Centers And Squares
10 Francis Street Somerville – Single Family House for Sale
10 Francis St Somerville MA
10 Francis Street in Somerville is a four bedroom house on Somerville’s Spring Hill above Porter Square. It’s one of my favorite properties I’ve sold and it’s ready for new owners.
When I look for houses one of the most important criteria for me is charm – it’s a know-it-when-you-see-it quality and it’s in limited supply in the real estate search most days. 10 Francis Street has charm to spare. High ceilings, maple and oak floors, lovely bullseye moldings, an amazing, beautifully trimmed archway, bay windows, a beautiful staircase to the third floor, stained glass – lots of wonderful details, sun streaming in the windows – it all adds up to something that gives that internal “click” that makes me fall in love with a place.
The house was lovingly maintained but not updated by long term owners. The current owners have made important upgrades – replaced the furnace, updated the electric to 200 amps, rewired ceiling fixtures, and added some IKEA modular kitchen storage units. New owners will probably opt to redo the floors, paint, etc. There’s one full bath on the second floor and a functioning 1/4 bath in the cellar.
The yard is fully enclosed and there’s room to garden out back. The sellers have planted a couple of fruit trees, blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes (that yielded many pints last year), and more. Parking is on street with a resident permit.
10 Francis Street is walkable to Porter Square, Davis Square, and the bike path.
10 Francis Street, Somerville MA is coming on the market for $469,000. Showings begin on Wednesday, February, 23, 2012. Call Liz Bolton at Coldwell Banker (that’s me!) at 617-504-1737 for more information or to schedule a visit. I can also be reached via email at [email protected].
Green Line Extension Meeting
Green Line Extension Meeting
I’ve heard pessimistic rumblings about the Green Line extension recently so I think the public meeting scheduled for this Wednesday would be good to attend.
On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, a Green Line extension meeting on Phase I: Early Bridge and Demolition Package will be held at the Somerville High School.
On the docket are discussion of:
- Reconstruction and widening of the Medford Street bridge in Somerville
- Reconstruction and widening of the Harvard Street bridge in Medford
- Demolition and site preparation at 21 Water Street in Cambridge
- and more.
The Green Line Extension meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at the Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA.
Green Line photo courtesy of Pylon757
Somerville Flag Raising on New Year’s Day
Prospect Hill Tower Somerville MA
Looking for something different to ring in the new year? Head on over to Prospect Hill in Somerville for the annual New Year’s Day flag raising.
The Prospect Hill flag raising on January 1, 2012 marks the 236th anniversary of General George Washington’s raising of the nation’s first official flag on Jan. 1, 1776 on Prospect Hill. A processional led by a Washington re-enactor on horseback will leave Somerville City Hall at 11:30 am. The flag will be raised at Prospect Hill Park at noon.
There will be songs, readings, and re-enactments by several groups. Light refreshments will be served. Books about Somerville’s history and miniature replicas of the Grand Union Flag will be available for purchase.
The circa 1905 postcard at right reads in part: “Strongest work in besieging line of Boston 1775-1776. On this Eminence Jan. 1, 1776, The Flag of the United Colonies first waved defiance to a foe.”
Somerville Election Results
Nov 8, 2011 Election results in Somerville
There were a lot of sign waving supporters on Somerville street corners on election day. Wondering who won the Board of Alderman and school committee races? Here are the preliminary Somerville election results for the municipal election on November 8, 2011.
Somerville Election Results
Somerville publishes the unofficial election results. Races aren’t final until the absentee, overseas and other provisional ballots are counted. The posted unofficial results are based on the 9,071 votes cast and counted at the polls.
Since most seats were not contested, however, there’s not a heck of a lot to report. Mayor Curtatone and all seven members of the School Committee ran unopposed and were reelected.
Somerville Board of Alderman Election Results
The Board of Alderman races resulted in just one new face among the eleven members.
All four of the Board of Aldermen members with at-large seats won re-election: John Connelly, Dennis Sullivan, William White and Bruce Desmond. William Roche (Ward 1), Maryann Heuston (Ward 2), Sean O’Donovan (Ward 5) andRebekah Gerwitz (Ward 6) ran unopposed and were re-elected.
Thomas Taylor was re-elected to represent Ward 3, beating Stephen Delani.
In a bit of a squeaker in Ward 7, Robert Trane was re-elected, beating challenger Katjana Ballantyne by 40 votes, 1068 to 1028, according to the unofficial tally.
In Ward 3, Alderman Walter Pero did not run for re-election. The unofficial tally shows Tony Lafuente beating Christine Barber in that race by 857 t o 623.
