Gentrification in Eastie and Southie leaves some behind

[unhappycamper]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/25/changingboston/bmw2iUSRDbV3u8JVm7zKvJ/story.html



Gina Scalcione, and her husband, Jack, are getting letters from developers offering to buy their house - without even seeing the inside and she does not want to move.

Gentrification in Eastie and Southie leaves some behind
By Beth Teitell Globe Staff March 25, 2016

The developers are circling. They want Gina and Jack Scalcione’s multifamily town house, and with big money to be made in gentrifying East Boston, their pitches are not subtle.

“We can buy your property today for top dollar!” promises one of the letters that have arrived in the couple’s mailbox. “If a cash sale on your property within 24 hours would interest you, please read on,” reads another.

An agent who stopped by offered the couple $950,000, and when that didn’t work, he upped his price to $1.2 million. Never even came inside.

“What’s the money going to do for me?” Gina Scalcione, an energetic woman, asked as she sat in the cozy kitchen she has known for most of her 75 years. “Where am I supposed to go?”

[whathehell]

1. I feel for her..

I never got that attached to th neighborhood I grew up in, but I know many who did. It's their home.

[rjsquirrel]

2. Except

her community is mostly gone and someone is offering her a fair price for her home, which she is free to refuse. What a world.

[whathehell]

4. I see the conundrum,

but it is her house, and if she wants to stay, I'd say it's her right to do so.

[Travis_0004]

3. Am I supposed to feel bad for somebody being offered 1 million for their home?

[whathehell]

5. Not if you don't understand that, to some people, especially the elderly,

a sense of home can be more important than money.

Me? I'd take the money and run, but I'm younger, and don't have her sense of 'home'.

[Travis_0004]

6. Theb she can turn down the offer and keep living there

Once again, I dont see the problem.

[whathehell]

7. Of course..

just as you can continue to not 'see the problem'.

[Travis_0004]

8. What is your solution?

Tell all the existing resident, they cant move since the old residents dont like change.

Dont let new residents move in?

Ban people from knocking on her door to offer her 1 millipn bucks?

[whathehell]

9. Who said there was a solution?

Not me, bro. I simply said that I felt for her and gave my reasons....The better

question might be, why does my sympathy tick you off so much?

[Travis_0004]

10. Sympathy doesnt upset me, I just dont see a problem.

Neighborhoods change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

[whathehell]

11. Yes, you've said that several times now

and just as many times, I believe, I've told you I'm fine with that, so why is this conversation continuing?

I have nothing else to say to you about it.