Monday, February 22, 2010

City starts using the grant money

672 Pine St





733 Ferry St








Express Times article

Even though Noel beat me to it, I wanted to post about this today.
this should be good for the city, assuming they get some real contractors in there who 1., know what they are doing, and 2., respect old homes. too many contractors have no clue about historical value and what is and isn't 'proper'. you CAN rehab an older home sustainably and 'green'.
the Pine st property really has a lot going for it; lots of room, AND off street parking! there is a lot across the alley from it as well, I assume it belongs to the businesses on Northampton. point being, even though it's on an alley, they probably have more parking than a lot of us do.
the Ferry st home might be more of a challenge. going to a single family is a great idea, since Ferry is a dense area. the big tree in front looks nice in the spring and summer, and provides a welcome respite from the heat.
they REALLY need to get homeowners in there, because if someone buys them as investments, you're back where you started. section 8 rental units are NEVER good for a neighborhood looking to improve its image.
Easton, we'll be watching!

1 comment:

  1. No worries, EHB--the program is federal funded and stipulates that the properties can only go to home-buyers that will live in the property. It will be great to get a few extra cars off Ferry Street too, since the de-conversion there will ensure that less people live in the building.

    I can't wait to see them both fixed up! Things are looking up for the West Ward, little by little...

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