Gentrification

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Paul McMorrow writes about gentrification in Union Square. He notes that with the arrival of the Green Line, it will be much more desirable to live in. This will cause an increase in demand for housing there, and that there are two choices: Allow enough additional housing to be built to prevent prices from rising insanely, or preserve its "character" (appearance) at the cost of pricing out just about everybody who already lives there.

"Desirable, inexpensive, low-density -- choose any two!"

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

This being the Boston area, I can guess which one they'll pick. "No new housing, anywhere, ever!"

[ceo]

Contrary to what one might ordinarily expect, the comments are well worth reading on this one.

[somervilleguy.livejournal.com]

One solution that I think is being tried in Philly is to keep the taxes for longer term residents lower. Taxes are a significant reason those on fixed incomes leave. A city is very unlikely to leave money on the table however, so it doesn't gain much traction at a city government level.

[ron_newman]

Unlike other parts of Somerville, Union Square has a fair amount of land now occupied by junkyards, auto repair garages, and parking lots. That can all be replaced by housing without tearing down any of the buildings that give the area real character.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

I'm always surprised by people who think that constructing more units of housing is not the answer to a shortage of housing units.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

I think sensible up-zoning is a good idea.

But I don't like the city's plans to take large amounts of land by eminent domain, and turn it over to a single developer to build sterile uniform glass boxes.

[ron_newman]

One good way to promote more housing development is to eliminate all requirements that housing developers provide parking.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Those people who are lucky enough to live in Davis Square and only in the last decade or so, may not know what it is like to live in a less desirable non gentrified neighborhood. After picking up the umpteenth Burger King bag litter from the street, hearing loud car noises go by, worrying about my family's safety etc, I started to think gentrification is an OK thing. Your outlook changes when things are no longer theoretical.

[freetobeme18.livejournal.com]

Well the first option sounds good to me!

[aynatt.livejournal.com]

Even if new housing is built, you know this new housing will be overpriced condos, taking over what was one of the few really neighborhood places left in Boston. Having the green line come in, is going to drive rents up, whether these are existing buildings or new ones being built.

It's already insanely expensive, this upcoming MBTA coming in will turn Union Square into another Davis quickly, with mom and pop stores being kicked out and Snobby overpriced Bistros settling in its place.