Community Action Committee for the Centre/South Street Redesign in Jamaica Plain

JP Centre Street sure has been changing over the years.  The first time I really saw it was in 1980.  I thought it was one of the ugliest neighborhoods I'd seen.  Not much on Centre street for me... Woolworths was the best store I could see... there were grates and trash and lots of hard surfaces, seemed like no trees and just concrete. My first thoughts were, "gee, I hope I never have to live here".  I was in High School living in a lovely suberb of Boston after leaving Miami, Florida where I grew up as a child.  I thought Boston was beautiful, with red brick buildings, maple trees, cobble stone streets and acorn lights and stores with awnings and big glass windows with delightful displays... Centre Street had some brick, beat up empty trash cans, again...big metal grate fronts on the stores, no real shops that I could see... there were some drug stores, convient stores, a men's clothing store... a couple of fast food type places. Not much to speak of that stands out now.  There was grid lock in the street, not many people walking around. It seemed like a place to drive through. 

In 1985 I left western Massachusetts to relocate in my first apartment ($550  a month including heat)  with my boyfriend, Greg. We had another friend from high school that was willing to go in on an apartment.  Greg was an art student at Mass Art, working as a guard at the MFA. Chris, was taking time off from Columbia University to find himself and was working at an ice cream shop in Cambridge.  I was taking time off from college as well and was 19 in April when I moved to JP.  The trolleys were still running down Centre and I lived on St John Street. No car. Small salery working 4 days a week at the MFA. The grocery store that I could easily access was Flanagan's the now CVS across from the location of the 1st JP Licks on Centre where South Huntington Splits.

More to come on this blog entry but to see what the thoughts are on redesigning Centre and South Streets... check out the link....above.

I'm now a GREEN Designate with the National Association of Realtors

No other Jamaica Plain Realtor has this designation. I've been educated on green building and green improvements to assist my clients with financial gains and health benefits and working toward creating a sustainable community...

Realtor Code of Ethics

It takes very little to become a Real Estate Sales Agent in Massachusetts. Not all sales agents are Reators. Here are the code of ethics that a Realtor must follow. I've been a realtor since 1998.

Massachusetts Housing Data - Monthly / Quarterly / Annual

Massachusetts Housing Data - Monthly / Quarterly / Annual

Tax Credit Information

Here is a link that will give you information on the deadlines and income restrictions and circumstances that offer the tax credit for buying real estate. You have until April 30, 2010 to have a signed purchase and sale and can not close any later than July 1, 2010. Now if only the inventory increased so that you could actually find something you like... to sign up to receive automatic on line information for new properties and price changes. Email me.

Casey Williams Joins My Team

I'm Very Excited to announce a new addition to my team, Casey Williams. She brings a lot to the team with her creativity, energy and can-do attitude. Casey has worked in several JP locals since moving here in 1998. She's a local artist who also DJ's around town. Casey will assist with showings, paperwork and communication.

Spring Cleaning and Green Ingredients

2010 Wish: Green Cleaning
Green cleaning refers to cleaning techniques that are less caustic.
Usually it takes a while for the government to catch on to a good thing. The private sector is often ahead of government, especially where there is a profit to be had. I wonder why government is so far ahead of the private sector when it comes to green cleaning.
Green cleaning refers to cleaning techniques that are less caustic. They hurt the environment less than other traditional techniques and they hurt humans less as well.
Before modern products dominated grocer's shelves, a lot of simpler, less caustic products were available. Vinegar comes to mind. Many people from Europe still use vinegar to clean just about everything, and it works. Now, its regarded as one of those environmentally green products.
The federal government now has a green purchasing policy concerning its office buildings. There are various organizations that have certified products to be "green," and under the federal program these products are preferred.
The government observed that one of the benefits of its program is that it leads to a healthier indoor air quality for its work force. This is particularly important because Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors and according to some studies, indoor air quality can be much more contaminated than outdoor areas.
The feds are trying to convince other governments to follow their lead. As benefits they cite the following: promotes a healthier work environment, improves safety for janitors, reduces an agency's overall environmental liability, and it helps create a larger market place for cost effective green cleaning products.
In August 2007 New York State took a very bold move in the right direction when the Governor signed an executive order requiring that whenever feasible all New York schools must use green cleaning products.
The program is well underway. And the State takes this very seriously. Today, school children and school employees have drastically reduced exposure to the harmful chemicals that had been used for day to day cleaning.
In certain instances, the older products are still being used because effective alternatives have not been identified and in some cases, because so much of the less toxic material is needed that there is not net gain.
But the New York schools are very green today. That's New York. Here is a really good question: why isn't this being done in every school district across the country? Should only New York students have a cleaner environment?
We need to reduce the exposure of children and staff to harsh cleaning agents. Every school district in the US, without exception, needs to follow New York's lead. Why not attend local meetings and start making this demand.
To do this, read a lot of the literature that exists about New York's experience. Also, read information distributed by the certifying agencies that label certain products as green. There has been a lot of shared experience to date, and you should have this information with you when you make your pitch.
Frankly, you can't lose. The chemicals often cost the same as those now in use. And there is no reasonable debate as to the attributes of this approach. We need activists to go out and start making this happen all over the US.
Ultimately, when will be able to go to the local supermarket and have a large selection of nontoxic, capable cleaning supplies for use at home? The feds and New York are right about this. Its time that every household enjoys the same potential.