Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim - Starbucks finds a new home.

I happened to notice an article while surfing inexpensive ways to build my dream home and came across this little diddy. Apparently Starbucks is getting wiser on all fronts. The idea of re-purposing shipping containers has been around a long time – my favorite website for this type of design is www.fabprefab.com. They have a whole section devoted to shipping containers here. Be prepared to lose 2 hours of your life if you visit that website.

Anyway, Starbucks, great idea. Now how am I going to find a client who needs a Buyer’s Agent to build one of these fantastical dwellings in Jamaica Plain?

That’s right. We’re packing it in, shuttin’ it down. We’re dropping the hammer. Closing the doors, turning out the lights, we’re throwing in the towel. Calling it a day.

No, we’re not giving up real estate – just some bad habits. Namely, using way too much paper and fuel. There’s a lot of tradition [read obsolescence] in my business. Folks aren’t all that open to electronic signatures yet, but that’s the way of the future. The Boston Home Team is going paperless. Well, not completely all at once, but we’re going that direction. As soon as we can come up with a viable alternative for property information sheets at open houses I think we’ll about have this problem licked. In the meantime, all of our contracts, offers, purchase & sale documents, etc. will be completely paperless. Electronic signatures are better all around. Thanks to the Esign Act of 2000 (I know! Who knew this has been around more than a decade!):

Electronic and digital signatures are just as binding as traditional pen and ink signatures as long as they are executed through a process that clearly establishes intent to sign and ensures all legal elements of proof. Furthermore, electronic signatures obtained through DocuSign are compliant with the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000 (ESIGN) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) which has been adopted in most states. As a result, they are legally binding and backed by a comprehensive audit trail. – Docusign FAQ

Basically, we can now generate any document, mark it up for initials and signatures and send it on it’s way. It ravels from one signer to the next until completely executed at which point it turns into a PDF and Presto! Everyone gets a copy in their inbox. Not even the Devil himself is this efficient when harvesting souls. I’ll bet he doesn’t even provide a copy of the contract.

I am very excited that each week, fresh, local food will be arriving at the Plaza Meat Market. Located at 207 Boylston Street, between Amory and Washington, just a short walk from Stony Brook station.  A whole pig arrives every other Friday for now. Every cut will be available including offal and bones. They should be able to offer very competitive prices because they are buying the whole pig. They also have local butter, eggs and milk! They hope to also patronize City Growers produce when the season begins in June.

The Plaza Meat Market has been in the neighborhood for 30 years and they hope to expand their local food stocks if the interest is there. Vote with your dollars!

Jamaica Plain kicks off 2011 with the addition of Bartlett Square

2010 was box office year for Jamaica Plain real estate. There were certainly some ups and downs and working with the banks has been no cake walk – but Jamaica Plain homes have held in there for the long haul. JP has that certain je ne sais quoi that can be found no where else in Boston.

Although the commercial side of Jamaica Plain had some shake ups along Centre and South Streets, and there’s some controversy over the new Whole Foods market scheduled to fill the Hi-Lo space, the east side of the MBTA tracks is still decidedly lacking restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, etc. making those locations somewhat less desirable due to the distance to amenities. However, it look like Jamaica Plain might be inching closer to a balanced commercial and retail base as several large projects move forward

While I reserve my opinions on some of the proposed and partially completed projects for a later date, some of them I find downright exciting. I happen to live on Amory Street near The Brewery and the new project at Bartlett Square has my eye.

I attended one of the community meetings when the project was in the planning stage and I was immediately impressed with how well Maple Hurst Builders handled the design integration with the surrounding buildings not to mention the complicated traffic and parking issues in the area. I held my breath that the project would pull through and maintain the overall “spirit” that had been proposed at that meeting. It has surpassed all expectations thus far.

I was immediately impressed with how well Maple Hurst Builders handled the design integration of Bartlett Square with the surrounding buildings, not to mention the complicated traffic and parking issues in the area.

I’ve done a lot of traveling throughout the United States, paying special attention to the architecture and infrastructure of various places along the way. It’s something I find very interesting, and to be frank, after visiting some of these places, parts of Boston are underwhelming in terms of development. It seems that often in an attempt to maintain strict planning and zoning rules in an effort to maintain a rigid historic Boston vernacular – the overall city suffers. I yearn for more creativity and variance but it is so rare.

Enters Bartlett Square. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no Frank Gehry fantasy (not a fan actually) but rather a very well designed addition to the neighborhood. The project fits nicely with the rows of old brick buildings between Amory and Washington Streets while tipping it’s hat to a more and more eco-conscious, modernist market.

