Is Massachusetts a one-trick pony? (Boston, Springfield: apartment complexes, condos, crime)

[bostongymjunkie]

There was also one at the Pru years ago. Didn't last long. I think I recall one on the North Shore that's gone too. I'm surprised not many in FL though.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by FCMA

That’s what I was getting at. I guess now it’s just the poors who can merely afford the $1.2 million for the moldy corpse of a formerly working class house but not the additional $2 mil to replace it with something large and often tackier - but at least the new one is mold-free. Big values to be found around Boston, the greatest, most vibrant world-class city on this big round earth. I mean where else has contributed Dunkin Donuts to the global cultural conversation?

So is it gentrified in price only like you said originally? Or gentrified in practice like you're saying now?

I'm not aware of any "moldy corpse of a formerly working class house" that sell for $1.2m and then get occupied by "the poors". Maybe the lot would sell for that price, but it's an immediate teardown if it's as bad as you're pretending it is. The structure is worth negative money.

It has gotten to the point that houses that are plenty livable are also being torn down. My friends bought a smaller, older house in Lexington 15 years ago. It was a fine house with good bones and maybe a few quirks. It was probably 'working class' when it was built. Now? There's no way they wouldn't get outbid by a builder because the lot had become far more valuable than the structure. The tearing down of perfectly fine houses to build much better ones used to be limited to places like Lexington, Belmont, and Newton. In the last decade it has spread out even further.

I'm not so sure why you hate the Boston metro so much. There are plenty of places that are doing terribly (like my mom's hometown of Scranton) if you want to try your hat at something more affordable. Still plenty of affordable housing there (much under $100k), the issue is that there aren't that many jobs. in those places there isn't the money or the demand to fix up dilapidated houses, so you end up with actual decaying properties, not just reasonable homes with less than perfect curb appeal.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by massnative71

We are talking about reality here, not the impressions of out of state tourists.

All these towns don't have a very high crime rate and are richer than many towns around the US, they aren't the dumps you are painting them to be.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by Lampert

All these towns don't have a very high crime rate and are richer than many towns around the US, they aren't the dumps you are painting them to be.

Thanks to their wealthy residents. I'm talking about quality of infrastructure, housing stock, and overall what there is to "show" for all that "success". I suppose the low crime is a big bonus for living here, but it's spiraling out of control in the city and will only start spreading further to the suburbs if it's not kept in check.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by massnative71

but it's spiraling out of control in the city and will only start spreading further to the suburbs if it's not kept in check.

What is spiraling out of control? Crime is down in the city.

Massachusetts’ violent crime fell less than 1% from 2020 to 2021, a trend in line with national data.

The Boston Police Department reported 3,885 overall crimes in 2021 compared to 4,354 in 2020, a roughly 10% decrease.

https://www.masslive.com/police-fire/2022/10/boston-homicides-violent-crimes-decreased-from-2020-to-2021-fbi-data-shows.html#:~:text=Massachusetts'%20violent%20crim e%20fell%20less,%2C%20a%20roughly%2010%25%20decrea se.

[mwj119]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Exactly. Thing is that's the norm here rather than the exception. Go to most other states, you tend to not find much the latter in so called affluent towns.

Medway is isn't in the top 70 towns and cities in Masschusetts based on median household income.

Are you saying in similar sized States, the 75th most affluent town in a given metro won't have nice areas, and areas that are rundown?

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by massnative71

These are the towns that pretty much define the Boston area. Gentrified in price only. It hasn't translated to better infrastructure, housing or anything worthwhile for the residents.

Very sour appraisal.
The whole metro has better sewer and water infrastructure than it ever had, and much cleaner harbor waters.
Somerville is off the chart on the improvement scale and and now the green line will poke into Medford too. Quincy, Waltham, Beverly and Malden are hugely improved-- more walkable, new development in their centers, diverse food scene, better schools.
Melrose and Arlington have gone more upscale-- lots of new shops, restaurants, it's an enjoyable outing along their main streets. I'd call that "worthwhile for the residents."
Natick's pretty good, nice town center and the mall has a residential component. Framingham is developing somewhat around the railroad station.
Affluent towns should have working class sections like Nonantum in Newton, Fells Road in Wellesley, East Milton, Brookline Village, West Concord. They're all too expensive for what they are but not expensive like Weston.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

So is it gentrified in price only like you said originally? Or gentrified in practice like you're saying now?

I'm not aware of any "moldy corpse of a formerly working class house" that sell for $1.2m and then get occupied by "the poors". Maybe the lot would sell for that price, but it's an immediate teardown if it's as bad as you're pretending it is. The structure is worth negative money.

It has gotten to the point that houses that are plenty livable are also being torn down. My friends bought a smaller, older house in Lexington 15 years ago. It was a fine house with good bones and maybe a few quirks. It was probably 'working class' when it was built. Now? There's no way they wouldn't get outbid by a builder because the lot had become far more valuable than the structure. The tearing down of perfectly fine houses to build much better ones used to be limited to places like Lexington, Belmont, and Newton. In the last decade it has spread out even further.

I'm not so sure why you hate the Boston metro so much. There are plenty of places that are doing terribly (like my mom's hometown of Scranton) if you want to try your hat at something more affordable. Still plenty of affordable housing there (much under $100k), the issue is that there aren't that many jobs. in those places there isn't the money or the demand to fix up dilapidated houses, so you end up with actual decaying properties, not just reasonable homes with less than perfect curb appeal.

I'll never understand why people even bother to buy homes that they can't afford to maintain (or choose not to maintain). I hate seeing crappy looking dilapidated properties. Once there are enough of them, whole areas/neighborhoods start to look terrible and it is depressing.

[G-fused]

I'm not a MA groupie but you can't compare MA to to other States. It's just different. Like NYC is different from Boston.

I love the sticks of MA. And I think there is a lot to do in the sticks. I mean if you consider the Concord area the sticks, well there is tons to do there. And in other places people enjoy hiking, biking, going to farmer;s mkts, etc. I don't know, I think it's good.

Another thing that is nice about MA is that it is small and centralized. You an get to a lot of other States for day trips and weekends. Lots to explore and do IMO. And yeah, there are also downsides to MA for sure.

Point is though that you can't compare it to other States. And hey, if you don't like it, I get that. Not a big deal.

[bizcuit]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Dunkin' Donuts isn't nearly as common as other parts of the country and even parts of the region. Once you go into western Mass you just don't see as many of them. It lost the war against Starbucks for simple truths. Starbucks does not sell Donuts. But Dunkin' Donuts does sell lattes. It wasn't always that way. Dunkin' Donuts doesn't even focus on Donuts anymore it's something of the past. The days of places to drink coffee on ceramic cups and plates and have a smoke while reading the newspaper are long over

We have a fair amount of Dunks in Northampton.