Parking is an ongoing bugaboo for cities. Brookline is responding to concerns about the multi-space meter system currently in use. The meters offer substantial flexibility, accommodating for the option of adding more time and paying for small increments. Unfortunately the meters have also caused some confusion and delays among parkers.

Brookline officials have decided to adjust the meters to the settings used in nearby Cambridge, allowing a quick set of the purchased time. Although very small time increments can no longer be purchased, the new settings should make it easier for Brookline residents to pop out to meet someone for coffee or quickly run an errand. While no one will ever be glad to pay parking fees, at least the city is responsive to the concerns of Brookline residents and working to effect positive change.

There are many ways public safety officers look out for the Brookline community. The latest is offering a prescription drug disposal box placed in the lobby of the Brookline Public Safety Building. Brookline residents are invited to drop off unused medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, whether for themselves or their pets, at the box for disposal. This is a significant safety issue to prevent people from taking medication inappropriately or in an abusive way. Taking unneeded medication out of the home also prevents children from getting hold of it. The beauty of this system is that it is so easy; Brookline families can just dash in and discard medications. This is a simple but important way the town of Brookline looks out for its residents.

Among all of the condo sales in Brookline this August, the most prevalent size was two bedroom units with 35 sales.  Having two bedrooms provides insurance for maintaining competitive resale value, and depending on the homeowner, allows for a roommate (mortgage-defraying income potential!) or a defined office or guest bedroom. 

Obviously two bedroom condos are a very broad category, and can vary greatly when it comes to square footage, number of bathrooms, and amenities offered with the unit.  The average list price per square foot in a two-bedroom unit is $449 (based on current listings on MLS) with an average of 80 days on market.  Compared to one and three bed units, which average $473 and $513 per square foot respectively as well as longer days on market, a two bedroom unit may be a smart choice for some Brookline buyers.  While largely Brookline home values have remained stable in the past few years, making a smart investment is still key.

As Brookline families prepare to send their children back to school, college students prepare to return. Families considering a move to Brookline should consider the two sides of this effect. On one side, college students add dynamism to the town, a youthful energy with new ideas floating through the air. Students also support local businesses. On the other side, Brookline’s college students sometimes forget they are part of a residential neighborhood, where families may prefer to sleep at 1 a.m. rather than party. College students also place an extra burden on town resources. Those considering a move to Brookline should choose a neighborhood in concert with their own energy and schedule.

When planning to  move to a new town with school-aged children, there is a lot of information to gather and matters to organize before the new school year begins. Fortunately, for those planning a move to Brookline, the school district makes it easy to gather information. Their website offers a very user-friendly visual format for finding anything you might want to know about Brookline schools. Everything from registration procedures to class size information to the school budget is only one-click away from this page. Learn about the extended day programs that support working Brookline families and about the Superintendent’s plans for the coming school year. Brookline school district’s transparency supports their efforts to provide a quality and a balanced education for every student in town.

Brookline boats a diverse, high-end real estate market saturated with condominiums and single family homes.  List to sale price ratios are generally strong and there is no shortage of demand for new properties to enter the market.  While the summer real estate market traditionally isn’t as busy as the spring or fall markets, in Brookline real estate trends have remained strong thus far this season.  If you are thinking about making a move to Brookline, consider the stability and promise of high resale value that the Brookline real estate market offers.

June 2011 Facts & Figures

Number of closings for single family homes:  21

Average days on market for closed properties: 73

Average list price: $1,570,328

Average sale price: $1,519,712

List to sale price ratio:  96.7%

July 2011 Facts & Figures

Number of closings for single family homes: 28

Average days on market for closed properties: 55

Average list price: $1,620,496

Average sale price: $1,538,475

List to sale price ratio:  94.9%

It’s official: Brookline has been named a Green Community, joining 73 other communities in Massachusetts with this designation. Now eligible for over $3 million in grants, the Brookline community has additional resources for local renewable power and energy efficiency projects.

Brookline attained the Green Community designation by meeting five rigorous criteria. These criteria, as noted by the State of Massachusetts, are:

1.     “Provide as-of-right sitting in designated locations for renewable/alternative energy generation, research & development, or manufacturing facilities”

2.     “Adopt an expedited application and permit process for as-of-right energy facilities”

3.     “Establish benchmark for energy use and developed a plan to reduce baseline by 20 percent within 5 years”

4.     “Purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles”

5.     “Set requirements to minimize life-cycle energy costs for new construction; one way to meet these requirements is to adopt the new Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) Stretch Code.”

This commitment, and the grant opportunities, will affect construction, municipal purchases, and quality of life for the Brookline community. Simply with the designation, Brookline will receive an initial grant of $125,000.

With recycling efforts commonplace, Brookline has given the community a recycling report card to educate and motivate for ongoing recycling efforts. It looks like the Brookline community has earned an “A” for their last year of recycling. With single stream recycling in place, Brookline has reduced trash below 10,000 tons, a number not achieved since World War II. Along with trash reduction, Brookline families have increased recycling tonnage, reaching 5,004 tons. Residents’ diligent efforts increased recycling an average of 16% per month, while reducing trash by about 8% per month. These efforts are money-saving as well as environmentally friendly. Home shoppers considering a move to Brookline should know that this community takes this effort seriously, protecting and saving money as well as the environment.

It’s summertime and the living is easy; the Brookline library is no exception. Sure, it’s a great place to visit for your beach book read or to gather some books for the kids to make sure they don’t forget everything they learned this summer, but what makes the Brookline library exceptional is the family-friendly summer programming. Brookline’s three libraries offer 7 day a week services and clubs ranging from manga and anime to poetry. Midday movies are offered at the Putterham branch and family-friendly movies are offered evenings at the main library. Take a look at the Brookline library website, for special scheduled children’s programs including Drumlin Farm activities and art classes. When libraries provide such a wide range of services and daily availability, they enhance the entire Brookline community.

Public art and entertainment is one of the many benefits of living in this vibrant town. When summer hits, Brookline’s summer concert series swings into action featuring danceable bands the entire family can enjoy. From July 6 through August 10, Brookline neighbors gather Wednesdays at Emerson Park. The 2011 summer concert lineup includes Wayne Potash, the Johnny Ray Band, Vanessa Trien & The Jumping Monkeys, Almost Righteous, HipSocket, and The Corvairs. The family-friendly 6:30 pm start time offers a chance for kids to attend, and even dance at, a live concert. Should their attention wander, parents can take advantage of the nearby play equipment. Come see what Brookline has to offer on Wednesdays at Emerson Park.