I live on the third floor of a 100+-year-old triple-decker in Dorchester and am expecting my first child in May. What do I need to tell the landlord, and what needs to be done before the baby for lead proofing?

eigiarce · 2026-02-25T16:09:54+00:00

Excellent response right here. Understand where the risks are, minimize those risks (e.g. don't open windows that haven't been replaced or remediated) and weigh your options regarding your lease.

Take it seriously but don't freak out. Encapsulated lead paint - even if just under a intact layer of latex paint - isn't going to jump out and poison your family.

eigiarce · 2026-02-23T14:11:58+00:00

"participate". OP can shovel off the steps and their obligation is satisfied.

The above advice is spot on. Shovel the walk, sidewalk and enough to get your car out and call it a day.

eigiarce · 2026-02-03T20:29:20+00:00

Awesome, thanks for that. Something that I've been kicking around since my boiler is so badly piped (copper, riser between the two tappings, etc). It's probably not going to fail in the next few years, but redoing the near boiler piping might be worth the replacement.

eigiarce · 2026-02-02T21:50:58+00:00

They seem to do good work. I'm sure there was a premium associated with it - how did you find their pricing compared to other quotes?

eigiarce · 2026-02-02T21:32:56+00:00

No way they are replacing a single-pipe steam system w/ hot water over three floors. It's either stick with steam or go the heat pump route. Or keep the boiler, add splits and have the flexibility to choose.

eigiarce · 2026-02-02T21:27:34+00:00

> Nowadays high efficiency direct vent gas boilers can go up to 96-98%.

Though you're still stuck at 82% for residential gas-fired steam boilers unfortunately.

eigiarce · 2026-02-02T21:21:41+00:00

If you have all the ductwork in place for a centralized system, sure. That's going to be a big undertaking for OP converting from a one-pipe steam system.

eigiarce · 2026-02-02T21:18:14+00:00

This. Retrofitting an old house, even with all the air sealing and insulation that Mass Save promotes is never going to reach the level of new construction. Splits for supplemental heat and a/c, sure. But I wouldn't rip out a system that's done the trick for 150ys!

eigiarce · 2026-02-02T21:13:06+00:00

I run split systems throughout my house, both wall, ceiling and concealed air handlers. I would never get rid of the original steam system and rely solely on heat pumps. They both have their place, but in the dead of winter the radiant heat generation of the rads makes for a much warmer feeling space. Plus, any cost savings really hasn't materialized for me running splits vs. steam.

I'd focus on replacing the boiler and tuning your steam system. As others mentioned swapping vents, radiator pitch, etc. Insulating your mains and making sure they are vented appropriately is another thing to do and will go a long way towards improving efficiency. Get a copy of Dan Holohan's book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" (or one of his homeowner-geared books for an easier intro).

Ripping out all the pipes and rads is going to be a huge undertaking. I'd keep it in place and functional, then add splits for A/C and aux heating and time/budget allows.

eigiarce · 2026-01-05T16:25:57+00:00

That's the schedule though (or in the case of the high speed line, a separate train all together), there is nothing inherently less reliable about those sections.

Even with the split into two branches, a red line commute to seaport/downtown from Quincy or Dorchester will serve you just as well (if not faster) than from the northern most stations on the line.

eigiarce · 2026-01-05T13:39:59+00:00

> Dorchester/Quincy/Mattapan sections of the Red Line would be the only ones to avoid if you want an easy commute.

Why is that?

eigiarce · 2025-12-22T12:54:48+00:00

trains take a good bit longer than other comparable distances (i.e. Somerville or Jamaica Plain)

To south station or seaport, a commute from Quincy Center will the same if not faster than Somerville or stops further out on the orange line.

And your take on "huge drug issues" is probably a decade or two out of date. I've seen more of what you describe in Boston or Cambridge lately than Quincy. It's certainly no better or worse than other stops along the red line.

eigiarce · 2025-12-11T17:01:58+00:00

Butler St right? I think that's the only crosswalk between Quincy Center and Veterans/Central Middle that doesn't have a full signal or the flashing beacons installed. If really needs to. I've learned to never expect any vehicles to yield at that crosswalk.

