Despite the rain, it's been a pretty good summer on Cape Cod
The many rainy days of summer 2023 kept some businesses on Cape Cod from meeting sales goals, but the Boston Globe reports that overall, most businesses had a pretty good year.Paul Niedzwiecki, chief executive of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, says 2021 and 2022 were record breaking years, and predicts 6 million people visited Cape Cod this summer.
Poor water quality on Cape Cod could affect residents and tourists
A recent Boston Globe article reports that 90% of the estuaries on Cape Cod had unacceptable water quality in 2022. Old septic systems that are leaking nitrogen into the water.Although many towns on the Cape are currently planning to replace old septic systems, it will take decades for the changes to impact the water quality.Read the full article here: Pollution is threatening Cape Cod
Foreign summer workers can't find anywhere to live on the Cape either
Cape Cod has relied on summer workers who come from elsewhere in the US and from abroad for decades and as fewer low-wage workers can afford to live on the Cape, more non-local workers are needed. The foreign workers travel on J-1 visas; they are high school or college students who want to make some money and live in America during their summer breaks.Large resort employers can house their summer staff - in fact Chatham Bars Inn expects to hire 100 J-1 workers this summer and will put them up in a hotel and other residences just for their employees. But smaller employers who need the help can't find housing for their employees and those young people are left to comb through Craigslist or Marketplace - often from back in their home country.Things go wrong and some are left scrambling at the last minute. so the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has hired someone to coordinate the housing for the J-1 workers this summer. Read more about it on the Boston Globe's newsletter here.
Short-term rentals on the Cape may have maxed out the market
A recent article in the Boston Globe details the falling demand for short-term rentals (AirBnBs, VRBOs) on the Cape. Possible causes? Oversaturation of supply, prices too darn high, a strong dollar making a trip to Italy more appealing, $45 lobster rolls and long waits for everything (due to the lack of service workforce).The upside is many hosts are slashing prices, so last minute travelers can get a deal.Read the whole article here: On Cape Cod
Daly Appraisal Post - North Shore - Beverly thinks about limiting growth
NORTH SHORE HOUSING. A regional approach to housing needs to be advocated to quell NIMBYism. Beverly has added 1,400 housing units since 2014, when new Mayor Michael Cahill made housing a priority. But the growth has led to complaints from residents about poorly maintained streets and an aging & shut down bridge connecting the west side to the downtown. City Councilor Matt St. Hilaire says downtown story heights of apartment buildings should be reduced from five to three. Saugus and Peabody have already adopted similar anti-housing measures.Read full article here:
Daly Appraisal Post - Cape Cod bridges
Bourne Bridge and Sagamore Bridge will not be replaced anytime soon, likely a negative impact for Cape Cod.Read full article here: