What Changes are happening in Your neighborhood?
- Thread starter Maine Sail
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Speaking of neighborhoods...I'm currently evacuating the house I've lived n for 25 years, in a wonderful, "executive neighborhood" in Central Massachusetts. I'm moving to a much more urban neighborhood, in what was once the richest city in the world (so I'm told), New Bedford, MA. The strange thing is, my current place is so noisy! There's a constant buzz and hum and clatter of mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, etc., etc., at all hours (it seems) of every day. However, I expect my new place, with much smaller lots, more densely populated, to be much quieter! Not much lawn to mow there, and no reason for neighbors on 6,000 square foot lots to own backpack leaf blowers, chain saws, and so on. The only expected noise source is loud mufflers, bass boxes, and loud music from passing cars - but I'm going to a not so well traveled street, so should be safe. 
ZactlyThis is why my broter and I bought 300 acres in Northern Maine Ski country so we can build where ever we want. We'll Power it with solar, etc. and have complete privacy protected from developers. It abuts 3200acres of forever protected forest land too.. Our neighborhood here is being over run by Karen's and it is disturbing.. but we own it...
Funniest part of the recent tear down and at least three others are the "environmental" stickers on the owners hybrid and electric cars. They made no attempt to salvage antique doors windows wide pine floors etc. We have two Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores in the city who are begging for used materials... Nope, chuck an entire house in the landfill...
jviss, we recently sailed to New Bedford. While walking the dog we got beyond the tourist area and passed through a bad neighborhood where I kept an eye on my wallet. That neighborhood is near the court houses and is full of law offices. Once past the dreaded lawyer's neighborhood we came across some interesting old homes much as you described and mostly quiet. One outstanding old house was built entirely of large boulders, only decreasing in size as the height increased and topped with a slate roof. You will have no trouble finding that unique old home. The city itself, down below, is extremely noisy with motorcycles without mufflers racing about. Would be nice to go back to a time before leaf blowers when leaves were raked and quietly burned every Fall, but we have lost our way. Hope you find peace in New Bedford.
Thank you, Roy! I know the neighborhood to which you refer, and it can be a bit dicey, I guess. There are worse neighborhoods! But then I take it you walked West, into the neighborhood called the West End, which is, indeed, full of some quite beautiful homes, quite a few mansions, i.e., very large, and is what I think the nicest neighborhood in New Beige, as the Portuguese have dubbed it. My prospective new place is in the West End, right on the Eastern boundary of Buttonwood Park, where there's a zoo and tennis courts and lots of nice amenities. A good place to walk or jog or cycle. Yet, only a 30 minute walk to the historic, waterfront district, and on a straight line that avoids the dicier section. Let's hope all goes well and I close on this place.
Yes, I always imagined the suburbs as being quiet and idyllic, but - far from it! It's always so noisy, and it starts at 8:00 a.m. I even once confronted a neighbor who was leaf blowing with a loud, big, backpack blower with a headlight on his head at 9:00 p.m.! I mean, Jeez! How about some quiet time?
The loudness you experienced downtown in NB was likely a weekend? I think there are fewer "loud pipes" bikes around during the week, but the, there's the booming bass box cars, always, it seems. And, a few loud exhaust, modified Honda Civics.
jvis, my comments about the bad neighborhood in New Bedford concerned only the presence of lawyers. Got to watch your wallet around that bunch. We never found the area with the park and the zoo that you described. Regarding noise, around here we have a growing problem with helicopters. Goofy traffic reporters, showoff VIPs, practicing military pilots; seems they all fly directly over me, I would like to move to a mountain top next to MaineSail.
Ha! Gotcha! Funny. Yea, here in Westborough there are several helicopter commuters passing overhead every day. I don't know where the money comes from! And, boy, they are loud!