Somerville MA Real Estate Market – January-October 2011
Somerville MA Real Estate Market
As we head into the holiday season real estate market activity tends to slow down a bit. Time for a look back to see how the Somerville MA real estate market fared this year with a look at the numbers for January through October 2o11.
Last year’s numbers for the same period are in parentheses.
Approximately 7% fewer residential properties sold in Somerville this year. Properties took an extra week to sell on average. At the same time the median real estate sales price in Somerville increased by 6% with increases in median sales price for all property types.
Total properties sold in Somerville – Jan-Oct 2011:
- 495 (529)
- Average days on market = 84 (77)
- Properties sold for an average of 97% of asking price (98%)
- Median price of $410,000 ($387,000)
Somerville Single Family Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 57 (70 )
- Sale prices ranged from $109,000 – $965,000 ($150,000 – $1,001,000)
- Median price: $475,000 ($390,000)
- Average days on market: 89 (70)
- On average, houses sold for 98% of asking price (99% )
Somerville Condo Sales – Jan-Oct 2011
- Total sold: 309 (334)
- Sale prices ranged from $73,000 – $1,180,000 ($150,000 – $775,000)
- Median price: $367,000 ($357,000)
- Average days on market: 85 (79)
- On average, condos sold for 98% of asking price (98%)
Somerville Multi-Family Sales
- Total sold: 129 (125)
- Sale prices ranged from $190,000 – $2,075,000 ($248,000 – $940,000)
- Median price: $520,000 ($510,000)
- Average days on market: 80 (75)
- On average, multi-unit houses sold for 96% of asking price (98% )
Info about Somerville MA real estate market in 2011 (2010) from MLSpin
Somerville Happiness Survey Meeting
The city of Somerville garnered national attention when they were the first municipality in the country to survey residents’ happiness.
On Tuesday, the city will discuss the results of the Well-Being Survey, aka the Happiness Survey, at an interactive community meeting at the Somerville High School Library.
Mayor Curtatone and city staff members will share findings from the study. Audience input will be encouraged and residents will get a chance to share their opinions and stories about how Somerville impacts their happiness.
The Somerville Happiness Survey meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 2o11 at 6:30 pm at 81 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA. Take a right after the Main Office and the Library will be down the hall to the right.
Cambridge and Somerville Most Walkable Cities in Massachusetts
Cambridge and Somerville - Most Walkable MA Cities
Cambridge and Somerville Most Walkable Cities in Massachusetts The popular site Walkscore just came out with its 2011 50 Most Walkable Cities. Boston was #3 in the country with a Walkscore of 79.2, behind only top ranked New York City (Walkscore of 85.3) and San Francisco (84.9) .
Dig a little deeper, however, and you realize that the Most Walkable Cities list only included big cities – it’s a ranking of the walkability of the 50 largest cities in the US.
When you look at the Walkscore rankings for Massachusetts you discover that Cambridge is the most walkable city in Massachusetts, followed by Somerville. Using Walkscore’s methodology (Walkscore has a complicated algorithm meant to measure how easy it is to live without a car. For the city-wide rankings the scores are weighted for population density throughout the city.) Cambridge and Somerville handily outrank Boston in terms of walkability. Here’s the ranking of the top five cities in Massachusetts:
- Cambridge 89
- Somerville 84
- Brookline 83
- Boston 79
- Everett 77
And here are the 2011 Walkscore rankings for some other towns in Centers and Squares territory:
- Arlington 67
- Belmont 63
- Medford 64
- Watertown 74 (ranked 6th in Massachusetts)
You have to take Walkscore rankings with a grain of salt – sometimes the amenities included in a location’s ranking are a little funky. Also, for these aggregate scores realize that some parts of these cities are much more walkable, while other neighborhoods are more removed from shops, schools, etc.
No question though – many real estate buyers are looking for properties in close proximity to shops, restaurants, public transportation, pubs, etc. In a time of high gas prices and traffic congestion the option of living car free is very appealing. It’s not surprising that Cambridge, Somerville and Brookline continue to be popular with home buyers.
The Railroad In Somerville
Somerville Railroads Lecture
Historic Somerville is sponsoring a lecture on Wednesday, March 3, 2011:
Transportation Gateway to New England: 175 Years of the Railroad in Somerville
John Roderick, Somerville resident and local train buff, will speak about the railroad in the Northeast with a focus on trains in Somerville.
Two of Roderick’s model trains will be on view.
The Railroad in Somerville lecture will take place Wednesday, March 3, 2011 from 7 to 9 pm.
The lecture will be held at the Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road, Somerville MA 02143. The museum is at the corner of Central Street and Westwood.
Admission is $5 for members, students and seniors. $8 for nonmembers
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