Specializing in the redevelopment of under-utilized urban properties, Maple Hurst Builders has earned particular acclaim for the development, design and construction of in-fill projects that enhance their respective Boston neighborhoods by artfully blending classic architecture with contemporary details.

Each residence crafted by Maple Hurst Builders is distinctive, featuring amenities and workmanship typically reserved for custom-built homes.

Respect for the environment has always been an integral element of the design and construction of every project. Green building and sustainable construction are not merely marketing terms at Maple Hurst Builders. Resource and energy conservation, judicious use of materials and permanence of the structure are paramount. Maple Hurst Builders always will strive to deliver properties of unsurpassed value and enduring beauty.

The development at Bartlett Square is pursuing a rigorous eco-conscious design including solar panels that will support hot water and common electric needs, bike storage, a Kone “eco-efficient” elevator, Energy Star appliances, high efficiency heating and cooling and vegetative green roof, etc.

Bartlett Square employs serious eco-conscious design

In addition to the 13 condo units (two of which are affordable units per city of Boston guidelines) there will be three desperately needed retail spaces ranging from 775 SF to 1875 SF. I’m swooning at the mere idea of some healthy food options. Personally, I have my eye on a certain live foods restaurant. I suppose what stores go in will have a dramatic effect on the area and help determine the personality of that portion of the neighborhood.

I believe this section of Jamaica Plain has some amazing history and architecture, setting it apart from the more bucolic JP that is west of the MBTA line. The Brewery District and abutting neighborhoods seem to have the potential to be something like Williamsburg in Brooklyn or parts of Portland, OR. I like the grittier feel and the antique brick structures.

Locationally, the project is the bomb. Some of my favorite places in Jamaica Plain are all within walking distance. Just a few doors down from a little bodega and a block from Canto 6 with it’s steamed up windows and ridiculously mouth watering pastries and sandwiches. BMS Paper is Valhalla for party people. One of the best kept secrets in Boston IMO. You can get anything from industrial kitchen supplies to wine glasses for about $.50 each. I’m saving up for the “diner” plates they have. You know, those thick, heavy plain white plates and cups that are so strong they last for 50 years? Next on the list is Axiom Center for New and Experimental Media.

AXIOM is located at the corner of Green and Armory Streets. The gallery is on the ground floor level of the Green Street train stop on the Orange line at 141 Green St. A little about Axiom from their website:

Axiom was founded in 2004 by Heidi Kayser as an artist’s collective who originally exhibited work in a collaborative studio space. From 2005 to 2009, Axiom grew into a non-profit center whose mission is to support and nurture cutting-edge contemporary art practice through exhibitions, events, education and collaboration.

In 2010, Axiom merged with Boston Cyberarts, the organizers of the renowned biennial festival, the Boston Cyberarts Festival.

In 2011, Axiom returns to a collaborative management practice by forming the new Axiom Group, a collective of artists who curate exhibitions and events, provide educational programming, exhibit their own work, and participate in day-to-day operations. We are not currently accepting new members, but we love short term volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering or interning, (up to three college credits available) contact us: info@axiomart.org.

From the gallery at Green Street station, heading north up a gorgeous bike and pedestrian path takes you right by The Brewery complex which is home to some of Jamaica Plain’s favorite businesses. Bella Luna and the Milky Way pump out the best hand made galactic eats this side of the galaxy. You can’t go wrong with a Simple Simon and one of the Sam Adams brew made specially for this establishment. Next door is Ula Cafe, a treasure trove of delectable breakfast yummy treats and creatively combined sandwiches. Everything there seems to be fair trade, consciously sourced, etc. Stop in for an excellent cup a Joe and free Wi-Fi. When you’ve had your fill of some exotic strada or your favorite – the bacon, cheddar and chive scones, and you’re feeling a bit lumpy, you can jog upstairs to the massive Mike’s Fitness. Mike’s is a great gym and you’ll find, like the rest of Jamaica Plain, Mike’s is pretty diverse. Anyone will feel comfortable working out here. My favorite spot is on the recumbant bike or the Cybex elliptical in front of the huge windows overlooking the MBTA tracks and the Southwest Corridor.

As the project proceeds, I’ll keep you informed with more updates. If you have any questions in the meantime don’t hesitate to ask. If you’d like to hear it from the horse’s mouth in person, you can speak to the developers of Bartlett Square at the 1st Annual Jamaica Plain Home Energy Fair, Saturday March 5th, 9:30-1 pm at Bella Luna.

