By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Recapping Everything in Reading, MARecapping Everything in Reading, MARecapping Everything in Reading, MA
  • Depot Cam
  • Shop 01867
  • AI Meeting RecapsHot
  • Town Gov’t
    • AI Meeting Recaps
    • Board of Library Trustees (BOLT)
    • Charter Review Committee
    • Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC)
    • Elder & Human Services
    • Finance Committee (Fincom)
    • Killam School Building Committee
    • Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc)
    • Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC)
    • RMLD
    • Select Board
    • Symonds Way Exploratory Committee (SWEC)
    • Town Meeting
  • Schools
    • 2024–2025 Calendar & Handbook
    • 2024 – 2025 Kindergarten Registration Info
    • School Committee
    • PTO’s
    • Alice M. Barrows Elementary School
    • Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School
    • Birch Meadow Elementary School
    • Reading Memorial High School
    • R.I.S.E. Preschool
    • J. Warren Killam Elementary School
    • Joshua Eaton Elementary School
    • Walter S. Parker Middle School
    • Wood End Elementary School
  • More
    • Advertise (Free)
    • Business of the Week by Empower
    • Cafè Conversations
    • Contact
    • Depot Cam
    • ElectionsNew
      • 2025 News
      • 2025 Special Election
      • 2025 Candidates
      • 2024 Special Election
      • 2024 Candidates
      • 2023 Candidates
    • Events
      • Events Calendar
      • Submit Yours Here
    • Fundraisers
    • Letter to the Editor
    • MBTA 2nd Track
    • News Archives
    • Photos
    • Police/Fire Scanner & Logs
    • Sports (Local)
    • Videos
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Weather
    • Limpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s Adventures
Reading: 🏠 186 Summer Ave Listed For Sale
Sign In
Notification Show More
Recapping Everything in Reading, MARecapping Everything in Reading, MA
  • Depot Cam
  • AI Recaps
  • Shop 01867
  • Events
  • Scanner
  • MBTA
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Select Board
  • School Committee
  • ElectionNew
Search
  • Depot Cam
  • Shop 01867
  • AI Meeting RecapsHot
  • Town Gov’t
    • AI Meeting Recaps
    • Board of Library Trustees (BOLT)
    • Charter Review Committee
    • Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC)
    • Elder & Human Services
    • Finance Committee (Fincom)
    • Killam School Building Committee
    • Reading Center for Active Living Committee (ReCalc)
    • Reading ARPA Advisory Committee (RAAC)
    • RMLD
    • Select Board
    • Symonds Way Exploratory Committee (SWEC)
    • Town Meeting
  • Schools
    • 2024–2025 Calendar & Handbook
    • 2024 – 2025 Kindergarten Registration Info
    • School Committee
    • PTO’s
    • Alice M. Barrows Elementary School
    • Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School
    • Birch Meadow Elementary School
    • Reading Memorial High School
    • R.I.S.E. Preschool
    • J. Warren Killam Elementary School
    • Joshua Eaton Elementary School
    • Walter S. Parker Middle School
    • Wood End Elementary School
  • More
    • Advertise (Free)
    • Business of the Week by Empower
    • Cafè Conversations
    • Contact
    • Depot Cam
    • ElectionsNew
    • Events
    • Fundraisers
    • Letter to the Editor
    • MBTA 2nd Track
    • News Archives
    • Photos
    • Police/Fire Scanner & Logs
    • Sports (Local)
    • Videos
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Weather
    • Limpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s AdventuresLimpy’s Adventures
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • News
  • Advertise
© 2025 Reading Recap. All Rights Reserved.
Recapping Everything in Reading, MA > News > 🏛️Town Gov't > Historical > 🏠 186 Summer Ave Listed For Sale
Historical

🏠 186 Summer Ave Listed For Sale

Editor
Last updated: September 29, 2023 3:00 PM
Editor - Admin
Published: September 29, 2023
4 Min Read
186 Summer Ave on September 29th, 2023
186 Summer Ave on September 29th, 2023
SHARE

A tale as old as time, the house located at 186 Summer Ave has been listed for sale. Depending on where your research leads you, this property has had a long unsettled history dating back well over 10 years. It survived a demolition permit being pulled in 2014 for the main and carriage houses which were going to become home to the new Criterion Early Intervention Program facility. The neighbors even raised $1,905 in a GoFundMe to “save the iconic historic home located at 186 Summer Avenue from demolition, as well as to preserve the character of the beautiful residential neighborhood where it has stood since 1853.”

