Category: South Boston

Support for Animal Welfare Alive and Well in South Boston

The suffering of animals through mistreatment, abandonment and neglect is a heartbreaking reality in every urban community. But in South Boston, compassionate care is always nearby. Since 1988, the Alliance for Animals (AfA) has been helping to prevent animal suffering. Based in South Boston, AfA runs a no-kill shelter, adoption center and clinic for spaying, neutering and providing other medical services to animals in conjunction with the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.

The AfA is at the forefront of a community-based model for promoting animal welfare, delivering knowledge where it’s most needed, among disadvantaged inner-city pet-owners. The staff and volunteers go out into the community and work directly with pet-owners to help them understand their responsibilities and take advantage of all the resources available to them. The focus of the organization is on the long-term, showing people how they can help eliminate animal suffering by working with their neighbors to take control of the situation.

Joyce Lebedew Real Estate (JLRE) supports the efforts of the AfA with donations and active participation in organization’s outreach efforts. In addition, JLRE offers leasing and purchasing incentives for clients who adopt animals through the AfA. For more details, contact JLRE at 617-269-6400. For more information about the AfA, visit the organization’s website or call 617-268-7800.

Living with Pets in South Boston – Tips for Renters and Landlords

Living with Pets in South Boston

For many pet owners, renting an apartment is more of a hassle than it should be. A range of factors come into play, for example, the overall availability of rental units in a community at any given point in time, the past experiences of landlords and the ability of prospective renters who own pets to represent themselves as responsible tenants.

Owner of one of the most successful independent real estate agencies in Boston, Joyce Lebedew attributes a large part of her success to specializing exclusively in pet-friendly properties in South Boston. Through her extensive experience in this robust market niche, Joyce offers useful tips for landlords and pet owners alike.

Joyce’s primary tip for landlords is to recognize the advantages to renting to people with pets. “Your willingness to accommodate pets widens the pool of potential renters. Moreover, studies show that pet owners are likely to remain tenants for a longer period of time. I believe the commitment that goes with pet ownership tends to indicate a broader commitment to responsibility in caring for property and contributing to community life.”

For pet owners, Joyce’s main piece of advice is to allow sufficient time to find an apartment and put together all available pet documentation beforehand. “These include veterinary records, behavior certification if needed and any other information you can provide to demonstrate responsible pet guardianship. For example, it can be extremely helpful to obtain references and letters of recommendation from past landlords. Consider also that while pet fees are prohibited in Massachusetts, it can be advantageous to offer the full, legally allowed security deposit to assure against damage.” Adds Joyce, “Of course the best way to win over a prospective landlord is to introduce yourself and your pet in person.”

Last but not least, Joyce recommends working with a realtor who specializes in pet friendly real estate. “The doors of our offices at 507 East Broadway are always open to residents of South Boston and their beloved pets. When you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by our office on your daily walk. We always have water bowls outside and cookies from the Polka Dog Bakery!”

For more useful tips for both landlords and renters, visit the website for The Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC), MassAnimalCoalition.org. This resource provides model guidelines and agreements, checklists and other valuable tools.

Blog post by the Joyce Lebedew Real Estate Team.

Cityside or Water-View, At Home in South Boston

South Boston may appear on the map as a single location. But if you zoom in a little closer, you will discover distinct differences between the various neighborhoods and sections of town. If you are contemplating a move to South Boston, it’s good to be aware of these differences, as well as the diversity that characterizes South Boston as a whole.

There are parts of South Boston within easy walking distance of downtown. Other sections further out on the triangular peninsula are in close proximity to sandy beaches. Residents of the two areas see entirely different backdrops, each stunning in its own way. The cityside panorama to the west offers views of Back Bay, the Seaport District, and the Financial District; the water-view to the east encompasses the vast expanse of Boston Harbor and the ocean beyond.

These contrasting views of the city are emblematic of the many differences that distinguish other aspects of life in South Boston. On one hand, there’s the old South Boston, steeped in the culture and values of the working class; on the other, the more worldly perspectives of well-to-do newcomers. There are the proud descendents of Irish immigrants, and the influx of people representing a wide range of other nationalities, ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles.

South Boston isn’t a single entity. It’s a collection of distinctive neighborhoods, each with a character all its own. There’s City Point, with its upscale residences and soaring property values; then there’s the South Boston Waterfront district with its shiny new edifices and fine amenities. There’s the up-and-coming West End with its dense vitality and historic architecture; then there’s Fort Point Channel with its stylish lofts and art galleries.

Despite its many contrasts, South Boston is unified in one respect. The people who call it home haven’t arrived there by chance. They’ve either lived there all their lives or chosen to make it their home. As a result, South Boston is characterized by strong communities. It’s a place where residents pull together in times of need, for example, to help others displaced by a four-alarm fire or utility outage. It’s an area where you still find neighbors who look out for one another, take genuine pride in their neighborhoods and work together to make improvements.

A Winning Combination: Love for South Boston and Devotion to Animals

The South Boston that real estate agent and entrepreneur Joyce Lebedew now calls home is a world apart from the South Boston where she grew up. While the community of 30,000 retains much of its character as a tight-knit enclave of working-class Irish-Americans, the population is now more diverse, and the ambiance of the neighborhoods is far more upscale and cosmopolitan.

Joyce has seen it all, from the urban decay and anti-busing riots of the 1970s, to the construction of the new Boston Convention & Exhibition center and ascendance of the South Boston Waterfront as a beacon of commerce and culture. A successful business owner and life-long resident, Joyce is a fervent evangelist for South Boston and a tireless proponent of its renaissance.

But Joyce is equally passionate about the rights of urban animals and pet-owners. An unabashed dog lover and the proud owner of a Jack Russell Terrier, she has long been an active supporter of the Alliance for Animals and other animal rescue associations in the area. When she began selling real estate in 2002, Joyce became keenly aware of the plight of pet-owners in finding suitable housing. In 2008, when she launched Joyce Lebedew Real Estate (JLRE), she decided to make pet-friendly housing a cornerstone of her business.
Her exclusive focus on buying, selling and leasing of pet-friendly residential properties in South Boston has proven a winning combination for Joyce. JLRE has become one of the most successful independent real estate agencies in Boston, and according to MLS, Joyce has consistently ranked as the top-performing real estate agent in the city of Boston for apartment rentals and among the top for property sales as well.

According to Joyce, her success is built on long-term relationships and referrals, putting client satisfaction above agency profits. “I believe that people intuitively know when they have found the right home, and shouldn’t settle for less. My goal is to help my clients find a home they love, and feel at home in the community where they live.”