Short-term rental battle riles Nantucket

Wealthy island debates regulations

By Shira Schoenberg Nantucket, short-term rentals 0 Comments Apr 18, 2022

THE REAL ESTATE listing for the four-bedroom home on Nantucket portrays an idyllic setting for a summer vacation, a mile from the beach. There’s a deck overlooking a large yard; a light-filled, newly renovated, living area; and a second floor comprised solely of the master suite and balcony. The price tag: $11,000 a week in(...)

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GLX manager Dalton wants to stay on

By CommonWealth Staff MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 1, 2021

John Dalton, the manager brought in from Chicago to oversee the construction of the $2.3 billion Green Line extension into Somerville and Medford, is looking to stick around after the project is done next year. He signed a five-year contract when he was hired in 2016 that made him the MBTA’s highest-paid employee. At the(...)

Education

Missed lessons

The pandemic created an opening for a long overdue rethinking of K-12 education. We squandered it.

By Charles Euchner Neema Avashia, Paul Reville, Ronald Ferguson, school reform 0 Comments Oct 4, 2020

ON FRIDAY THE 13th of March, at the order of Gov. Charlie Baker, schools shut down across Massachusetts. No one knew for how long or how schools would respond. Within days, teachers adapted their classes to online platforms like Zoom. Some held classes live, every day. Other teachers uploaded videos and assignments but otherwise had(...)

The Download/ Education

Voc-tech woes continue at Boston’s Madison Park

By CommonWealth Staff 0 Comments May 6, 2020

Amidst all the turmoil and angst that has turned the world as we know it upside down, we long for signs of normal life, some sort of consistency that can be counted on. Look no further than Boston’s troubled Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, where a global pandemic has done nothing to upset the(...)

Housing

Boston approves fee on real estate transactions

If OK’d by Legislature, measure could raise $168m

By Sarah Betancourt Housing, Marty Walsh 0 Comments Dec 11, 2019

THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL on Wednesday approved a fee of up to 2 percent on real estate transactions greater than $2 million, a measure that is expected to raise $168 million a year for affordable housing production. The new transfer fee, an attempt to capitalize on Boston’s hot real estate market, is expected to be(...)

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Lone survivor recalls scallop boat sinking

By CommonWealth Staff Fishing 0 Comments Nov 27, 2019

Three fishermen were killed at sea this week in a tragedy that will be long remembered by their families and others in New Bedford. A fourth man survived, and told his harrowing tale to WHDH reporter Jonathan Hall, who interviewed him in his hospital room where he was recovering from hypothermia. “We took one over(...)

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Cities eye higher fees on Uber, Lyft rides

By CommonWealth Staff Congestion, Lyft, Uber 0 Comments Oct 22, 2019

Higher fees on Uber and Lyft rides appear to be gaining some momentum around the country as a way of raising money and dealing with congestion, and they are likely to be part of the discussion here in Massachusetts as the Legislature takes up the question of new transportation revenues. In Chicago, the current fee(...)

Arts + Policy/ Arts and Culture

A side of art with your cup of joe

Coffee shop ‘galleries’ offer opportunity for artists, cool vibe for owners

By Sarah Betancourt Arts and Culture 0 Comments Oct 20, 2019

First of a series AT CORPORATE COFFEE SHOPS such as Starbucks or Caffe Nero, you’re not going to see much decor other than a few plastic plants or books. But many independent stores are selling art with their coffee, adding some eye-catching paintings to their walls and providing artists with badly needed exhibition space. Cambridge’s(...)

Arts + Policy/ Arts and Culture/ Economy/ State government

Western Mass. ‘Hilltowns’ look for a foothold

Often overlooked region banks on tourism, arts, and history for revitalization

By Catherine Tumber Berkshires, CW in Depth, Hilltowns, Western Massachusetts 0 Comments Jun 20, 2019

THE ARRIVAL OF warmer weather means visitors will be flocking to the Berkshires, where a set of towns come to life as summer homes to renowned music and dance enterprises at Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow. They add to a year-round arts economy in the region anchored by the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North(...)

Environment/ Housing/ Opinion

Climate, housing activists find common ground on tax

See link between social and climate resilience

By Craig S Altemose and Karen Y. Chen Climate change, Housing 0 Comments Jun 15, 2019

EARLIER THIS YEAR, Gov. Charlie Baker made waves when he announced a proposal to increase the real estate deeds excise tax by 50 percent to help fund critical municipal climate resilience projects. The environmental community was pleasantly surprised to hear the governor offer a clear, new funding stream to help prepare our communities for the(...)