Quick Peek:
- Battle Over Lower Allston: Inside Harvard’s plan to transform lower Allston.
- Infamous Dust Lady of 911: Survivors of 911 are feeling the effects of Asbestos and other toxic building materials.
- Celebs with Mass Origins: From Michael Scott to Parks and Recreation, Mass is home to more celebrities than you think!
TOP IDEA
Harvard’s Billion Dollar Plan To Transform Allston
If you’ve ever driven between Allston and Cambridge recently, you might notice an assembly of construction vehicles, spread across a flatten parcel of land. This is the multi-billion dollar project initiated by Harvard University to construct their next Research Enterprise Campus.
This 12+ year plan with the city of Boston will introduce 1 million square feet of new development including offices, lab space, apartments, retailers, and even conference centers and hotels.
However, local Allston residents are less enthusiastic about this change. Many are vocal about the potential for rising cost of housing and property taxes that this project will bring, especially since Harvard, as a non-profit corporation, does not pay any in property tax today.
FED RATE HIKES ARE WORKING
- Inventory for Single Family Homes is WAY up, with more homes staying on market longer!
- Condo Prices (particularly new constructions) are seeing signs of softening with only a 7% YOY increase (below the 9.1% CPI).
- Buyer sentiment is definitely shifting with higher interest rates projected to be in the 7% range by end of Summer 2022.
911 Survivors Are Dying at Alarming Rates
Marcy Borders is one of the survivors of the 911 attack.She passed away in 2015 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, which doctors believed were caused by exposure to toxic chemicals and dusts during the collapse. Beyond the initial fatalities, the attack also released hundreds of tons of asbestos and other cancer inducing particles into the air. And it’s estimated that more than 500k New Yorkers, and mostly first responders have been exposed to high levels of toxic dusts during the rescue effort.Despite some initial resistance, overwhelming support for first responders including Jon Stewart helped sway the vote and got congress to approve a $10 billion dollar package for the victims of 911. This act was passed in 2015, the same year that Marcy Borders passed away.
Your Neighbor Is Michael Scott
Celebrities with ties to Massachusetts:
- John Krasinski and Amy Poehler were both from Newton.
- Spike Lee has a house out in Oak Bluff – Martha’s Vineyard
- Rob Zombie is from Haverhill. He’s made a movie in Salem about Salem
- Joe Rogan lived in Jamaica Plain and went to Umass Boston. He didn’t graduate but he turned out okay.
- Lastly, Steve Carrell was born in Concord. He has a summer home in Marshfield, where he owns a general convenience store today!
MEME OF THE WEEK
SHARE THE LOVE
Curious what your home is worth? Looking to buy your first home? Got a friend looking for a realtor? Your referral is what keeps us running! Share the love!
