Today, it’s 75%. It’s not a question of whether you want a basement; it’s what you want to have in your basement.” Driving the trend is the confluence of desire and dollar value.

At a basement project on the north end of the block, near Santa Rita Avenue, the groundwater pumping began on June 29 and concluded on Sept. 15. Here, only 133,000 gallons were pumped out.

FITCHBURG — In the 14 years since John Paine built his home — a three-bedroom house on Westminster Hill Road — his basement, he says, has never flooded. That changed last week and… ...