The North End ‘Spite House’ has hit the market for $1.2 million
Allegedly it was built intentionally to block natural light and impede ventilation for a neighboring building. .
One of the North End’s most famous residential properties is on the market.
44 Hull St., commonly known as “The Spite House” and “The Skinny House,” was listed for $1,200,000 Monday. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom Italianate property, which measures 1,165 square feet and spans four floors, is known as one of the best-preserved examples of the North End’s wood-frame houses. But what the beloved property lacks in square footage it makes up for in character.
“The house lives larger than the square footage,” said Carmela Laurella and Travis Sachs of CL Properties, the listing agents. “It just feels much larger when you’re there.”
The entrance is tucked away on the side. On the first floor, the full kitchen has stainless-steel appliances and stone counters. There is also a Juliet balcony in the living area overlooking the backyard. On the second floor, the main living/TV area overlooks Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, part of the Freedom Trail.
The full bathroom, which features a deep soaking tub and stunning blue tiling, is also on the second floor and so are the washer and dryer.
The second bedroom is located on the third floor and features a pair of built-in bunk beds. There’s also a comfortable sitting area by the window. Another floor up is the primary bedroom, which also has its own living area and custom closet.
From here a stairway leads up to the roof deck, which offers stunning views of the North End and the waterfront. The home, which sits on 0.01 of an acre, also offers hardwood flooring, recessed lighting, custom tile work, motorized window treatments, and a basement.
Particularly attractive is the home’s outdoor space in the back, complete with a brick patio.
There are conflicting reports on the year of the home’s construction. A wooden plaque that hangs out front lists the year as 1862, while the historic property database MACRIS notes the building’s construction year as 1857. City records cite 1890, the listing agents said, noting that the date is probably incorrect.
The reasoning behind the home’s identification as a “spite house,” built intentionally to block natural light and impede ventilation for a neighboring building, is also disputed. When the property was on the market in 2017, the reported legend was that two brothers inherited a chunk of land when their father died. One of the brothers was a soldier, and while he was serving his country, the other brother built a house that took up most of the lot. To spite his brother, the soldier built a narrow home on the sliver of land that was left, blocking his sibling’s view and sunshine, Boston.com reported.
Since then, the house has become a home for all sorts of North End residents.
“There’s been families, roommates in this house, single people, couples. It’s been rented, been Airbnb’d,” Sachs said. “It has every single asset that you could want out of real estate.”
Another bonus: Since the property is a single-family home, a rarity in the North End, the owner won’t have to deal with condo restrictions.
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