Commercial properties in the suburban fringe of Boston are headed on a downward spiral, as vacancy rates skyrocket.
"Some Boston-area commercial property owners are doing what the local real estate market has not seen in more than a decade: turning their vacant and money-losing buildings over to their banks. A small but rising number of landlords, with suburban office buildings sitting at least half empty, are slowly losing their financial grip as properties generate less income and depreciate in value. The problem is most severe in the outer suburbs where high-technology job losses have shrunk demand for work space, and vacancy rates in some pockets are at all-time highs that exceed 30 percent."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Giving up the keys to commercial castles
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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