In case you were wondering what Fenway Park looks like these days with all the snow in the Greater Boston area… see for yourself. (Not quite ready for opening day!)
Photo courtesy of Weather Bug
Walking in Boston Easy to Do
August 4, 2014 by
Walking in Boston is considered to be easy, and the city is on its way to becoming the most walkable city in the United States.
This is according to a new report from a Washington D.C.-based research group and George Washington University, Smart Growth America. The group looked at factors such as the amount of retail and office space that is friendly to visitors traveling on foot.
The report states, the top cities are: Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco and Chicago.
The report concludes that if current development trends hold, the most-walkable cities will be, in order: Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Miami and Atlanta.
The report’s executive summary states: “Walkable urban development is characterized by much higher density and a mix of diverse real estate types, connected to surrounding areas via multiple transportation options, such as bus and rail, bike routes, and motor vehicles. For those living or visiting a walkable urban place, everyday destinations, such as home, work, school, stores, and restaurants, are within walking distance.”
On top of walking in Boston being easy to do, Greater Boston’s retail real estate market qualifies as one of the country’s best bets among investors and property managers alike.
That’s according to a new report by real estate research firm Reis Inc., which said the region’s retail-property vacancy rate was 6.5 percent as of June 30, some 10 basis points better than where it was three months earlier.
Greater Boston’s relatively tight inventory for retail space is contributing to comparatively high rental rates.
For more Boston area real estate news, click the Boston Real Estate News link to your right under Boston Real Estate Categories for more.
Stay connected with Buyer’s Choice Realty and also get daily tips and news by following us on Twitter, and liking us on Facebook!
Is the Boston Area in Nuclear Danger?
March 25, 2014 by
A recent article at Truth-Out.org leads one to believe that the Boston area could be in danger from a major accident at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.
The article points out that “Cape Cod isn’t the only place in Massachusetts that would suffer from a major accident at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth. Only 35 miles away, the Boston area and its suburbs are also at risk.”
Boston Area at Risk?
While the Obama administration continues to promote the “clean” aspects of nuclear power and to subsidize private plants, the aging Pilgrim facility poses safety risks for the coastal residents of Massachusetts that trump any climate-change benefits.
Consider first that Pilgrim, completed in 1972 with technology from the 1950s and ’60s, was licensed for 40 years (to 2012). Its GE Mark 1 reactor is the same type that failed at Fukushima. Designed to contain 880 spent fuel assemblies, Pilgrim now holds more than 3,200.
An important aspect of the Pilgrim risk is emergency preparedness. Neither Cape Cod nor points north, including the Boston area, seem to have a workable plan for radiological emergency in place. How would local populations be notified, sheltered or evacuated? How could evacuations of persons near the plant be coordinated with the likely traffic heading out of Boston and the Cape? What could prevent the chaotic gridlock of cars heading in both directions?
All 15 Cape Cod towns have called for Pilgrim’s closure. Do you think it’s time for Boston and its suburbs to join them in that effort – and for people who reside near other aging nuclear plants to take notice?
We’d love to hear your opinion on this. Speak your mind below. You can also read the full article about “Boston Endangered: Time To Close the Pilgrim Reactor” here.
Boston Area Christmas Tree Lighting Schedule
November 28, 2013 by
Happy Thanksgiving to all! We hope you’re enjoying the day with family and looking forward to the upcoming Boston area Christmas Tree lightings scheduled next week.
Boston Area Christmas Tree Lighting #1
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department, and The Friends of Copley Square will celebrate the holidays with the annual Copley Square Holiday Tree Lighting on Monday, December 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the tree lighting, a number of other festivities will take place in and around Copley Square on December 2nd. The Boston Public Library and The Catered Affair will host a Story Hour and Candy Cane Tea at the Copley Square Library’s Courtyard Restaurant from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The tea is free but reservations are required by calling (617) 859-2282. More details about the Copley Square Tree Lighting Here.
Boston Area Christmas Tree Lighting #2
Boston’s 72nd Annual Official Tree Lighting on Boston Common will take place on Thursday, December 5th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The holiday decorations throughout Boston Common and the Public Garden, including the City of Boston’s official Christmas tree from Halifax, a 47-foot white spruce donated by Mary Lou Milligan of Millcove, Lunenberg County, Nova Scotia, will light up in sequence shortly before 8 p.m. when Mayor Menino is joined onstage by Minister Younger, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Santa Claus. The show will close with a pyrotechnic display.
This is the 42nd year that Nova Scotia has given a tree to the people of Boston as thanks for relief efforts following the December 6, 1917, explosion of a munitions ship in Halifax Harbor. Within 24 hours of the disaster a train loaded with supplies and emergency personnel was making its way from Boston to Nova Scotia. In addition this year, Nova Scotia is donating smaller trees to two Boston charities, the Pine Street Inn and Rosie’s Place. More details about the Boston Common Tree Lighting Here.
Immediately following the Boston Common tree lighting, Mayor Tom Menino will join Back Bay residents at Arlington Street for the lighting of Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided by Taj Boston. Trees along the Mall will be illuminated through April 1 with elegant white lights made possible thanks to community support and private donations raised by the Committee to Light Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
So while you enjoy Thanksgiving, and perhaps form your battle plans for Black Friday, keep these dates in mind for next week and celebrate the season with the annual Boston area Christmas Tree lightings.