- 10:30 Introduction by MC (BJ Ray of Prudential Unlimited Realty).

- 10:35 Presentation on energy in homes, energy in the electrical grid, your energy footprint.

- 10:50 Presentation on energy reduction measures big and small.

- 11:05 Quick testimonials from DER homeowners.

- 11:15 Quick pitch from Green Justice Coalition on action items for their campaign.

- 11:25 Introduction of “Ask an Expert” participants.

- 11:30 Pizza is served!

- 11:30 Participants are free to mingle, have pizza, and ask questions of experts.

- 12:30 MC announce contest winners.

Some of the presenters:

- Dave Legg or other from National Grid on DER program

- Irina Rasputnis (NEEP) on the bewildering array of energy incentive programs

- Mass Energy Consumers Alliance on purchasing renewable electricity

- BBMC: Linda or Kim on materials choices for kitchens&  baths

- Ben Crouch Organics on local food production

- Green City Growers on local food production

- Cool JP on their block-by-block “Carbon Diet” campaign

- Green Justice Coalition on their efforts to create “Green Jobs” in weatherization

- Bikes Not Bombs, JP Bikes on pedal-powered transportation, here and abroad

- Living Structures, on reducing your home’s operating energy

- Roxbury Green Power/Green Grease Monkey, on waste veggie oil for transportation and home heating fuel

- 350.org on climate activism and why 350 matters

Urban gardening is sexy.

Okay, well maybe that’s pushing it a little bit – but it can certainly be fun and healthy. In Jamaica Plain it’s even a bit cool possibly. I recently went to a panel discussion at the Universalist Church entitled The Carnivore’s Dilemma and the place was packed with hip shaksters, albeit the kind with dirty finger nails.

I’m one of those people that spends an inordinate time on the web perusing feeds, reading blogs, researching topics in an admittedly impatient A.D.D. sort of way. In any case, I’ve learned a great deal about the benefits of having an urban garden, not to mention the other benefits of greening up the surface of the planet and reducing storm water runoff. I have found gardening to be incredibly rewarding and soul centering. No really! It calms me.

In fact, according to an article by Susan Wyatt,  getting outside and getting dirty could make you smarter. “A new study finds that naturally occurring bacteria in soil could enhance learning. And as a side benefit, it appears to be a natural anti-anxiety drug, but without the side-effects.”

One of the things I’ve learned in my short five years of gardening is to be patient. This is not a talent in abundance in my life. However, as I’ve watched my garden morph over the years I’ve learned to not get too uptight about the little setbacks. Mother Nature is on an entirely different timeline than us.

My front garden in Jamaica Plain

For example, when I started working on my yard, the entire property was covered in a nasty layer of asphalt. I pried this all up and recycled it. We then had to build a huge sieve out of 2x6s and 1/4in chicken wire – and hand shoveled the top 8-12 inches of soil through it, removing as much of the yucky stuff and rocks as possible. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard this was. Then we brought in a lot of loam.

I worked with a landscape architect named Jen Russ to begin with to create a plan. She had great ideas and a good knowledge of plants that would work well in my location. The problem in hindsight (unforeseeable) was that we set up the focal points of the yard based on which properties around my house were crappiest and should be shielded from view. Surprise! The Brewery District emerged shortly afterward with the development of the old Haffenreffer Brewery by the JPNDC and the old crack house behind me and the rest of the real

estate abutters turned over and fixed up the dilapidated old wrecks, hence, changing the view. Now the best view was the worst view. I realized quickly that I needed to bring in the BIG GUNS. This is when I really got to know Rich Gargiulo. Rich owns Treeworks Earth Designs (617-983-0813) and also lives in Jamaica Plain. He’s a big bear of a dude – and watch out – he’s full of ‘piss and vinegar’ as my mom used to say. Rich loves the outdoors. He will literally hug your trees. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but his energy is catchy and his work ethic is astounding. Rich doesn’t stand around talking about how to get something done. Over the last three years Rich has taken exquisite care of us and created an amazing place for my family to enjoy. We started with the ‘hardscaping’ which wasn’t even on my radar before Rich showed up. I had some stepping stones planned, but Rich was thinking bigger. The giant granite blocks and very organic Japanese-esque stones create a real sense of permanence.

