City Wide Yard Sale?

[wbaltic.livejournal.com]

A couple of weeks ago someone suggested to me that Somerville should have a city-wide yard sale...everyone should hold a yard sale on the same day. Now the thought is stuck in my head. It would certainly bring some people to the city, boost sales and be fun. It might also help me clear out some room in my basement.

I've been trying to find out if Somerville requires a yard sale permit. I can't seem to find the information online. Also, does anyone else think it would be a good idea to hold this type of event this spring? Is there any interest?

Comments

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

Isn't trash day a bargain rate city wide yard sale day?

You can call 311 within Somerville for the city's help line (which is actually helpful) or use this form:

http://crm.4gov.com/SOMERVILLEMA/supportcontact.asp?sSessionID=

They're responsive. Having said that, I don't believe you need a permit to have a yard sale in your own yard.

[wbaltic.livejournal.com]

Ha! Thanks, I'll try giving them a call.

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

FWIW, two Dorchester neighborhoods do this (Ashmont in spring, Melville Park in fall) and it's always a huge success. Not only are the yard sales fun, but it's a great excuse to get to know neighbors better.

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

I kind of like the idea of splitting it up by neighborhood instead of having an ALL-Somerville day... I know there would be no shortage of people coming from other areas or just people who are not having their own sale, but if it's all on one day and you choose to participate in the selling, you kind of have to give up the buying! (Do those Dorchester neighborhoods work out little schedules, where I'll watch your table for an hour while you browse, and then you watch mine while I go?)

But maybe split up neighborhoods, with a Davis-area sale one weekend, Union Square the next, etc? Areas that are still big enough to be exciting and draw a crowd, but if you're tied up with your own sale in your area, you could still go to another neighborhood's sale at another time?

Clearly, I'm over-thinking this, but however it works out, I'll be excited to participate somehow. :)

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

People watching each other's tables so they can browse is pretty informal (also, I'm most familiar with the Melville Park version since that's where I grew up). The neighborhood associations do make maps indicating where there will be people selling things though, which is useful.

[wbaltic.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could start with a Davis area yard sale. I just don't know how we could tell people that they can participate if they live on one street, but people one block down can't participate.

I'm also wondering if we could do it without asking the participants for any money to participate, and just asking each to be responsible for their part. I'd hate to have to deal with money for a fun, community event.

I was thinking that everyone could just put a map marker on a map like at CommunityWalk.com and we can get a free blogger (or live journal) page that links to the map.

I can always send out some press releases and put it in the calendar sections of the newspapers.

[ron_newman]

I love the idea, but a citywide yard sale day would be as sprawling and unmanageable as Somerville Open Studios. Splitting it up by neighborhood sounds reasonable to me.

no yard sale permit needed but...

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

I was told that you can't put anything for sale out on the sidewalk; that is, keep in driveway, front yard, that kind of thing.

I was the ringleader for a neighborhood multi-family sale this fall. It was a ton of work, but we had a great time :-)

Re: no yard sale permit needed but...

[wbaltic.livejournal.com]

That's good to know. It is looking like the issue will be the parking (isn't it always?), but if we held it on a Sunday, most streets won't require a permit anyway.

Sunday is a good day...

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

because it give participants all of Saturday to get organized :-)
Plus, for families with kids who do sports, Saturdays tend to be busy.

Re: no yard sale permit needed but...

[ron_newman]

Or perhaps the city could be persuaded to waive resident parking citywide on whatever day this happens.

[leahrs.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a terrific idea...My roommate and i have been talking about something along those lines for a while...if this gets off the ground let me know!!!