require a Waterways License from MassDEP.

Likely Great Pond

The MLS listing describes this property as being on a Great Pond, which would be a state-designated water body under M.G.L. Ch. 91. GIS data did not independently confirm the pond name — verification needed.