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Listing broker remarks

As you approach, 213 Palfrey Street appears to be a handsome, well proportioned bungalow, quietly settled into its surroundings. Open the front door and everything changes. Suddenly, you are standing beneath soaring ceilings, with windows stretching wide and a view that opens out across the landscape. Set high into the hill, at one of Watertown’s higher elevations, the sense of volume and light is extraordinary. It feels more California than New England, a house designed to embrace its setting and invite the outside in.Built in 2006 by a well known local developer for his own family, the house turns the traditional idea of a home on its head. The main living spaces occupy the top floor, where 13 foot ceilings and walls of glass make the most of the light and far reaching views. Four bedrooms are arranged on the levels below, and each of the home’s three floors opens to its own deck or garden. There is a generosity to the way the house lives, with room for gathering and entertaining as well as reading, working, making and simply taking in the view. Four bedrooms and three full and one half baths provide flexibility, while mature gardens and beautifully crafted stonework lend beauty, texture and a remarkable sense of privacy. Tucked into the garden is a dreamy heated studio, a wonderful place for an artist, home office, workshop or quiet retreat. Together, the house and studio offer 3,722 square feet for living and creating. A two car garage with EV charger completes the property. 213 Palfrey Street is a house that fills the senses. Light, height, landscape and view come together in a home that feels expansive, unexpected and wonderfully alive. More than anything, it feels like a place designed for a rich and interesting life.— Gibson Sotheby's International Realty

Key details

  • 3,722 sq ft
  • 5,288 lot sq ft
  • 4 beds
  • 3.5 baths
  • 2006 built
  • $503 / sq ft
MLS #
7⁠3⁠5⁠8⁠1⁠4⁠0⁠7⁠
Last updated
Address
213 Palfrey Street
Town
Watertown, MA
ZIP
02472
Deed (Bk/Pg)
73579 / 515

Map

Neighborhood: Watertown

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.