Greetings, Bostonians and residents of the surrounding areas! Our team at Liz & Ellie Local has always looked at real estate through a lens of environmental responsibility. We recently attended a sustainability conference, and came out of it energized and excited. We live in one of the oldest metropolitan areas in the country; spend an hour at Faneuil Hall in August and you’ll see that our historic sites bring in visitors from around the world. At the same time, climate change and its effects have already begun affecting our city, its infrastructure, and its residents. Frequent flooding and hotter days disrupt our infrastructure, cause living costs to soar, and impact our public health. As we navigate the ever-changing climate landscape, it's crucial to preserve our beloved historic buildings while also building a sustainable future. That’s why we're exploring the fascinating intersection of historic preservation and climate resiliency, and why we feel that forging a successful relationship between the two is essential for the real estate market in Boston and beyond.
The charm of preservation
Boston's rich history is etched into the very fabric of its architecture. From the iconic brownstones of Beacon Hill to the majestic rows of Victorian homes in the South End, these historic gems are what make our city truly unique. Preserving these architectural treasures not only maintains our cultural heritage but also adds value to the real estate market. Buyers are drawn to the charm and character that only a historic home can offer. However, these historic places weren’t built for today’s climate challenges; and sometimes solutions that prioritize our environment feel diametrically opposed to preserving historic value. Case in point: just last year, the City of Boston finally drew up plans to replace Beacon Hill’s iconic gas street lamps with safer, less polluting LEDs. As you might imagine, it didn’t go smoothly, with many residents speaking out against making the changes and even some members of local historic commissions opposing the measures.
Climate resiliency: a modern necessity
While we cherish our historic buildings, we can't ignore the reality of climate change. It’s vital that city departments communicate openly with historic preservation groups and community members in order to get buy-in for these essential changes. We cannot deny that rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and heatwaves threaten the very foundations of our city. As responsible stewards of our environment, we must embrace climate resiliency measures to protect our homes and communities. By integrating sustainable practices into historic preservation, we can ensure a more sustainable and resilient future.
The marriage of old and new
Imagine a historic brownstone with solar panels adorning its roof or a charming Victorian home equipped with rainwater harvesting systems. By blending modern technologies with historic structures, we can achieve a harmonious balance between preservation and sustainability. This not only reduces our carbon footprint but also lowers utility bills, making these homes more attractive to buyers. The City of Boston even has a guide outlining some of these practices. Check it out here.
The benefits of green roofs
Boston's skyline is famous for its sports teams and iconic landmarks (I was so proud when my daughter was able to pick out the Citgo sign for the first time!); imagine, if you will, a skyline dotted with lush green roofs! Green roofs provide a myriad of benefits, including improved insulation, reduced stormwater runoff, and enhanced air quality. Plus, they look pretty! By encouraging and incentivizing the installation of green roofs on historic buildings, we can mitigate the urban heat island effect and create a more resilient cityscape overall.
Be part of the solution
Ready to take the plunge into the world of historic preservation and climate resiliency? Here are a few steps you can take:
Together, we can create a more resilient and sustainable Boston for future generations!
Use the following hashtags to join the conversation: #HistoricPreservation #ClimateResiliency #SustainableBoston #PreserveandProtect
As housing affordability continues to challenge our local communities, we find it encouraging to see legislative steps that prioritize affordability, flexibility, and access, like Massachusetts’s Affordable Homes Act, signed into law last year by Governor Maura Healey. One of the changes we find most intriguing is the expanded ability to build Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. These are small residential living spaces located on the same lot as another home, either within an existing primary residence, like converting a basement into an apartment, attached to a primary residence as a new construction addition, or completely detached, like a cottage or converted detached garage in a backyard.”
Here at Liz & Ellie Local, we are always looking for ways to make life a little greener. And if you’ve been in the Boston area for any length of time, you’ll know that there are areas where paving your yard was all the rage…and the remnants of that craze are still all over town. But things are changing. In Somerville, in particular, residents are tearing up their pavement in favor of something green.
We’re a few days from “official” summer, but there are already plenty of things happening outdoors in the Boston area. And while we love a good Red Sox game or concert at the Pavilion, there are tons of ways to take advantage of summer without spending a dime. From free music, to lectures, to movies and more, Boston has a plethora of free events worth checking out. As local residents of Cambridge and Somerville, who adore the communities we live and work in, we'd like to share a few of our favorite events.
With their complementary communication styles, responsiveness, competence, and ability to truly listen, Ellie and Liz enable their clients to feel at ease throughout any real estate transaction. They would welcome the opportunity to be your next real estate advisors.
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1100 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
