John Rosario, of Fall River, finds the fishing good.

The Nanaquaket Road neighborhood in Tiverton, a peninsula surrounded by Nanaquaket Pond and the Sakonnet River, includes some of the town’s most desirable real estate.

Accessed at the north and south ends by Main Road (Route 77), Nanaquaket Road is marked by stately residences bordered by old stone walls, sweeping lawns and tall trees. Private driveways or smaller streets, most of them private roads, lead from Nanaquaket Road to houses closest to the water.

In 2005, the former St. James Convent, an 18-acre waterfront property on Nanaquaket Neck, was on the market with an asking price of $5 million.

A group had hopes of acquiring the site for a new town library for Tiverton, but the plan was a long shot.

Gallery

See more of
Nanaquaket

The owners, the Holy Union Sisters of Milton, Mass., had multiple offers, and eventually sold the parcel to Fall River developer James Karam for $4.5 million.

Last year, the state Coastal Resources Management Council approved the demolition of the main building, an 1872 Victorian mansion, and two other structures, over the objections of some residents who treasured the historic Tiverton landmark.

This year, Karam, president and CEO of First Bristol Corp., is building a new home for his family on part of the property.

Karam said he is seeking zoning approvals and dock permits for three other house lots at the site. He said he hopes to start selling them next spring. All the lots in the subdivision will have 3.5 to 5 acres, and 250 to 500 feet of waterfront, he said.

In 2006, the Tiverton Land Trust purchased 48 acres of undeveloped land at Nanaquaket and Main roads for $350,000 from the heirs of the late Alfred and Mary Pereira, who wanted to protect the land from development.

There were five houses listed for sale in Nanaquaket last week, and three were priced over $1 million. Prices began at $529,000 for a 1964 ranch at 425 Nanaquaket Rd., with waterviews of Nannaquaket Pond, three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, and 2,779 square feet of space.

The highest-price listing was $1,999,900, for a 1948 ranch with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, and 4,700 square feet of space at 59 Nanaquaket Rd. The listing information said the property is a “rare private estate with a private beach patio, spectacular ocean view with potential deep water dock, extra buildable lot, tennis court, three-car garage.”

POPULATION:

(Tiverton, 2000) 15,260

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE:

(Tiverton, 2007) $317,650

INTERESTING FACT:

One of Rhode Island’s most popular spots for fried clams, Evelyn’s Drive-In, overlooks Nanaquaket Pond. It will close for the season on Columbus Day.

cdunn@projo.com