Archive for March, 2009

Alternative energy is coming to Dennis – very soon.  Recently, the Selectmen organized an Alternative Energy Committee to meet with the Historic Committee for the purpose of building a game plan to bring modern energy-saving ideas to life.  Because it is new, everyone is concerned that the ideas and the implementation of ideas will be cumbersome, costly and slow.  In other words, a big hassle. (more…)

Long time clients of ours arrived in town last week to look for their next Cape Cod home.  We had sold their Dennis waterfront property back in December and they were now ready to begin looking again.  “Where should we look?” they asked.  “WHAT??!! We thought you were only interested in Dennis, the town you’ve vacationed in for 25 years!” Despite our surprise, we had to admit that it was a relevant question. A lot of things can change in 25 years!

It’s fun to think of how our forefathers, post 1492, made their decision as to where on Cape Cod to settle. Needless to say their needs & wants were quite different than ours would be today.  Can’t remember the last time  I’ve  had a client list “fertiile soil” as one of their top ten criteria!

But there are considerationts to be made even today. Every Cape Cod town has a unique character.  Some are more historic,  offering old sea captains’ homes on every block, some offer what we call “Village life”, where you can walk to everything – restaurants, bookstores, band concerts, ice cream.  And some are strictly beach communities, where the beach is all there is unless you want to get in your car and drive to the closest town.  Still others are no where near the beach, but offer golf, cultural activities and other less summer-oriented pursuits.  (I am always amused by the occasional client, looking for a home here, who proclaims “Oh we don’t need to be near the beach.  In fact, we never go to the beach!)

The demographics of the Cape suggest that there are many different considerations for someone moving here, either full or part time.  A good place to start is to look at your goal.  are you retiring to the Cape?  Are you looking to raise your young family here?  Will this be strictly a vacation home for you and your family?  Depending on the answers to these questions,  you will begin to formulate a plan for which towns/villages most speak to your requirements.

Rest assured that there is something for everyone here on Cape Cod.  And remember one of our favorite sayings (that tends to be repeated more regularly in these times) “Even on your worst day, you’re still living on CAPE COD!”

Elaine

A recent article in the NY Times about winter on the Cape, brought me back to when we first moved here 12 years ago.  To this day, the word I use to describe my experience about winter on Cape Cod is SERENITY.  Coming from Los Angeles as we were, it was remarkable to me that there existed a place so lovely where you could be alone if you chose, be SILENT if you chose and take an early morning walk on the beach and not encounter a single soul.  Absolute Nirvana for someone coming from the jam-packed cacophony of Los Angeles!

As Spring approaches, there is a bit (and ONLY a bit!) of wistfulness about the waning winter.  There is something magical about this little part of the world at this time of year, a stark beauty to the grayness of the landscape, the red-tailed hawk soaring low over my snow-covered lawn, bracing against the frigid wind on an early morning beach run. 

On the other hand (and there is ALWAYS another hand) it makes Summer on the Cape all the more spectacular!  Winter makes non-Cape Codders think ahead to SUMMER!  Rentals for the Summer 2009 season have been booking up for months.  Summer IS coming……eventually.  But there is sure to be a bit more of winter to ENJOY!

Elaine

Did you ever wonder why there are no chain stores in Dennis on the Northside (i.e. Route 6A side)?  Are you missing those neon-lighted signs and all night convenience stores?  In case you have, here is the reason why. DENNIS IS THE ONLY CAPE COD TOWN  with a bylaw prohibiting chain stores.  Although there are specific guidelines to allow for stores such as a Christy’s in Dennis Village, the laws are such that we simply WILL NOT HAVE on the Northside what is standard fare on Route 28.  These laws which include The Historic Act, also require the use of “historic” materials, designs and structural limitations.  More importantly, the people who serve on committees that decide what can or cannot be built in Dennis, have done AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PRESERVING THE LOOK.  Boards, such as the Old King’s Highway Historic Committee, the Town of Dennis Historical Commission, the South Dennis Historic Committee and the Zoning Board, all contribute to the success Dennis has achieved.

On a personal note, when we left Los Angeles and moved to the Cape 13 years ago, we left behind the West Los Angeles villages of Brentwood, Westwood, Santa Monica and many others who were being overwhelmed by trophy homes that covered literally every square inch of their lot.  The lack of propriety exposed the lack of good government regulations that would preserve the natural beauty of those neighborhoods.  When we attempted to bring our “California design” for a new home in our new hometown of Dennis Village, we were shot down in flames by the Historic Committee!  Thank God, for what we have since discovered is that these committees are EXACTLY why we and thousands of others want to live in the Town of Dennis – because it’s so beautiful here!  And oh, by the way, that’s when I decided to join the Historic Committee myself, ten years ago.

It is no accident that Dennis has kept the look and feel of Old Cape Cod.  Preserving the look helps make Dennis a very desirable vacation destination and a great place to live. 

Peter