Davis Square 1997 vs. Davis Square 2007

[cvs-is-king.livejournal.com]

which do you prefer?

Comments

[chumbolly.livejournal.com]

But back in '97, we had to walk up hill both ways through two feet of snow just to get to the Square! Score one for 2007!

Just kidding--you've got some good points (if perhaps a tad nostalgic), but a few counterpoints--the Square is generally cleaner now, the housing stock surrounding the square is in significantly better repair, and there's a lot of new people that have moved in and created enough of a sense of community that they will fight to protect it (which is really sort of the backstory of your original question, right?). I'll bet there's still lot of people around who would like to make similar points between '87 and '97. And I'll bet they weren't so psyched about those invading artists you're missing....

To remain vital, neighborhoods need to constantly change. As a place becomes attractive, as Davis did in the mid-90s, of course it's going to draw in money and investors who will want to put a polish on things but inevitably either burnish away the neighborhoods oddities and charms or calcify said charms into kitsch. If you want to ride the funky wave, head on over to Union, where there's probably still money to be made. Of course, you won't have Dave's, the Somerville Theater, a subway stop (yet), and on and on and on....