Has East Somerville changed in last 10 years? (Boston, Washington: apartment, condo)

[ormari]

It's been a while since I lived in Somerville. I recall East Somerville seemed somehow like its own little town in Somerville. If I drove through, I got strange looks that I didn't get in central Somerville or West Somerville, like I didn't belong.

East Somerville strikes me as being quite convenient to Boston.

Anyone else have this experience? Is this still the case, or have things opened up a little more these days?

[timberline742]

I don't know what you mean by strange looks.

I live in East Somerville. I have for four years. I also, previously, lived in Davis Sq, Porter, and Union up closer to the High School. It's more affordable. It's more working class. But I can walk to Sullivan T in 10 minutes and Union in 10 minutes. It's more working class, but tons of professionals as well. I have a community garden and like the neighborhood.

I guess I look like a professional and never recall getting "strange looks" outside of a couple of times I dropped into Michael's Bar on Washington wearing a tie.

[Whatsnext75]

Timberline I thought you were a girl, hehe

[ormari]

Originally Posted by timberline742

I don't know what you mean by strange looks.

I live in East Somerville. I have for four years. I also, previously, lived in Davis Sq, Porter, and Union up closer to the High School. It's more affordable. It's more working class. But I can walk to Sullivan T in 10 minutes and Union in 10 minutes. It's more working class, but tons of professionals as well. I have a community garden and like the neighborhood.

I guess I look like a professional and never recall getting "strange looks" outside of a couple of times I dropped into Michael's Bar on Washington wearing a tie.

So we have lived in some of the same areas, though I was gone from Somerville entirely by the time you moved in to East Somerville. I guess what I mean by strange looks is this: at some point, I was looking to purchase a house in East Somerville, and drove/walked around the neighborhood looking at places. I did the same in Winter Hill, near the High School, and toward Porter. In most neighborhoods nobody paid any mind to me. But in East Somerville I drew attention, for reasons I can't explain. My car was nothing fancy, in good shape. I wasn't running around in a tie.

It's just that, at the time, somehow the vibe made me feel like an outsider in a way I hadn't in the rest of Somerville. It sounds like, from your experience, that's changed. Thanks.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

Timberline I thought you were a girl, hehe

Not the last few times I checked.

[495neighbor]

Years ago I looked at an apartment for myself in East Somerville. Neighbors stood on the curb with folder arms glaring at me. I ended up staying in Davis.

It has changed quite a bit. For better or worse, it has gentrified with the new Assembly Square development and promises of the green line expansion.

[ormari]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Years ago I looked at an apartment for myself in East Somerville. Neighbors stood on the curb with folder arms glaring at me. I ended up staying in Davis.

It has changed quite a bit. For better or worse, it has gentrified with the new Assembly Square development and promises of the green line expansion.

Thank you confirming my experience was not unique.

When I moved to the area in the 90s, people told me to avoid the area. I never saw anything particularly bad about it any of the times I was there. I just felt a bit like an intruder, even when my landlord took me to the Mt. Vernon restaurant as a 'welcome to Somerville' gesture.

[Bruins_Fan]

What was the part they used to call Slummerville? Winter Hill?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by Bruins_Fan

What was the part they used to call Slummerville? Winter Hill?

They used to call the entire thing Slummerville, or I've heard it refer to the entire city.

[semiurbanite]

Somerville has been experiencing gentrification for over a decade, but over the last 3-4 years it has accelerated. Some natives aren't necessarily excited about all of the condo conversions that not only gentrify, but result in a more transient population. Sometimes you can feel the resentment when talking to them, and I have a neighbor that i have walked by 100 times but he wouldn't make eye contact with anyone that wasn't born here. That is, until i took my snow-blower to his sidewalk this winter and now he loves me. These people are a minority, and I wouldn't not move here because of it, but this situation does exist. I have 7 natives living just on my block of my street and the other 6 are very friendly, especially because we are staying long term with kids in the schools. I live in West Somerville near Porter, there may be a higher percentage of people resenting gentrification in East Somerville where it is just starting to take hold.