Somerville renters say the new MBTA stations could price them out of the neighborhood

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Activists clamored for decades for the Green Line to expand into Somerville. But now that the new stops are opening, some renters say they're on the verge of being displaced. WBUR reporter simonfrios takes us there:

Vanessa Vela has lived in the Union Square neighborhood for nearly two decades. But the new MBTA Green Line station that opened in Somerville earlier this week heralded an uncertain future for her.

Transportation advocates have pushed for the extension of the MBTA's Green Line into Somerville and Medford for decades to give residents a faster link to downtown Boston. "I know a lot of people who had to leave Somerville, who are moving far away because they can't afford the rent anymore," said Santos, speaking in Portuguese."It's because of the train — 100%."

"And so the folks that the transit was built to serve end up not being around to benefit from those investments," he said. "We try to use every tool possible," Ballantyne said, citing zoning changes, increasing the amount of affordable housing developers must build and establishing the Office of Housing Stability to help residents facing displacement. Long before she became mayor, Ballantyne has wrestled with the impact of the new MBTA stations as a city council member and in her nonprofit work.

 

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Bring back rent control!

simonfrios Can we end these stupid 9am & 5pm only bus schedules?

simonfrios The green line isn’t pushing anyone out. Undersupply of housing is. So is undersupply of good transit.

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