Following the successful demolition delay, numerous meetings between Community Planning & Development Commission (CPDC) and Historic Districts Commission followed resulting in a 2016 site plan decision located here. Since that decision though, the Dover Amendment was invoked for the property. The Dover Amendment is a Massachusetts law that limits a municipality’s ability to restrict the use of land or structures for religious or educational purposes. Numerous legal challenges, promises, upkeep/maintenance and executive sessions followed and then Covid hit, which threw another curveball into this historical property. Only one thing survived through it all though, the chain-link fence surrounding the property that residents and Parker Middle School students would see on a daily basis.

That brings us to today, the house is now listed as a private sale for $1,200,000 and the property currently lies within the new MBTA communities region near the Haverhill line depot. Listed on the flyer is as follows:

This historic Victorian single-family home located within the town of Reading’s historic district sits on three parcels that make up the subject’s site. The dwelling features 12 rooms, 3,670 square feet of living area, a full stone basement, wrap around porch, two enclosed porches, three fireplaces and a detached carriage house. The site area is 49,864 square feet. This property has the potential to be a historic New England gem.

PROPERTY FEATURES
Style: Victorian, Year Built: 1848, Zoning: S15, Total Rooms: 12 Bedrooms: 8 Baths: 2.5 Basement: Full Fireplaces: 3 Deck/Porch: Lg & Sm porch Other: Detached Carriage House
Lot Size: 49,864 sq.ft. Stories: 2.75 Total Area: 7,609 sq ft Gross Living Area: 3,670 sq.ft.
Roof: Gable Heat Type: Forced Hot Water Fuel Type: Natural Gas Exterior: Wood Siding/Shingles.

Will this be the start of the next chapter for 186 Summer Ave or just a footnote years from now? One things for sure though, the chain-link fence surrounding the property will still be there tomorrow but perhaps it will have a different owner. Everyone in Reading would like nothing more than to see this historical building restored to it’s 1800’s look. We’ll be sure to update you if anything develops.

🗓️ This Week in Meetings 11/13 – 11/17
🗓️ This Week in Meetings 11/6 – 11/10
🗓️ This Week in Meetings 7/10 – 7/14
🗓️ This Week in Meetings 10/10 – 10/13
🏠 186 Summer Ave Reportedly Sold
TAGGED:186 Summer AveCriterionHistorical
ByEditor
Admin
Follow:
Editor for the Reading Recap!
Previous Article Aerial view of the September 8th home game vs Melrose. 🏈 Reading Rockets Football Tonight at 7PM
Next Article Reading Rockets vs Woburn Tanners September 29, 2023 🏈 Reading Rockets Stumble vs Woburn
3 Comments
  • Liz Magliozzi says:
    October 11, 2023 at 4:37 PM

    Is it possible to receive updates on the situation/sale on this house at 186 summer ave?

    Reply
  • Editor says:
    October 11, 2023 at 10:07 PM

    Hi there, if there are any updates on the sale or change in status, we’ll definitely have them posted here in the future. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Donna gardner patent says:
    February 21, 2024 at 4:57 PM

    I grew up in this house in the 60’s my sister and brother in law. Owned it. I love this house!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Latest News

🚮 Maillet, Sommes & Morgan Community Cleanup Today 10am-3pm
Conservation Volunteer Opportunities
May 17, 2025
DPW Building Reading, MA
♻️ DPW Electronics, Paper & Plastic Recycling Today 9am-1pm
Events
May 17, 2025
Reading Garden Club
🪴 Annual Reading Garden Club Plant Sale Today 9am-1pm
Fundraisers
May 17, 2025
💡 RMLD Commissions 10 MW Energy Storage System in North Reading
RMLD
May 16, 2025
//

Reading Recap aims to be your one stop destination for all the latest local news, meetings and events happening in the Town of Reading, Massachusetts.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Recapping Everything in Reading, MARecapping Everything in Reading, MA
Follow US

© 2025 Reading Recap.
Not affiliated with the Town of Reading.
Created by Reading residents for Reading residents.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?