BOS:311

Drug container on sidewalk

I write this with sadness more than anger—though I admit there is some frustration as well. The housing market in East Boston has become increasingly difficult for longtime residents. I have lived here my entire life, and finding a single-family or two-family home is now nearly impossible. The issue is not a lack of inventory, but rather the price of that inventory. Homes that were once attainable for local families now routinely sell for prices approaching or exceeding one million dollars. At the same time, developers continue to convert existing properties into higher-density condominium projects and build luxury units on nearly every available parcel. While development has a place in any growing city, many residents feel that it is occurring without adequate consideration for the people who have lived here for decades. Parking is already a significant challenge throughout the neighborhood, yet more units continue to be added. Traffic congestion has increased, infrastructure improvements seem slow to arrive, and many longtime residents feel pressured to leave the community they grew up in because they can no longer afford to stay. East Boston is my home. I want to remain here for the rest of my life, and I know many others feel the same way. However, that becomes increasingly difficult when housing costs continue to rise far beyond what working families can reasonably afford. I believe the city should take a closer look at condominium conv<truncated>

Same group of people park cars on this street and leave them for weeks at a time. They don’t live in the nearby houses. This is the latest car they have left.