On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

In the last few years I have seen a lot of my old neighbors selling their houses. These are families that were already living on the street when my family got here in 1961. Just last week, I found out that the house next door on my left is up for sale. And you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be turned into a CCC. A cookie cutter condo. You know what I’m talking about. Stainless appliances, marble countertops, a parking space or two, central A/C, and those storage cages in the basement. They buy up the houses, gut them, and sell them for astronomical prices.

For me, it’s just sad to see a family’s house go that route. It usually means the parents are either gone or in poor health, and the kids have their own homes so they sell, and split the profits. I know one family who are circling their mom’s house like vultures just waiting to sell and divide the spoils. Sometimes they have to use the money to care for their parents as in some of my friend’s cases.

It’s just sad to see these houses fall into the hands of the condo developers or house flippers.  Hey, they have the resources to buy these houses and remodel them for a profit and no one is begrudging them that. I’m speaking strictly from my heart when I say it’s just too bad to see the end of an era. I hate progress…sometimes.

Two houses directly across from me have recently been sold. What a difference. I was friends for over 50 years with one family. I am looking at that house right now out my window and it still isn’t finished after many months of remodeling. They sold the bottom floor but they have added two dormers to the top floor and it just drags on and on.

The house next to that one is huge. They sold that three family for over a million bucks. I remember many smiles and exchanges of small talk over the years with the original owners, their kids, and then their grandkids. The original owners are deceased and it was their son who finally sold and moved.  I haven’t met the new owner yet. I will miss celebrating Greek Easter in my friend’s yard. They moved to Stoneham and I hope they don’t forget my address and phone number when Easter rolls around. That was some good eating and some great fun!

I always hope we get good neighbors when a house is sold near us. So far we have been very lucky. I can honestly say that most of the people who have moved into my old friends’ houses are very nice. I have deliberately started walking my dog up the street instead of down to College Ave. and up towards he park so I can meet more new neighbors. It’s a great Somerville street. At one time we had three D-Day veterans on the street. We have a guy who plays the organ and piano and if your windows are open you get a nice serenade. He just moved here around ten years ago so hopefully he will stay for a while.

It’s always a little stressful when a house is sold next door or across the street. Here are some of the things that stink about these conversions. They usually have a rickety old, oil leaking, run down, truck hauling out and returning dumpsters. Are there no new dumpster delivery trucks in this state? They have ruined the streets with the oil slicks they leave behind. I always worry about the nails that inevitably end up on the street. I am vigilant about scanning for stray nails. The work trucks use up all the parking spots on the street.

You never know if friendly people are going to move in or if you will get an introverted loner, a nut, or a weirdo. Luckily I can relate to all of these types. One of the good things is that the workers usually have good taste in the music they blast while working!

As I speak, there are two conversion projects going on in my neighborhood, and one house up for sale. It’s a nice one-way street with a history grounded in family values. If I ever decide to sell to the condo people I’m going to hold out for a bundle. But if I ever did sell, I would never be able to drive down the street again. I couldn’t bear to see the house where my family grew up, and my children learned to play music. So I guess I will just pass the house onto the kids and they can decide what to do with it. I will make sure that I sign the proper documents that stipulate that they can’t sell until I’m either in an assisted living situation, or gone.

Please send me your ideas for articles and stories. You can go to my Facebook page, email me at jimmydl@rcn.com or leave a message at 617-623-0554.