"Unprecedented tax increases"?
Feb. 3rd, 2014 04:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jducoeur posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareI just got a scare robo-call, apparently from alderman Tony Lafuente, asking me to come to tomorrow night's aldermen's meeting because of the "unprecedented tax increases" in Somerville. Sounds like he's trying to get a mob with torches and pitchforks there, but I haven't the foggiest notion what he's talking about. Anybody have info?
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-04 03:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-04 01:17 pm (UTC)But it's what I meant by "Harvard Square-ization" -- if the landlords aren't sensitive to the neighborhood and the kinds of business that make Davis what it is, it could lead to only relatively upscale (and bland) stores being able to afford to rent there any more. That's a potentially nasty tragedy of the commons, and probably *is* something to discuss as a community...
no subject
Date: 2014-02-04 04:22 pm (UTC)The problem is felt by businesses that aren't seeing as much of an increase in profits as the "average" business is. Additionally, the increase in "average" business profit is significantly due to changes in the mix of businesses, the mix includes more upscale businesses. What ultimately happens is that downscale businesses start to get squeezed by the increasing costs of the location.
if the landlords aren't sensitive to the neighborhood and the kinds of business that make Davis what it is
The landlords will rent to whoever is willing to pay the most.
As for avoiding Harvard Square-ization, all of this is driven by the increasing presence of affluent people. How do you propose to drive out the yuppies? Worse, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
no subject
Date: 2014-02-04 05:07 pm (UTC)I don't disagree that the problem may be unavoidable, but I live in hope...
no subject
Date: 2014-02-05 03:27 am (UTC)Clearly there are people who buy the things for sale in Harvard Square's stores.
The problem is that while you like the look and feel of Davis Square, there's no mechanism for you to contribute money to support it. The only way people can support it is by buying things there. And clearly, if the stores are replaced with more expensive stores, and people buy at the new stores, they're willing to support the new stores more than the old ones -- because they're paying more. I suppose you could arrange for a tax levy on the houses in the neighborhood for some sort of "stabilization fund" that would subsidize the leases of "old style" businesses in the Square.