Lexington MA, School Reputation (Value vs. $$) (Newton, Brookline: condos, townhomes, buyers)

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

There's plenty of land to build on. Getting approval to build the required density to make money is hard though. The other problem is that you'll get to the point where lenders will stop approving loans because the DTI is so high. Right now they are just like "whatever" and dump potential toxic mortgages on the secondary market but they likely have limits too.

Lexington has plenty of land to build? I'm not familiar with the real estate there but I'm next door in Burlington and there's literally nowhere to build. That's why there's so many $450k tear down to $1.3 million mcmansions.

[karen_in_nh_2012]

Originally Posted by Amontillado

Oh, I don't know. Maybe the kids come out knowing a little Latin.

Did that make you feel good, making fun of that poster for a silly and very common misspelling? (If you've only ever heard per se, not seen it written, of course you are likely to spell it per say.)

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

Woosh.

And you joined in on the fun. What was the point?

============

Originally Posted by jks1985

You both sound like you are doing well for yourselves. You don't think growing up in Lexington had anything to do with it?

I went to a high school that ranks horribly (4/10 or 3/10) on those Good Schools sites. I'd say 80% of my graduating class never left the town. A high percentage of them are also addicted to some type of drugs (meth, painkillers, alcohol, etc.).

Only a handful of people in my 400 person graduating class are actually doing well.

I don't think that's the case with Lexington kids.

If your high school ranked that low, the demographics of your town are clearly HUGELY different from those of Lexington. And, of course, that is going to make a HUGE difference in how kids end up doing later.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

Lexington has plenty of land to build? I'm not familiar with the real estate there but I'm next door in Burlington and there's literally nowhere to build. That's why there's so many $450k tear down to $1.3 million mcmansions.

Was talking more in general in the area. For Lexington, maybe near Route 2. And yes teardowns of SFH would be part of it.

I've always eyed redeveloping the Burlington Mall. Maybe the nearby office parks. Put in dense housing, kind of like what the Natick Mall did.

[matrix5k]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Was talking more in general in the area. For Lexington, maybe near Route 2. And yes teardowns of SFH would be part of it.

I've always eyed redeveloping the Burlington Mall. Maybe the nearby office parks. Put in dense housing, kind of like what the Natick Mall did.

They are redeveloping the mall:
https://patch.com/massachusetts/burl...egin-next-year

But I don't think it includes housing. People would complain about the traffic if they made more condos.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

They are redeveloping the mall:
https://patch.com/massachusetts/burl...egin-next-year

But I don't think it includes housing. People would complain about the traffic if they made more condos.

No housing involved at the Burlington Mall. Simon replaced the Sears auto center with smaller retail and dining space and the Sears section is being updated and subdivided into smaller space. Simon Properties is putting money into it as it's their #2 property in their portfolio.

[BosYuppie]

There are condos at the Third Street development, right?

It is a little curious mixed use didn’t go in on the former New England Executive Park properties next door too. The new buildings (oyster place, Td bank, etc) seem to be small given the plot sizes.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by BosYuppie

There are condos at the Third Street development, right?

It is a little curious mixed use didn’t go in on the former New England Executive Park properties next door too. The new buildings (oyster place, Td bank, etc) seem to be small given the plot sizes.

Third Ave. had many more empty buildings that were redeveloped. The housing units there are rentals.
IIRC, NEEP had less space that needed upgrading and they decided to go with retail and hospitality.

[probseattle]

I get living in a condo in a downtown urban area like South End or Seaport, but I never understand these large unit condos in the burbs surrounded by freeways, boulevards and strip malls. They're not that cheap either.

[mdovell]

If you can't build left and right then go up. Authorize assessory dwelling units and inlaw apartments.

Once we go onto self driving cars garages will easily be repurposed and that includes housing.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by probseattle

I get living in a condo in a downtown urban area like South End or Seaport, but I never understand these large unit condos in the burbs surrounded by freeways, boulevards and strip malls. They're not that cheap either.

Want to live in the burbs but either can't afford an SFH or don't need that much space.