Japanese Pine and Mountain Laurel

Rich and the rest of the guys on his crew are artists. He has transformed my property into something extraordinary, a real diamond in a previously rough neighborhood. Also, as I am a Realtor, property value is always on my mind. Landscaping is the #1 most overlooked item for people when considering selling their homes. Don’t just spread some fake red mulch around. Put some thought in and you will be rewarded. Every year we make tweaks, get rid of dead plants, plant some new ones, and spend a little time making design changes. This year I moved the vegetable garden around a bit. The plants that grow below ground and the lettuces went down in the raised bed – where the gal-darned squirrels won’t eat them. (The little buggers don’t even steal the whole thing, they just sample a little bit and leave it. Yuk, who wants to eat a veggie some squirrel slobbered all over?)

The tomatoes, peppers, pickling cukes, etc. are all going to be grown hanging upside down from shepherds poles on our 2nd level deck. This way we can water them easily, monitor growth and our daughter Vitoria can take part in the process and be fully engaged with the growing cycle of the plants.

Hanging baskets for growing veggies upside down.

I’m going to rig up the poles with stainless steel inserts so I can quickly attach them every year and take them down again in the winter.

There are a number of El Cheapo upside down hangers out there, but you can do it cheaper and better. If you want to go really low tech, just get some old 5 gallon buckets and cut a hole in the bottom. There’s no shortage of websites to give you advice on the subject. I’m ordering mine online, and I’m going with a reusable wire basket design. It has a canvas outer bag that literally zips up for ease of planting.  Supposedly you get better, stronger plants with less  water consumption and higher yields.

I have been experiencing a lot of stress in the last couple months as I prepared to plant my first veggie garden. Newbies have so many questions and so little experience after all. Have no fear, there are no shortage of resources. I recommend reading a lot of info on the web before you even start asking humans questions.

5 Gal planter

There is definitely some lingo involved in gardening and it helps to know the basics. Create a bookmarked file and start dumping stuff in as you go. One of the best resources I have found so far is the no frills University of New Hampshire – Garden Guide. It has an overwhelming amount of info about all aspects of gardening. And yes, there’s an app for that. For iPhone users, check out Gardening Toolkit. It helps pick plants that are appropriate for the location, has a todo list, how much to water, when to harvest, etc.

The bottom line is that we need to do whatever we can to help the recent movement toward a more ‘slow food’ culture. Not only do we need to learn how to grow our own food, but we need to teach our kids the importance of land stewardship. Just like foreign language, these types of concepts are easier to learn as a child. They become second nature. My daughter, for instance, now instinctively conserves water, ‘to save Mother Nature’.

There really isn’t a downside that I can see to all this. Feel free to comment if I’m wrong. As I see it:

1.  By planting a garden you get free food and the satisfaction of having grown a living organism.

2.  No fossil fuels are burned to transport your food.

3.  Storm water runoff is slowed and cooled – preserving the environment.

4. The heat island effect is mitigated.

5. Everything looks a lot more attractive – unless you’re into that post apocalyptic look.

Loft-like open plan

I can’t tell you how many buyers I’ve worked with over the years who needed to be convenient to the medical area – but they are many. If you’re not familiar with Longwood Medical Area, is a medical campus in Boston. Centered on Longwood Avenue as it runs from Huntington Avenue to The Riverway, LMA straddles the Fenway-Kenmore and Mission Hill neighborhoods. It is most strongly associated with the Harvard Medical School and other medical facilities such as Harvard’s teaching hospitals, but prominent non-Harvard and non-medical institutions are located there as well, such as museums, colleges and research centers.

The four Orange Line stations in Jamaica Plain are not helpful here – but the Green Line to Heath Street or the #39 bus is. Many of these buyers need to have immediate access to one of these modes of transport as their lives are crazy busy and there is no time for pesky commutes.

[Enter] Home of the Week. The rather loft-like condo at 90 Bynner Street in Jamaica Plain. This home is located across the street from the #39 bus stop, and just a couple blocks from the terminus of the Green (E) Line.

Somewhere along the line, this 1925 apartment went condo and some of the walls were redesigned to reveal a very open plan with a wall of windows as the focal point. There is a nice master bedroom with a wardrobe style closet, and the second bedroom which will likely be an office or guest room for someone.

Beyond the convenience of the location, and the short walk to Centre Street and Brookline Village, I think the park at the end of the block is one of the most valuable attributes. The “Emerald Necklace” was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.

The park system is over seven miles long from end to end. It covers 1,100 acres. To help you find your way to the Emerald Necklace parks and from one park to another, you can download a map here. The maps will show you where you can find many of the things to make your visit to the parks enjoyable and convenient, including:

Natural Features:
* Ponds
* The Muddy River
* Vistas

Park Features such as:
* Historic bridges and fountains
* Sculptures and public art
* Recreation facilities such as tot lots and sailboat rental
* Athletic facilities
* Picnic areas
* Emergency telephones
* Rest rooms

Getting Around:
* Paths, both paved and unpaved
* Suggested walking and bicycling routes
* Emerald Necklace Parkways
* MBTA transit and bus stops near the parks
* Parking lots (There are only a few.)

