Clean Up Quincy Day

This Saturday May 3rd is the 19th annual Cleaner, Greener Quincy Day. Approximately 1500 volunteers are ready to make the rounds through Quincy to help clean up the city. Anyone interested in taking part in the cleanup can call the Quincy Park Department at 617-376-1251.

The cleanup will take place from 9 AM to 12 Noon, followed by an appreciation cookout at the Parks Department building on Merrymount Parkway.

Residents that want to request a site to be cleaned up can call the Parks Department.

The Local Real Estate Market

Real Estate prices in Norfolk County have actually increased over last year at this time. Norfolk County consists od several cities and towns including Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Randolph, Milton, Avon, etc.

A report just published by The Warren Group, publishers of The Banker and Tradesman, showed prices are down 11% in Massachusetts as a whole, but Norfolk County has increased by 1%.

Maybe the bottom has hit? Time will tell. If this trend continues in the coming months we will be saying prices are going up. Local Market Statistics are always a better indicator as to what is happening in a given area. Much of the Media is repoting Nationwide Statistics that really do not tell the story on the local level. Some areas are doing better than others, and I think this report shows that.

Things to do in Quincy

Free Movies for Seniors;

The River Bay Club at the corner of Southern Artery and Brackett Street will be showing free movies to Seniors on the third Thursday of each month. Refreshments will be served although you need to call to reserve a seat. Call Ann at 617-376-1506 to save your seat. The movies are being sponsored by the Council on Aging.

Quincy News Briefs

Norfolk County Residents - The Truth About Your Deed

There has been a massive direct mail campaign targeting residents of Norfolk County with an offer to provide a certified copy of the homeowners deed to them for $59.50. This offer is coming from a company called National Deed Services, Inc., based out of Washington D.C.Do not fall for this service. You can get your own copy from the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds in Dedham for a mere $2.00. You can go to the Registry of Deeds in person at 649 High Street in Dedham, or request a copy via mail. The mailing address is Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, P.O. Box 69, Dedham, MA 02026. For information or questions, call the Registry of Deeds at 781-461-6101.


PMI BECOMES DEDUCTIBLE IN 2007

A new tax change that makes private mortgage insurance deductible may help some low- and moderate-income buyers purchase homes this year. Borrowers closing loans for home purchases in 2007, who have annual household incomes of $100,000 or less, will be able to get a low down payment mortgage and deduct the full cost of their mortgage insurance premiums on their federal tax returns. The deduction has now been extended by Congress and will continue beyond 2008.


Quincy Rated State´s 2nd Safest City

11/2/06

The City of Quincy was recently rated 2nd in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 76th nationally in a recent study of America´s safest cities. Only perennial leader Newton was rated higher than Quincy. The ratings were based on major crime statistics reported to the FBI, released this past June. Quincy moved up 19 spots from 95th last year to 76th. Newton was ranked Number 4 in the Nation.

Quincy's Skyline Is About To Change!

The Big Goliath crane at the former Fore River Shipyard has finally been sold and will be disappearing from Quincy's skyline shortly. The crane has been visible from not only parts of Quincy, but many areas throughout the South Shore.

The shipyard has been closed for many years and the current owner has been trying to find a buyer for the crane. The crane was purchased and will be dismantled in the near future and shipped to a shipyard in Romania.

There are plans by the current owner to develop the shipyard into residential and retail space similar to Marina Bay in Quincy. The former shipyard site is located right on the Fore River.

The project has not begun yet and is still a few years away from being revived.

New Zoning and Building Requirements on the Way?

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch has named a citizen's task force to look at Quincy,s zoning and building regulations. In the past, there have been a large number of new Townhouse developments being built and changing the makeup of the neighborhoods. About a year ago, the City Council imposed a one year moratorium on any projects over two units within the Residential B zoning. This put a halt to the construction of such properties and now the City is looking at ways to put some permanent measures in place to protect the neighborhoods. The task force will be comprised of both professionals in the field and neighborhood residents and will take a hard look at the current zoning and building laws and reccomend changes they feel will benefit Quincy both now, and in the future.