QUINCY /Wollaston Hill
The city's first residential neighborhood keeps its 19th century look

By MAUREEN MCCARTHY
For The Patriot LedgerArea: 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

The city’s first residential neighborhood used to be known as Wollaston Heights. Now, it’s Wollaston Hill. Whatever it’s called, the stately homes that line its streets still look very much like they did at the turn of the end of the 19th century.

The neighborhood, set high on a hill off Beale Street, was the areas first residential subdivision and was built in 1870. Local historian and lifelong resident, Tom Galvin, 70, said wealthy Boston businessmen were drawn by its huge lots and views of Boston Harbor and built grand homes there.

The neighborhood has preserved much of its elegance and many of the homes offer expansive wraparound porches, original parquet flooring, multiple fireplaces and mature plantings.

In search of a larger home to accommodate their growing family, Marybeth Zynda, 35, and her husband, Jeff, 32, left their South Boston condominium and bought a Victorian on Highland Avenue two years ago.

“This house was the only listing we went to see in Quincy,” said Zynda, recalling how she and husband found their dream home. “We loved the area and the house.”

Wollaston Hill encompasses several streets including Highland, Prospect, Grandview, Winthrop, South Central and Lincoln. It is a mix of younger and older families and single- and multi-family homes.

Real estate broker Uncle Sam Rounseville said the hill is attractive in part because of its proximity to Boston. The Wollaston MBTA station is within walking distance – making the area attractive to commuters.

“Homes in this area very rarely sit around – even in a market like this,” he said. “People really do want that area.”

Local conveniences are in abundance. Grocery stores, a pharmacy, banking and dozens of eateries are within a few blocks. Most children in the neighborhood attend Wollaston Elementary School and Safford Park is nearby, too.

“When the weather is nice, we enjoy walking around the adjacent streets of our neighborhood or taking the kids down to play at the playground at the elementary school,” Zynda said. “It is during these excursions that we tend to see people the most, usually doing yard work. Everyone is always very friendly to one another.”

In 2008, Wollaston Hill homes sold from $349,000 to $530,000 – offering 1,200 to 3,200 square feet of living space.

Currently, a 3,400-square-foot, two-family home is for sale on Highland Avenue. The property sits on a quarter acre lot. The price tag is $480,000.

The Zynda family, seeking more room and easy access to Boston and local amenities found it all on Wollaston Hill. “We are looking forward to staying here a good long time and raising our family,” Zynda said.