So what first started gentrification in Boston?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Wasnt much of Boston gentrifying in the 1980s already? Charlestown, JP, South End, Fenway.

I would guess it started with the finacialization of our US economy and the unchecked rise in college tuition and enrollments

Boston's population rose in the 1980s. Unlike most US cities.

Then the repeal of rent control probably was the final straw. After they took down the Central Artery all bets were off.

[P Larsen]

FWIW, the South End between Tremont and Shawmut only saw full re-gentrification in the '90s. The original "Golden Triangle" of South End gentrification was bounded by Columbus, Berkeley and Appleton, and moved slowly out from there. Back in the '70s, areas to the southwest of Dartmouth were quite dicey, with prostitutes working some of the squares (viz. "Common Ground"), but during the '80s gentrification spread southwest before crossing Tremont. The presence of the Villa Victoria project made the leap across Tremont to Shawmut spotty. Then leaping from Shawmut to Harrison and then Harrison to Albany. And the Mass & Cass stuff has more recently challenged that turnover of some of the properties closer to the hospital, so the gentrification tide may in fact have tidal characteristics after all.

Many parts of the Back Bay went into a period of decline between the world wars: lots of townhouses were chopped up into rental flats. We forget now how the BB was bounded by open rail beds filled with trains that belched coal smoke. The building of the Pike, the Pru, and slimming down of the abutting rail presence helped revive the attractiveness of the BB.

And let's not forget that the North Slope of Beacon Hill (north of Myrtle Street) was not fashionable or highly gentrified for a long time, and the longtime proximity to the West End and Scollay Square anchored that.

[rokuremote]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I did read it smart ass. Boston has never been a trendy fashionable place. No need to mention fashion then bud.

Reading comprehension not a strong suit, eh? Maybe nextdoor a better reading level?

[msRB311]

'It took on a life of it's own in trendy fashion'

I'm just gonna leave that there. That was the quote and what quoted.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by p larsen

fwiw, the south end between tremont and shawmut only saw full re-gentrification in the '90s. The original "golden triangle" of south end gentrification was bounded by columbus, berkeley and appleton, and moved slowly out from there. Back in the '70s, areas to the southwest of dartmouth were quite dicey, with prostitutes working some of the squares (viz. "common ground"), but during the '80s gentrification spread southwest before crossing tremont. The presence of the villa victoria project made the leap across tremont to shawmut spotty. Then leaping from shawmut to harrison and then harrison to albany. And the mass & cass stuff has more recently challenged that turnover of some of the properties closer to the hospital, so the gentrification tide may in fact have tidal characteristics after all.

Many parts of the back bay went into a period of decline between the world wars: Lots of townhouses were chopped up into rental flats. We forget now how the bb was bounded by open rail beds filled with trains that belched coal smoke. The building of the pike, the pru, and slimming down of the abutting rail presence helped revive the attractiveness of the bb.

And let's not forget that the north slope of beacon hill (north of myrtle street) was not fashionable or highly gentrified for a long time, and the longtime proximity to the west end and scollay square anchored that.

+ 5

[rokuremote]

Originally Posted by msRB311

'It took on a life of it's own in trendy fashion'

I'm just gonna leave that there. That was the quote and what quoted.

fashion = "manner" in this intended usage.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by rokuremote

fashion = "manner" in this intended usage.

Thank you.

[EastDallasDude]

My opin - being one of those gentrifiers -

When Mom and Dad boomer moved out of the cities in the 70s, us kids grew up in boring suburban towns. Due to that urban flight, the cities became empty with an enormous surplus of deteriorated to utterly empty real estate. Our Generation X was raised and educated to be not racist. So take boredom in the burbs, cheap seats in the cities, and a will to engage in multicultural environment, we moved back into town. It was a lot of fun.