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Michelle Gillespie REALTOR® MEGA AGENT Direct Line: 508-934-9818 michelle@michellegillespie.com www.michellegillespie.com 10 Main St, Northborough

Keller Williams Pinnacle Metrowest

Winter is approaching…is your home ready?

Now that autumn leaves have changed color and cool crisp fall nights have arrived, we are reminded that winter is just around the corner. As you work on your fall cleanup, here are a few of my home maintenance tips on preparing your home for the upcoming winter months.

Roof, Gutters and Downspouts

Rain, ice, snow and wind can all cause damage to your roof and gutters. Now’s the time to trim all tree limbs and vegetation away from the roof. You should remove debris, such as leaves and sticks, from your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters don’t allow water to properly drain away from the home, which can cause seepage in your ceilings and walls. You can invest in gutter guards, a screen that prevents debris from entering the gutter and directs the flow of water away from the house and into the ground

Water Heater

You don’t want to find out that your water heater isn’t operating properly when you need it most. So use this time to perform an annual inspection, which includes having your tank’s pressure and temperature relief valve checked.

Heating and Cooling System Fireplace

Are you ready to sell?

While the fall real estate market tends to be quieter, that has not been the case this year. In fact, it has been quite robust. Our appreciating real estate market has shown how hot the market is, which is a good indicator for the winter market. I don’t expect the market to cool down, and there are hundreds of buyers currently looking for a new home. That is why now is a great time to join many other happy sellers and profit from this strong sellers’ market while the sale prices continue to appreciate.

Now’s the Time!

If you want to sell your home in this outstanding sellers’ market and would like to discuss the best approach for a positive outcome, call me, Michelle Gillespie, at 508-9349818, or e-mail michelle@michellegillespie.com. Visit my website at www.michellegillespie.com for more information.

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SOLD

4 Bedroom/2.5 bathroom Colonial in Northborough in 4 days $67,500 over asking price

Listed for $675,000 Sold for $742,500

If you have a forced warmair heating system, you should check the exhaust vent and air shutter openings for dirt and dust. Clean any lint and dirt to prevent airborne dirt from circulating throughout your home. Wash out your reusable filter or replace it if it’s disposable.

Doors and Windows

To help control heating costs, make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed. Now is the time to repair or replace weather stripping around door bottoms and jambs and window frames. Check for loose or missing glazing putty and for caulking deterioration. If you have storm windows, install them.

Water Pipes

Frozen or burst pipes can cause major damage to your home and be expensive to remedy. Before frigid weather hits, protect your pipes in unheated areas from freezing by adding insulation, which reduces heat loss from hotwater pipes and condensation on cold water pipes. This can be accomplished by wrapping the pipes with heating tape or blanket insulation and duct tape or by encasing the pipes with preformed plastic foam. In addition, examine your pipes for cracks and leaks.

Before you light the logs and get ready to settle in front of a cozy fire, make sure that your fireplace is in good working order. It is important to clean your chimney and check the chimney flue on a yearly basis. There are many chimney cleaning companies that will clean, inspect and repair as needed. In addition, before inspecting, cleaning or making any repairs, refer to your owner’s manual for all equipment for proper instructions, which should be the final authority on any maintenance.

Outdoor Surfaces and Landscaping

Fall is also a great time to seal your driveways, wood patios and other hardscape surfaces. In addition, prune tree branches away from your home. Plant spring flower bulbs and move sensitive potted plants indoors. Although this list is merely a guide, it can help you keep your home in good shape and have a winter free of major repairs.

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38 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 19, 2021 HOMES MORE& Developer proposes 55+ housing on South Street

By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY – Developers want to build a nearly 200-unit residential development near the intersection of Route 20 and South Street in Shrewsbury.

The project would be developed and operated by Greystar Real Estate and Property Management, whose Northeast offices are headquartered in Boston.

The developers gave an overview of the project during a Nov. 9 Board of Selectmen meeting, partly to see if the selectmen were interested in pursuing what is called a Local Initiative Program (LIP) application to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

According to the state’s website, the LIP is a state program that promotes the development of affordable housing by offering assistance to communities and developers.

What is proposed

The site at 409 South St. spans just under 15 acres at the intersection of Route 20 and South Street with access off Chestnut Street.

“It’s currently unoccupied, but for some light agricultural uses,” said Greystar’s Chris Legocki.

Of the 196 units, 147 would be market rate and the remaining 49 would be affordable.

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The development would be restricted to active adults ages 55 and older. Legocki said the residents will live independently and there will not be assisted living services.

In one of its other active adult communities, Greystar offers activities like pickleball and Hawaiian luaus.

“It’s all about creating spaces to focus on embracing an active lifestyle and allowing the residents opportunities for engagement and socialization,” said Tom Schultz of the project’s architectural team.

Affordable housing

Assistant Shrewsbury Town Manager Kristen Las said the town has about 6.4 percent affordable units in its Subsidized Housing Inventory.

The town has been working toward the state’s minimum of 10 percent affordable units. Legocki said all of the 196 units in this development would count toward that inventory.

This would increase Shrewsbury’s percentage by about 1.7 percent, Las said.

“We’re over 500 units away from 10 percent on the 2010 census. It’s not known at this time when [the state] is going to get the data for the 2020 census,” Las said.

Next steps

Developers will continue to work on their site plan and prepare a development agreement with Shrewsbury over the next several weeks.

Legocki said the agreement would outline various commitments.

The goal is to submit a final LIP application by Dec. 28.

Once the project receives a project eligibility letter, developers can submit their permit application, which will kick off hearings with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Legocki envisions the process starting in the spring.

Selectman Maurice DePalo asked if the ZBA was bound by the terms of an LIP.

“Technically, no,” responded the developer’s attorney, Karen Kepler.

She said the ZBA doesn’t relinquish its authority under previous agreements.

“But, one hopes that people are walking together down the path that, when the ZBA hearing takes place, things don’t have to be renegotiated,” Kepler said.