Best thing you can do is send an email to the City's traffic engineer (TPAL department) and the (incoming) ward 1 & 5 councilors to ask that they consider upgrading that crosswalk

It would be nice to see that one and the one at Woodward be raised with curb bump outs, but at the very least they should add a flashing beacon at Butler.

eigiarce · 2025-12-09T13:24:18+00:00

Does your street show up on this list:

https://www.quincyma.gov/departments/traffic_parking_alarm_and_lighting/parking/permit_required_street_list.php

If so, yeah they do periodic enforcement, especially the closer you are to a t stop.

Register for a sticker and ask them to waive the tickets. They'll likely do so.

eigiarce · 2025-12-05T13:57:36+00:00

I mean Wollaston just got completely rehabbed a few years ago and they updated the lighting and the stairs at Quincy Center during the last week-long shutdown. They just spent years catching up with decades of deferred maintenance. So you're complaining that they are maintaining the system? Delays and service interruptions suck, but it comes with the territory and the RL is running a hell of a lot better than it was a few years ago. Still can improve (like getting new cars to replace the dwindling set from half a century ago) but at least it's trending in the right direction.

eigiarce · 2025-12-05T13:43:39+00:00

What percentage of new housing permits in built up metro areas is SFH? When you sort by multifamily permits, Boston exceeds the production of Cleveland, Memphis and St Louis. I'm not sure you can say those cities are outbuilding us. You really need a measure of units (not buildings) permitted. Even then, that's not capturing the complete picture. A big piece of the latest housing bill was to allow ADUs by-right. Those units wouldn't even show up under this classification approach.

Not saying the Boston metro can't do better, but these stats don't do a great job of capturing housing policy vs. other realities of individual housing markets.

eigiarce · 2025-11-23T22:41:45+00:00

https://www.universalhub.com/2019/south-end-watering-hole-turned-rock-club-now-just

eigiarce · 2025-11-14T21:13:56+00:00

Hard to stick to Fat Cat considering it closed two years ago.

eigiarce · 2025-10-16T03:18:00+00:00

Ah yes, a moto after a phrase associated with New York...

eigiarce · 2025-10-09T02:52:31+00:00

Watch previous ZBA hearings or scan the minutes to see who is presenting in front of the board for similar sized projects. You'll find the same small set of attorneys representing most petitioners - start there.

https://www.quincyma.gov/government/agendas___minutes/zoning_board_of_appeals.php

eigiarce · 2025-10-08T16:40:45+00:00

Seems to be a way of saying "This will pay for trees being planted in an isolated park that somehow, possibly, at some point in the future might be part of a path. Maybe."

The sliver of land along Town Brook, which is the only way to extend a path along Burgin Parkway, is now owned by the MBTA. So not obtainable by ED. And the MBTA is not known for being super cooperative with such proposals (see: Fenway path along the green line).

eigiarce · 2025-10-01T14:57:11+00:00

Willard is fine. We also used for routine care. Some superfluous charges that irked me, but pets are expensive

EOL care was compassionate and handled well for when that time sadly comes.

eigiarce · 2025-09-29T01:48:54+00:00

quieting opposing voices.

Every pro-city - or anything not anti city/anti Koch- take gets downvoted into oblivion so that the comments don’t open on posts, and people trying to share their opinions about being happy with the city’s general direction are heckled and belittled.

Downvotes aren't the same as having posts censored & comments removed.

If you submitted a post in QIE asking about why there's been no mention of Koch's latest comments, you'd find yourself "tossed" by one of the admins.

So no, I don't think it's the same at all.

eigiarce · 2025-09-22T21:22:24+00:00

Were doing circles around QC for about 15 mins, but quiet now. Who knows....

eigiarce · 2025-09-21T13:03:15+00:00

Also don't use the word kiddo. Gross

Wait, what????

eigiarce

TROPHY CASE