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

[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.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

The article shows that selfish NIMBYs will sue over the act of building, itself.