The full Emerald Necklace Map is 31″ wide by 17″ high. You can download a PDF of the entire map and zoom in to print just a part of it.

The Emerald Necklace Guide link below, allows you to view the material that is on the back of the map. It gives an overview of each of the 9 parks, highlighting what each has to offer, and tells the story of the history of the parks. The history includes Frederick Law Olmsted’s role in creating the six parks extending from the Back Bay Fens to Franklin Park in the later 1800s. Lastly, the Guide gives information about nearby greenspaces: the Esplanade, the Southwest Corridor Park, the Boston Nature Center and the Forest Hills Cemetery.

Emerald Necklace Map
Emerald Necklace Guide

We’re having an open house Sunday 16th, 12p-3p and there will be a drawing for $500 gift card. Also check out our www.TheBostonHomeTeam.com for more photos and a virtual tour.

The Ethicurean put it better than I ever could have. Despite Jamaica Plain’s progressive community and seeming hunger for everything “green” and “sustainable”, they have missed the opportunity to secure Lionette’s Market at the Brewery. Apparently the problem is financing, which is a very familiar story in my industry as well. In an email Jamey Lionette said, “We are NOT moving into the Brewery.  We tried lots of different banks, lenders, and development corporations and they all felt the project was too big a risk,  so they all said no.  We got next to nothing from the city and less from the state.  I had several ‘money adviser’ type people who all thought it was a slam dunk, but alas, a Lionette‘s market and year round farmer’s market at the brewery is nothing that any lending institution wants anything to do with.”

Lionette's Market has low carbon trike delivery

I was blown away when I heard this. Are you kidding me?! If ever there was a location perfectly suited for a “slow food“  business, it’s Jamaica Plain. Every condo in town would be getting deliveries from the little MetroPed trikes.

I’m on a bit of a sustainability/environmental warpath and I’m embarrassed to say that I never even thought about where my food was coming from until the last two years.

Vitoria Brokhof

This probably had a lot to do with my concern for my daughter Vitoria’s health. We saw a couple of documentaries that most of you are probably familiar with like, King Corn, Super Size Me, Fast Food Nation and then just happened to follow up with a 10,000 mile road trip which just happened to take us past some of the food we had previously been eating. We drove by one of those huge cattle yards on a cold rainy day. There were thousands of absolutely massive cows mushing around in 6 inch deep mud and manure. We slowed down to take in the unusual size of the beasts and actually witnessed one collapse under it’s own weight. This made us really get serious about our food (although we could be doing much better). Until you really start to look around, you don’t realize how hard it is to find food that is made within your state, let alone organic or at least friendly farm food.

I was at Trader Joe’s the other day trying to find foods that were localish. I was really surprised to find that they don’t put the origin of the food on the package. Obviously things that have complex ingredient lists are harder to pin down, but fish and berries, etc. should be fairly straightforward. Nope.

If you call Jamaica Plain home and you think you’d like to support a business like Lionette’s Market, then speak up. Write the JP Gazette, drop a post on Neighbor’s For Neighbor’s, or at least leave a comment here. Also, check out the links in this post and learn more about some of the factors involved.

I just happened upon Andree and Ken’s weblog on Neighbor’s For Neighbors community organizing website (I guess it’s working). I’m excited about the prospect of watching them renovate their very old home with an eye to giving it a zero carbon footprint.

Jack's Store is now JP Green House

I signed up for their newsletters and I think you should too. Here’s a snippet from their project page:

The JP Green House is a zero carbon* demonstration project, sustainable urban model and hub for 350.org climate action founded by Andrée Zaleska and Ken Ward. We are rehabbing an abandoned, 100 year old, former neighborhood store located on the line between Jamaica Plain and Roslindale in Boston, Massachusetts. Our aim is to achieve passivhaus standards, win substantial independence from grid supplies of water and electricity, and supply a large portion of our food on a modest income. We are retrofitting the former “Jack’s store” as space for workshops and trainings, neighborhood events and gatherings like our JP Family SongFest.

The JP Green House is located at 133 Bourne Street, Roslindale. We welcome visitors & volunteers and have a schedule of activities and events. You can contact us at:

greenhousejp[at[gmail.com 617.512.8350