Gentrification Creeps North of Boston

Naomi Kooker tells of the rapidly increasing pace of gentrification in the once gritty, now expensive, Boston suburb of Somerville.

1 minute read

August 19, 2014, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

"Up until the past few years, Somerville has been [an] affordable neighborhood, an alternative to high-rent Boston and Cambridge, allowing anyone who longed for the vibrancy of a city and proximity to the Hub a piece of property (bought or rented) in exchange for a little grit and a blighted block or two," writes Kooker.

"But that blight has morphed into prettier streets and higher property values. With the constant influx of students and empty-nesters now flocking to Boston, city living is in high demand."

The critical data, to back up the narrative of rising rents: "Since 2011, the median, or midpoint, rent in Somerville has jumped by about 30 percent, from $1,683 to $2,183, according to Zillow.com."

FULL STORY: Skyrocketing rent has tenants searching outside city

Sunday, August 17, 2014 in The Boston Globe

Housing Urban Development Massachusetts Boston Somerville Gentrification Rising Rents Cost of Living View More

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