It''s hard to hear over the jackhammers tearing up Spencer Street today, but builder Sal DiMaggio isn''t complaining. "The City is finally widening the street," he explains. "The neighbors lobbied for this for awhile."

DiMaggio''s become very fond of the sunny, friendly neighborhood near Cannery Row and the Aquarium. Over the past few years he''s remodeled one historic house and built a new one next door.

The 900-square-foot green Craftsman cottage DiMaggio remodeled and sold last year sits beside the beige stucco-sided, 2,200-square-foot house he just completed.

"There''s not a lot of available land to build here," he says.

The large oaks in the front and rear yards provide focal points and shaped the floor plan of the home.

"We saved the trees and that gave us the design," he says.

Inside, DiMaggio went beyond the basics with touches like nine-foot ceilings in the kitchen and dining rooms, and nine-and-a-half-foot ceilings in the living room. Giant eight-foot French doors lead into a large backyard which offers a bay view.

Upstairs, a slate balcony off the master bedroom affords an even better water vista. Throughout the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home, natural stone and hardwood floors in warm tones provide a graceful feeling.

DiMaggio didn''t skimp on details, like a built-in wine rack in the kitchen and recessed can lighting in the rooms.

"I spent extra money on upgraded lighting fixtures and quality appliances," he explains. "It makes a difference."

Price: $849,000. 830 Spencer St., Monterey. Contact Christina Danley of The Mitchell Group Real Estate at 620-6370.

Craftsman Masterpiece in Pacific Grove

When John and Darlene Billstrom bought the Laura Prusia House in 1996, it was ninety years old and being used as a lawyer''s office. But aside from desperately needing new plumbing and wiring, the Craftsman beauty had retained most of its original charm.

Built in 1906 by the Chivers Brothers-who also built Pacific Grove City Hall-the 3,400-square-foot home features minute detail carved out of redwood-from built-in window seats to inglenooks, plate railings, and thick pocket doors with beveled glass.

Carved wainscoting creates an apron that wraps around the dining room walls. Original wavy glass is cut in patterns on operating windows. The elegant buffet hutch with glass doors has an opening in the back for the kitchen.

Besides all the woodwork detail, there''s the grand scale to the house unheard of in today''s city planning. A large front porch outside leads into an enormous entry area. The first floor features two parlors, a separate dining room, and a gourmet kitchen with eating and office area.

"It''s a great house to have parties and receptions in," John says. "One of our daughters was married here."

The Billstroms used a light touch in the remodel-preferring to restore as much as possible to its original condition while also updating all plumbing, wiring, and drainage.

The home is zoned R-4, which makes it suitable for mixed use, and is walking distance to downtown Pacific Grove.

"You''re right in the heart of things," says Danley. "You could live upstairs and work below."

Price: $1,575,000. 605 Pine Avenue, Pacific Grove.Contact Christina Danley of The Mitchell Group Real Estate at 620-6370.