New Cataumet condos to offer one-of-a-kind views of Red Brook Harbor and Buzzards Bay

Photo by Josh Shortsleeve

Are you in the market for a brand new home? Are you looking for something with a fantastic view of the water? Would you care to live in a serene community that’s within walking distance of nature trails, conservation land, and a marina that has available slips and moorings? If so, the residences of the Red Brook Harbor Club may be just right for you.

Located in Cataumet on a bluff overlooking Red Brook Harbor and Buzzards Bay, the development will include 15 townhouses situated within four buildings (three quad-plexes and one tri-plex). Currently under construction, the homes in three of the buildings will each feature decks on three floors that look west over the harbor and the water beyond. The residences in the fourth building will offer the same—decks on three levels—but the view will look out over Red Brook Pond.

“This is a unique opportunity for water access and views without the hassles of waterfront,” says Scott Zeien, one of the developers partnered in Red Brook Harbor Properties. Zeien, who also owns the Kingman Yacht Center, says many homeowners who live on the water have to deal with exposure, flooding, and other coastal challenges, but explains that this development, with its height and setback, will not have those issues.

Of course, one of the biggest draws to this development is the view. “You can’t find land like this on Cape Cod anymore,” says Kerrie Marzot of Real Estate Associates, the realtor for the development. “It is the true essence of Cape Cod with the salt water and the boats. Also, these are top-of-the-world views. The sunsets over Buzzards Bay and Bassetts Island are glorious.” Zeien agrees: “From the third floor of each of the westward-facing units, you can certainly see out to Fairhaven, New Bedford, and beyond.”

The 15 townhouses each measure approximately 2,200 square feet and feature first- and second-floor master suites, a great room with a kitchen on the first floor, and entertainment areas on both the second and third floors. Every floor has a deck to take in the sights, and each unit has a full basement. Marzot describes the homes as high-end condominiums with the main living areas on the first floor.

Prices for the homes start at $925,000, and the condo fees are estimated to be $550 monthly. The development also features a community in-ground pool with bathrooms. As of October 4, Marzot says two of the homes are under agreement.

Zeien adds that if a homeowner-to-be is looking for a boat slip or mooring, that can be discussed as seasonal rentals and long-term leases are available.

One issue that has garnered considerable media coverage is the project’s on-site wastewater treatment facility, which will initially service the townhouses and the adjacent marina. The project is nearing completion and should be finished in October. “The infrastructure is all there—it’s all under ground,” Zeien says. “The installation itself is designed to be virtually invisible.”

The goal of the facility—in addition to servicing the condos—is to help clean up Red Brook Harbor, which Zeien says does not benefit from a lot of natural water flow due to its tucked-in geography. “When the plant is at full capacity we can take about 75 percent of the nitrogen from what is currently flowing into the harbor every year,” he says. That amounts to just over a ton of nitrogen, Zeien says, and it’s coming from harbor abutters’ septic systems and cesspools. “We’re trying to make sure the harbor stays the type of environment where people are going to want to go boating and swimming.”

The system was designed and built to accommodate approximately 60 homes in the adjacent neighborhood. “That would be phase two of the project,” Zeien says, and it would involve a discussion with town officials regarding whether the town would cover some of the associated costs.

Zeien says Cataumet village is also a draw. “I think the nice thing about this part of the Upper Cape is that it is very rural,” he says. “People aren’t passing through Cataumet. It’s not on the way to anywhere—but it’s 10 minutes from the bridge. People come here if they have a house or a boat here.”

Finally, Zeien, whose connection to the harbor dates back to his childhood when his family would summer in the area, says he’s invested in the community and its future, and his goal is to build exceptional homes. “I have to walk out of my office door every day and look at the development,” he says, “so I want to make sure it’s something I’m proud of.”

Matthew Gill is the editor of Cape Cod LIFE magazine.