Gentrification

Lately, I’ve been chatting with a couple of people about the city I grew up in and the changes that have happened over the years. In a way it seems to go hand-in-hand with some of the stuff that Matt had written about Vancouver.

I grew up and went to school in Boston. And no, the “Bahston” accent never stuck on me. Anyway… Recently, my brother mentioned a few changes that have happened or will happen in some neighborhoods that use to have a particular charm or character, namely, Newbury St and Kenmore Square.

Newbury St., even when I was still living there, had always had it’s share of posh and swanky boutiques. However, as you headed further up Newbury St. (away from the Ritz-Carlton and Burberrys), you had some cool, funky small shops that sold some really interesting things. It was always nice to take a stroll up Newbury St. Newbury Comics was the place back in the day for your comics (of course) and for local music as well as other non-mainstream stuff. A lot has changed since then (we’re talking at least 10 years here). The posh shops have slowly inched their way up the street. The Tower Records at the corner of Mass Ave and Newbury gave way to a Virgin Records which will soon become a Best Buy. Newbury Comics is now a bigger retail player with multiple stores in the New England area.

Kenmore Square used to be a bit rundown back when I was still in Uni. But it had some character and some cool eateries that a lot of the area students used to go and hang out at. Sad to say, but over the years, the whole area seems to have undergone some gentrification. Gone is the Deli Haus, the Pizza Pad and the Capt. Nemos subs. Gone is the Rat. In its place is the posh Hotel Commonwealth which seems to be aimed towards visiting parents of kids attending the nearby university. What? Wasn’t the Howard Johnson’s across the way not good enough?

I guess one major trigger for this bit of nostalgia is wondering whatever became of Mr. Butch? Mr. Butch was a bit of a fixture in Kenmore Square. He never really bothered anyone. He just found a spot and played his guitar. As far as I can remember, he’s always been there. But with the changes in the area, he’s been driven out. It’s rather sad. He was one of those characters that gave Kenmore Square its character. But alas, it seems that it will be no more.