The Good(lands) Life
Congdon & Coleman $895,000
The neighborhood around South Shore Road has seen a number of changes in the last few years. A new bike path now services the entire neighborhood. Sewer lines have been laid. The Nantucket Land Bank has added two new walking trails that begin on South Shore Road and another one has been discussed. The area around South Shore Road is not the "Badlands" any longer. In fact, one could more accurately characterize them as "the Goodlands."

The home at 29A South Shore Road is, for all intents and purposes, new. It was previously a small ranch-style dwelling, but in the last year, it was raised up, a new foundation was poured, a new first floor was added, new plumbing and electrical wiring was incorporated and all of the finish- es, inside and out, were replaced. By expanding upward instead of outward, the existing ground cover ratio was maintained. This property is, technically, a condominium which sits in the middle of its own ample, private, exclusive-use yard, but it is indistinguishable from any of the other pieces of property in the neighborhood as a single family, free-standing dwelling.

They say good things come in small packages, but in the case of this property, such an axiom is something of an understatement. Every detail in the wonderful cottage has been considered. The materials and appliances are excellent quality. This home is a jewel.

From the outside, it's easy to see that the space available has been ingeniously maximized. The front of the home has a single, wide, covered porch which is an ideal spot for a rocking chair or two. The rear of the home features two large decks, one on the first floor and one above it off the second floor.

As you enter through the front door of this "upside down" house, you quickly notice the wainscoting throughout the first floor common areas, as well as the ceilings that are uncharacteristically high for a cottage. There are two bedrooms with plenty of closet space on the first floor. Both bedrooms benefit from plenty of light and high ceilings making them feel larger. The full bath has top quality fixtures and expertly crafted tile work.

The living space is on the second floor, where the sun shines in and provides a wonderful airy feeling. From the living area, a pair of French doors lead to the second floor deck which, in warm weather, effectively doubles the space available for gatherings of family and friends. At the opposite end, the dining area is delineated by the enclosed stairwell and a half wall. The kitchen is a well-appointed galley with a four-burner gas range and a new, good-sized refrigerator. Next to it is a another full bath and above the kitchen and bath is a small loft space. Starshaped pendant lighting adds a sense of contemporary style to these spaces.

The lower level - far too nice to be called a basement - is fully finished and cozy thanks to an advanced HVAC system (another feature you won't often find in a home of this scale). Here you'll find a sizeable common area that is perfect for a home theater or family room. To one side is a third full bath and to the other another room suitable as a home office or exercise room.

This extremely well-built, new, two-bedroom, three-bath home, located two minutes from the beach and five minutes from town, is

offered at $895,000. I