Comments on: History Lesson: The Diver House

By: bikes2work

bikes2work — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:32:49 +0000

Alyk,

I agree with your analysis, but I think item 3 is often underrated versus the first two points. Consider East Cambridge as a counterpoint–while it is gentrifying, it has not gentrified nearly to the extent of the South End. East Cambridge has a great location on both red and green lines, close to MIT and the river. It has the small parks and definitely has a “neighborhood” feel. BUT, and this is the important point, the housing stock is not attractive. Instead of beautiful brick rowhouses with good bones, you have ugly triple deckers. It just takes a lot more to improve a neighborhood when the houses are ugly. The south end was originally conceived as a nice (i.e. rich) neighborhood, and so has returned to that state with relative speed. East Cambridge (or South Boston, or East Boston, or any number of other neighborhoods) have not, and so change is much slower.

By: Alyk

Alyk — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:01:44 +0000

Hello Chlyn. I’m no expert on gentrification and urban renewal, so I couldn’t say for sure why the South End and why not Somerville, Allston, or any other area.
If I had to guess, I’d say it’s the result of three factors:
1. Location- it’s a short walk to everything inside Mass ave.
2. Urban Design- lots of small parks, no parking lots, and loads of street-level, local businesses create (force) a neighborly bond.
3.Architecture-I read somewhere that the South End has the largest concentration of Victorian-era architecture in the world. People are passionate about their bow front townhomes.
I’m sure sociologists and urban planners have other theories, too. Any thoughts?

By: Alyk

Alyk — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 07:23:03 +0000

Hello Sunshine & Lollipops. The second listing (135 W. Newton) is already off the market. I assume it sold, but I don’t know for sure.

By: April

April — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:42:23 +0000

Such a beautiful neighborhood. I would LOVE to have one of those fantastic homes!

What a difference a few decades make.

By: Cecil Damour

Cecil Damour — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:57:02 +0000

Correction.

Kudos to the ugly duckling that was the South End, and congratulations to the swan that is the South End.

By: Cecil Damour

Cecil Damour — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:55:26 +0000

Fine article! As a newcomer to the area, I doubt I can fully appreciate the changes recorded over the past hundred years, but architecture, history, and a general scarcity of violence compared to eras past are easily viewed and appreciated at a glance.

Kudos to the ugly duckling that is South End.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:53:51 +0000

those houses are amazing now. Inner city neighborhoods back in the day were very scary. But the people that moved in must really take pride in their section of the city.

By: chlyn

chlyn — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:58:24 +0000

This is an amazing turnaround. I wonder why this area burgeoned and other areas (Somerville, Allston) have not? Is it the physical makeup of the area, with dense housing (as shown in the pic) rather than mixed housing and commerical use?

By: Sunshine & Lollipops

Sunshine & Lollipops — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:26:25 +0000

Oh the South End. A storied place. We’ve come ever so far since those heady days of the 1970s. The muggings have been replaced with marigolds, the crime with chrysanthemums. The flowering of this neighborhood is a story that deserves greater attention and I’d like to extend my thanks to you Alyk for focusing on this glorious neighborhood.

The properties you mention are blockbusters, just perfect for that early 30’s newly-minted lawyer from a white shoe downtown firm, anxious to park his mid-6 figure salary in a home where he can entertain his colleagues in style and grace. Men like he will pursue such properties with a laser-like focus, as aggressively as they pursue partnership. Price for them is no object and they will get what they want and deserve.

Or perhaps they’d be the right for some slightly more elderly Wellesley swells? An early 50’s couple, he just having sold his high tech concern to a deep pocketed buyer and now facing the prospect of early retirement. The kids having flown the coop to the Ivy League, and now they’re looking to graduate from their suburban manse to a more sophisticated urbane lifestyle. But for them, no luxury will be sacrificed as they make the jump to the city!

These are bright times for the South End. Prices are continuing to skyrocket, flying ever higher as the siren-like lure of the city calls ever more well-heeled buyers to its breast.

Recession? For buyers in a nabe like this, not an issue. I’d like to raise my glass and toast to the realtors handling these (sure to be very quick) sales.