QUINCY /S. Quincy
Families flock to S. Quincy neighborhood

By STEPHANIE CHAISSON
For The Patriot Ledger Area: 16.64 square miles

POPULATION
2000: 88,025
2006: 90,526

Density: 5,485 res./square mile
Median age: 40
Median household income: 53,642

FINANCES
Tax rate: $10.44 res./$22.41 comm.
Town budget: $230 million
Avg. water/sewer bill: $1,100

HOUSING
Median home price
2006: $355,000
2007: $340,000 (461 through Nov.)
Median condo price
2006: $260,000
2007: $263,500 (525 through Nov.)

SCHOOLS
Number of students: 8,785
Number of teachers: 676
H.S. grads to 4-yr. college: 57%
H.S. grads to 2-yr. college: 18%
Median SAT score (2006): 1373

Single- and multi-family homes line the streets of a South Quincy neighborhood off Centre Street. The streets flank busy Centre Street, which is just off Burgin Parkway. Liberty, Totman, Trafford, Rodman, Intervale, Plain, Branch and Brooks streets form a small, tightly-knit neighborhood that is home to families and businesses.

Houses in this neighborhood are well-kept with small, neat yards. Despite the tight quarters that are characteristic of any city neighborhood, most of the homes in this part of South Quincy have a small driveway large enough for two cars. Many also have a garage.

Covered front porches are a common sight and some even wrap around the front of the house.

Terry Frasier of Pembroke owns a large four-family home on Intervale Street, which she rents out to families.

"With the T station and the middle school right across the street, it never stays vacant," she said.

Frasier has been successfully renting the house for about 25 years. Her parents owned it before she inherited it.

Frasier attributes the neighborhood's popularity to its location.

"The convenience of the center (Quincy) is great," she said.

Local amenities within walking distance of the neighborhood include a Dunkin'Donuts and Joe's Place, a popular convenience store, both on Centre Street.

The Quincy Adams T Station is also within walking distance, while the Quincy Center T Station is only a short ride down Burgin Parkway. Residents also enjoy easy access to Interstates 93 and 95 and Route 3.

Realtor Dana Schatzl of Century 21 Network, Richmond Associates, described the area as "a very old neighborhood. People show a lot of pride in their property there."

Schatzl said the neighborhood used to be home mostly to Italian-Americans. D&D Deli on Liberty Street is a reminder of the neighborhood's heritage, as is the annual South Quincy Italian Festival, which the neighborhood hosts each summer.

There is a condo on Liberty Street listed for $279,000. Two multi-family homes, also on Liberty, are listed for $439,900 and $575,000.

Within the last six months, a single-family home sold on Liberty Street for $492,216 while a single-family on Rodman sold for $344,900.

"It's close to the expressway, which is ideal for commuters, and it's a perfect location for those who might work in the Crown Colony office park," Schatzl said. The park is just up the road off Centre Street.

Ann Huang, 28, moved to Rodman Street with her family in February. The Huangs moved to Quincy from Allston, and although it's been less than a year, Huang said they are enjoying their new neighborhood.

Covered front porches are common in the S. Quincy neighborhood and yards are small but well-kept.