Two developers. Two Jamaica Plain apartment projects. Two controversies. And then suddenly … campaign contributions! Guess who got their way: The developers or the neighbors? This is not a trick question. This isn’t hard. Hint: This is Boston. File under: Game rules

Via Adam Gaffin’s Universal Hub, a concerned citizen catches the city strangling a recently planted sidewalk tree with plastic ties for a parking-ban sign. Asks the accompanying photo’s poster: “If if left the way they are they will literally choke the tree and kill it, losing how many hundreds of dollars per tree? this is [...]

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has released its list of the best cities for young adults, professionals, families, second acts (empty-nesters) and retirees. Not surprising to any of us who already live here, Boston ranked high, at #3 (only Madison, WI and Austin, TX were ranked higher). Kiplinger’s analyzed each US major city to determine which satisfied [...]

We just noticed this, so it may not be breaking news, but the DNA Lofts in Dorchester is up for auction on February 24. A full 21 units are described as “an additional phase” not added to the development and require interior buildout. Still, the development includes 22 finished units to go on the block. [...]

Looking for an apartment between now and September 1st? According to MLS there’s still plenty to select from: Back Bay – 103 apts avail. Beacon Hill – 53 apts avail. Charlestown – 24 apts avail. Dorchester – 108 apts avail. South Boston – 50 apts avail. South End – 45 apts avail. Fenway – 25 [...]

Lets once again take a look at the Boston rental market: Back Bay – 141 listings Example: 275 Beacon Street #2B one bedroom – $1,500,00 – 105 days on the maarket. Beacon Hill – 54 listings Example: 15 Grove Street two bedroom – $1,800.00 – 161 days on the market. South End – 72 listings [...]

Cambridge real estate agent Liz Bolton politely objects to real estate tracker Zillow.com’s methodology for determining the best candy-rich Halloween towns. Of course density of homes matter, she says. But she adds: “Aim for the neighborhoods with lots of decorations outside – spider webs, door decals, etc. – those will be your Halloween hotspots.” Ford [...]

The feds have earmarked $22 million for a complete “green” makeover of Southie’s historic Old Colony housing project. Because the money is from the economic stimulus package, one would assume it’s on a construction fast-track. The story says displaced residents will be found new housing during each phase of construction. But where will they go? [...]

Present day Dorchester lays claim to being the biggest part of Boston, in terms of land mass and population. But, big as it is today, Dorchester was once much, much larger. At its height, the town of Dorchester nearly reached the Rhode Island border. It included parts of present day South Boston, Hyde Park, Roxbury, [...]

I was sad to here this morning, that after 17 years in the same location on Charles Street, Ritz Camera is closing down. John Ritz the sole owner of Ritz Camera filed Chapter 11 because the company was unable to obtain bank financing. 1/2 of all Ritz Camera stores will be closing down in the [...]