The Windsor
390 Commonwealth Avenue, Back Bay, Boston
© Meridian Realty Group LLC. All rights reserved.
390 Commonwealth Avenue has been part of Back Bay’s architectural and cultural story for well over a century. Set on the south side of Commonwealth Avenue between Massachusetts Avenue and Charlesgate East, its presence is both commanding and elegant, rooted in a history of ambition, transformation, and endurance.
The building began with the vision of William Ball Rice, a successful boot and shoe manufacturer and an active real estate investor. In January of 1908, Rice assembled a series of lots along Commonwealth Avenue and behind them on Newbury Street through a trust he created called the Avenue Real Estate Trust. Architect Edward B. Stratton was commissioned to design what would become the Hotel Puritan, a seven-story French Renaissance structure of red Norman brick, carved limestone, and a distinctive mansard roof (Boston Globe, 1909).
Construction began in 1908, and by November 1909, the Puritan opened its doors. Rice did not live to see its debut as he passed away earlier that year, but his family carried the project forward and the hotel quickly established itself as one of Boston’s premier addresses (Boston Globe, 1909).
The Puritan was designed to impress. Guests entered through a stately stone-framed doorway with lanterns and wrought-iron detailing. Inside, the vestibule gave way to a lobby paneled in Circassian walnut where visitors might linger before dining in one of two main dining rooms, one decorated in tones of old gold and the other in silver and blue. Private dining spaces were also available for Boston’s elite. The hotel offered about 300 rooms and 170 baths, all arranged to maximize natural light and air circulation. Bay windows, deep courts at the rear, and carefully planned layouts ensured that both temporary travelers and long-term residents enjoyed a modern and comfortable setting (Architecture and Building, 1911).
Although the original design envisioned a symmetrical building stretching across nearly 190 feet of frontage, the completed structure covered about 130 feet, leaving a vacant lot at 388 Commonwealth. This open space remained undeveloped for decades, serving as a parking lot in the 1950s before becoming the site of an eight-story addition in the 1980s (Boston City Archives).
Just steps from the building’s entrance, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall adds another layer of history. Directly across from 390 Commonwealth stands the bronze statue of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer believed by some to have reached North America centuries before Columbus. Installed in 1887 as the first public sculpture on the Mall, the statue depicts Erikson shading his eyes as he looks westward. For generations of Bostonians and visitors it has been a symbol of exploration and vision, qualities that mirror the ambition of the Back Bay itself. Residents of 390 Commonwealth step out their front door not only into the city’s most elegant boulevard but also into the shadow of one of Boston’s most iconic monuments (Boston Art Commission, 1887).
Over the years, the Hotel Puritan attracted both short-term guests and permanent residents, much like its Back Bay peers the Vendôme and the Somerset. In 1947, the property was purchased by hotel operator Abraham Sonnabend, whose company would later evolve into Sonesta International Hotels. The Puritan was soon operated in conjunction with the Hotel Somerset next door. In 1952, the Boston Globe reported on the new look of the integrated hotels, now joined into a single property with a coral terrazzo lobby, Italian marble reception desks, fashionable cocktail lounges, and shops opening onto a terrace lobby. Together, the combined Somerset and Puritan boasted more than 500 guest rooms, standing as one of the largest hotel operations in Boston (Boston Globe, 1952).
By the 1960s the economics of city hotels were shifting. Ownership changed hands multiple times, passing between Sonnabend’s companies, the International Hotel Corporation of Detroit, and back again. A garage was added at 425 Newbury Street to serve the hotels, but by the early 1970s the days of the Puritan as a grand hotel were drawing to a close (Boston Globe, 1964).
In 1972, developer Pasquale Franchi acquired the property. Known for his ambitious conversions of historic Boston hotels including the Vendôme, Franchi closed the Somerset-Puritan complex and began reimagining it as a mixed-use development. Over the next several years, the once-glittering Puritan was divided into apartments, offices, shops, and nightlife spaces (Boston Globe, 1972).
A new chapter arrived in the 1980s when the vacant lot at 388 Commonwealth was finally built upon. The firm Bruner, Cott & Associates designed an eight-story addition that was physically joined to 390. The combined structures were reconfigured for residential use with commercial space on the lower floors and apartments above. By 1986, the complex was officially converted into condominiums under the name Windsor Place. Ninety-one residential units and four commercial spaces were created, along with a swimming pool and shared amenities that were unusual luxuries in the Back Bay (Boston City Archives, 1986).
Today, Windsor Place at 390 Commonwealth Avenue remains one of the neighborhood’s most distinctive addresses. The façade still bears the hallmarks of Stratton’s early twentieth-century design, while inside, residences reflect a blend of historic charm and modern living. High ceilings, large windows, and hardwood floors recall the building’s origins, while renovations over the years have added updated kitchens, baths, and layouts for contemporary life.
Amenities such as a concierge, valet parking space in front of the building, and the pool offer a sense of ease and exclusivity. The building’s location along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall places it directly in one of Boston’s most desirable corridors, nearby Newbury Street, Fenway Park, the Charles River Esplanade, and the Prudential Center. Universities such as Boston University and Berklee College of Music are close by, keeping the neighborhood lively with energy and culture.
What makes 390 Commonwealth remarkable is not only its architecture but also its ability to adapt across generations. From William Rice’s vision for a grand hotel to Sonnabend’s mid-century expansions to Pasquale Franchi’s conversions, the building has reflected Boston’s evolving identity. For more than a century it has been a place where people arrived in search of comfort, community, and distinction, whether as travelers, long-term residents, or today as condominium owners.
For buyers, Windsor Place represents a chance to live within a piece of Boston’s living history while enjoying the conveniences of a full-service building. For sellers, it offers the opportunity to showcase not just a home but a legacy.
Contact: MatthewArmstrong@MRGproperty.com
