As many of you in the local Reading community have likely heard, we woke this morning to the devastating news that our beloved 186 Summer Avenue project was overtaken by flames in the early hours of Wednesday. Around 1 a.m., the Reading Fire Department received reports of flames pouring out of the barn, and tragically, the main house was soon engulfed as well.

While we are heartbroken to have been so close to the finish line, only to have years of progress undone in an instant, we would be remiss not to recognize all that remains to be grateful for. We extend our deepest thanks to the Reading Fire Department, as well as to the neighboring communities of North Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Woburn, Burlington, and Lawrence, whose firefighters worked tirelessly alongside the RFD through the night and well into the day to contain and extinguish the fire. Their efforts have protected the residents of Summer Avenue and the surrounding community from even greater damage. We also want to acknowledge all who have worked tirelessly to revitalize this special property over the past 2 years, including our dear owners, the architects, dozens of contractors, designers, and the volunteer members of the Reading historic societies. 

Though many details are still unknown and won’t be for quite sometime, one thing is certain: this is not the end of the story of 186 Summer Avenue.

Our wonderful Reading community has been so deeply invested in this project and its progress since its inception, and we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support we have received since today’s heartrending twist in the plot. We will continue to provide updates here as new developments arise.

Summer has finally arrived and the team 186 Summer Ave has been working tirelessly to bring this renovation to the final stages. We hope that the local community has enjoyed watching the evolution of the home that’s been obvious from the outside, as they pass by on their way to work, school or errands, or a daily stroll around the [...]

We are finally seeing glimpses that the dreary grey that has held us in its grasp for the last few months will soon be giving way to sunshine and blue skies that mark the long-awaited arrival of spring. As the season symbolic of growth and renewal finally starts to make its presence felt, we can’t think of a more fitting time to fully dive [...]

Something classic, something blue!

Despite an iffy forecast, we had a fabulous time participating in Reading PorchFest back in June! We welcomed so many lovely Reading residents to 186 Summer Avenue to enjoy performances by The Meichen Show and Signs of Life. 

At the event, we polled attendees, asking them if we should paint the porch [...]

Celebrating the Addition at 186 Summer Avenue

While we're thrilled to be restoring the original building, we simply can't contain our excitement over everything the new addition has to offer! 

The team has collaborated at every step of the process to honor 186 Summer Avenue's historical significance and preserve its charm even in the new [...]

As construction continues, I wanted to pause and celebrate how working with a historical commission has helped us make smart choices on Summer Avenue. 

We have been so grateful to partner with conservationists as we reimagine 186 Summer Avenue’s next chapter. 

The Reading Historical Commission (RHC), established by the Town Meeting in the late 1970s, identifies, records, and supports the preservation of historic assets in [...]

As you follow our updates on the development and renovation of 186 Summer Avenue, you may encounter some new-to-use architectural vocabulary! Here are some of the terms to [...]

The fence is down at 186 Summer Avenue!

If you live in Reading, especially in the neighborhoods surrounding Parker Middle School, you were most likely thrilled to notice that the chain link fence is down around 186 Summer [...]