2023 Real Estate Observations (Boston, Cambridge, Newton: power lines, condominiums, layoffs)

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Has some "Last of Us" vibes.

I actually like it.

Conway is a beautiful area for sure. Perfect size too.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Off the grid 1100 sq ft house with an 'earthen roof' all the way out in western MA...$750K!
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...16727220_zpid/

This is the now-bankrupt Wildside Gardens: https://wildsidegardens.org/ The space was used as a field classroom, including workshops, local student groups, summer camp outings, etc. They were trying to fundraise to save the farm, but looks like it didn't happen.

There's a lot of potential here for the right person. My mental persona of the person who would buy this is someone who did well in Boston or NYC, retired youngish, either childfree or an empty nester, and are looking for an active retirement getting back to nature somewhere with income potential.

There's a second, unfinished cottage on the property that could be turned into an AirBNB or otherwise rented out, and likely plenty of space to build more if a larger house was desired. There could be continued classes/workshops and maybe even a CSA potential.

Definitely not the property for everyone!

[BostonBornMassMade]

Wu seeks state OK to re-shape BPDA

The mayor has filed legislation that would allow her to dismantle and then recreate the city’s powerful development agency in a different form.

Both the BRA and the Economic Development and Industrial Corp. of Boston do business as the Boston Planning and Development Agency, which then-Mayor Martin J. Walsh rebranded them as in 2016. Wu’s bill, to be presented as a home-rule petition at Council on Wednesday, would seek state approval to dissolve the BRA and the EDIC and shift their powers to a newly-formalized BPDA. Their staff would eventually shift to a newly-created city planning and design department, which would be housed under City Hall, not as a separate legal entity as the BRA is now.


Keeping a quasi-governmental agency in place is necessary to buy or sell land without going through a lengthy public procurement process, said BPDA Director Arthur Jemison. The five-member BPDA board will still vote on major development projects under Article 80.

Like many of Wu’s priority issues, the changes would require approval from both the City Council and the state Legislature, thanks to a striking concentration of power on Beacon Hill. That process, in which the city sends a home-rule petition to Beacon Hill for approval, can take months or years, if it succeeds at all. An analysis by Boston City Council staff found that of the roughly 100 home-rule petitions Boston filed with the Legislature between 2011 and 2021, less than half became law.

[BostonBornMassMade]

As new housing law takes effect, most towns fall in line, for now

Just seven out of 175 communities that had to submit preliminary plans for new MBTA zoning law failed to do so by deadline earlier this week.

Those towns — Berkley, Carver, Holden, Marshfield, Middleborough, Raynham, and Seekonk — are now considered non-compliant, meaning they may lose access to state infrastructure grants, as well as a chunk of funding for their housing authorities.

Disappointed in Raynham, being between Bridgewater and Taunton- they really should be prepared to be built out more densely.


Prior to this week’s deadline, several much larger communities, such as Waltham, had failed to meet an earlier requirement to submit an even shorter form to DHCD. In return, the state cut allocations to their housing authorities, enraging some local officials. All of those cities and towns then submitted action plans, bringing them back into compliance, DHCD said.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

As new housing law takes effect, most towns fall in line, for now

Just seven out of 175 communities that had to submit preliminary plans for new MBTA zoning law failed to do so by deadline earlier this week.

Those towns — Berkley, Carver, Holden, Marshfield, Middleborough, Raynham, and Seekonk — are now considered non-compliant, meaning they may lose access to state infrastructure grants, as well as a chunk of funding for their housing authorities.

Disappointed in Raynham, being between Bridgewater and Taunton- they really should be prepared to be built out more densely.


Prior to this week’s deadline, several much larger communities, such as Waltham, had failed to meet an earlier requirement to submit an even shorter form to DHCD. In return, the state cut allocations to their housing authorities, enraging some local officials. All of those cities and towns then submitted action plans, bringing them back into compliance, DHCD said.

Can somebody please explain to me why those towns (most of whom have no MBTA service), are affected by this new law? I thought it was targeted towards areas around stations, etc.? Seems totally ridiculous. It all goes back to what I've been saying about the state trying to accomplish its goals through threats and strong arming, vs. trying to actually work with towns and be partners in a solution. When are they going to learn that the prior doesn't work, and it's not going to win over the hearts of voters and residents who need to be convinced?

[msRB311]

I can't read the article. Paywall.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Can somebody please explain to me why those towns (most of whom have no MBTA service), are affected by this new law?

Towns that are adjacent to a town with service is included. However there are some towns they added that technically aren't just because they wanted to. Boston (and weirdly Avon) is of course exempt.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mu...ta-communities

When are they going to learn that the prior doesn't work, and it's not going to win over the hearts of voters and residents who need to be convinced?

The State House doesn't really have to convince anyone.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Can somebody please explain to me why those towns (most of whom have no MBTA service), are affected by this new law? I thought it was targeted towards areas around stations, etc.? Seems totally ridiculous. It all goes back to what I've been saying about the state trying to accomplish its goals through threats and strong arming, vs. trying to actually work with towns and be partners in a solution. When are they going to learn that the prior doesn't work, and it's not going to win over the hearts of voters and residents who need to be convinced?

None of the things regarding housing production, affordability, rent controls, etc etc has current homeowners in mind. Once you become a homeowner- you own your land and the government really isn’t gonna concern itself with you outside of collecting your tax.

All of this is for people who don’t yet live in those towns- that really is the whole point of all this.

Massachusetts govt is extremely opaque it doesn’t and won’t effect the pols a much because a lack of accountability is a feature of MA govt. , they’re not concerned with the voters really. And the towns are so small living in a CR town vs living outside of one isn’t much of a difference- you’re both gonna drive to the CR stop 9/10 times.

The point of this is to increase affordability and give people working in the core more options of where they can live. The state also knows most of the land around CR stops is extremely underutilized and ripe for development. It’s a state agency too, they come the land directly around the stations

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Towns that are adjacent to a town with service is included. However there are some towns they added that technically aren't just because they wanted to. Boston (and weirdly Avon) is of course exempt.

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mu...ta-communities



The State House doesn't really have to convince anyone.

There’s a reason Boston exempt but I forget what it is whit it was spelled out 2 years ago. Avon is so small it probably doesn’t have any capacity to do much. It’s 4k people. More like a village of Brockton.

[newenglandgal123]

I thought the price looked too good to be true and then I read the description! Interesting arrangement....haven't come across anything like this before. Like a time share, I guess?https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...60719598_zpid/