Sunday, March 1, 2015

"Quincy may build parking lot around resident’s home"

"The family rejected an offer the city made for their two-family home in January because they thought it was too low."
“I’m sure they think they are” negotiating in good faith, Tasney said of city officials. “I’m on the other end; I’m the one they want the house from and I’m not interested in moving.” 

“Who wants to take up and leave where you’ve lived for 40 years? If I had to move I probably won’t find what I want in Quincy, but I’ve lived in Quincy all my life.”

“I think it was handled really bad. We didn’t have a chance to vote if we’d like to have this city take a bunch of houses on our street,” he said. “I feel like I’m being taken advantage of, and that’s it.”
 
 
The homeowner has the city right where they want him... or something.

14 comments:

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Our dog is extremely fond of this one particular dog bed she's been sleeping on for about 13 years or so.

Dad Bones said...

There's a similar situation in my IA town. The homeowner didn't want to sell to the hospital so now his little house is surrounded by the hospital complex and his tiny lawn is surrounded by concrete. It's been that way for about 15 years.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

This Quincy man, his house is in a tough spot to try to get around. He's smack in the middle of the short drive they are going to demolish.

An obvious alternative, I thought but it's not mentioned in the story, was to accommodate him by offering him a trade of his house for one just down the corner.

There are so many options... for example couldn't thy uproot the house and move it to a nearby property?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

My impression is that everything in the north east of US is more complicated than needs to be.

virgil xenophon said...

There is a famous Irish Pub in downtown Denver whose name I can't recall (Chip, April?) that refused to sell to a pvt non-government group who wanted to put up a sky-scraper. His total refusal meant that they had to build around him and now the entire functioning bar (not just the front for decorative purposes) is part of the buildings facade with the building built over the airspace above it to it is totally enclosed by the structure.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Virgil - I have no idea? Drawing a blank.

There is a beautiful old church that is surrounded by a modern sky-scraper.

Rabel said...

Oh my.

"William Phelan, the family’s attorney, said the city offered the Tasneys $488,750 for their home at 30-32 Hunt St., which the city had independently appraised at $425,000. Phelan declined to discuss how much the Tasneys are seeking, only that they want what they believe is fair for being forcibly uprooted from their home."

Holding out for more money. Not a bad move on their part but I could do without the sob story.

rhhardin said...

The deal is that a trade happens when both sides come out ahead.

This can only happen if they disagree about what the house is worth to them.

The guy who doesn't want to move values the house at a lot more than "fair market value." He could sell it for fair market value but he hasn't because it's worth more to thim.

So the question is whether the developer thinks the house is worth even more to himself than to the guy who doesn't want to move, or should he for instance build around it.

It's an open question.

It's refreshing that it's not just condemned by the city, which is the usual course with these things.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"It's refreshing that it's not just condemned by the city,"

From the story...

"The offer to the Tasneys was characterized as final by the city, which has no intention to take the property by eminent domain, said City Solicitor James Timmins, who has been leading negotiations with the homeowners."

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"No intention" to me means the door is open.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

There is also the question of access, should the home owner decide not to sell and the city goes ahead and builds the parking lot around the property.

The property has to have emergency service access. I'd imagine.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

There is a beautiful old church that is surrounded by a modern sky-scraper.

I seem to recall something like that said to be from Alaska.

Though the one I'm thinking of was a Victorian house, not a church.

Rabel said...

Edith Macefield.

After construction.

Seems to offer convenient access to gym and shopping.

Titus said...

When I first moved to Boston I hated it.

I planned to go home hundreds of times.

Everything is difficult...going to a bank, parking, driving, grocery shopping.

Worst of all I had a Wisconsin license plate-I was targeted for termination when the Massholes saw that plate.

But now I love Boston and am a total Masshole!

Also, the guys were so hot I couldn't leave.