…well, not yet.
One of the oddest dislocations about living in a city undergoing a housing bubble is the dizzying transformation of neighborhoods. But, having experienced so much of that the last few year, it’s now shocking to me to see when gentrification efforts fail. Witness these latest attempts in JP and Mission Hill that get too far ahead of the curve:
Jamaica Liquors. When Jamaica Liquors (on the corner of Huntington and S. Huntington) closed, it got a makeover from the landlord. I didn’t know who the tenant would be, but the new place looked just like a Restoration Hardware, with neutral grayish-brown tones and big plate glass windows. It still looks that way, only a blue-collar temp agency (Labor Ready) has moved into half, leaving the other half empty. I think you might have to do something about that kustom kar Motorsports shop across the street (the one with the portrait of Mao on the wall inside!) first if you want more upscale retail.
The Curves on Green Street at Washington. File under “What were they thinking?” Sure, they’re a rapidly expanding chain that’s tapping into an unmined market (women who are at least slightly overweight, or at least put off by the machismo of regular gyms and the overachieving vibe of the women’s-only health clubs). But they cater to a middle-class clientele that really is lacking in that part of JP. Maybe that’s why the Green Street branch is offering 66% off the first hundred or so memberships. That sign has been up for a while, too, so the takers aren’t knocking down the door.
Brigham Circle’s restaurant blight. The gourmet pizza place has become a regular pizza-n-subs joint. The attempt to turn Sparr’s pharmacy into a quirky sandwich place went bust. Even the Indian-run diner isn’t serving Indian food, but full American-style breakfast. Restauranteurs keep wanting to declare that Mission Hill has “arrived”, what with the influx of medical professionals, art students and snooty gay homeowners, but on some level it’s still the same Brigham Circle.
And just curious… how are sales at the Brewery Lofts? Did the recent Bromley-Heath shooting dampen loft-buyer spirits? It’s a great building, but it’s telling that the website is very selective with its picture framing.
I wonder if the bubble is about to burst.
No comments have been added to this post yet.