Mood:  chatty

News in the Globe today details the rapid decline, possibly implosion, of the real estate market in East Boston, or "Eastie." 

Several years ago, Eastie was supposed to be the hot, up and coming real estate area in Boston. As recently as last January, the area was being touted as the place to move to before prices went up. 

However, since the collapse of the real estate market in Boston, times are tougher all around when trying to move or develop over-priced condos - especially in what's not the best of neighborhoods. No offense to the fine folks of East Boston, but if you're not from there, you're probably not going to want to move there. It's very much an insider's neighborhood, with many locals' locales. Very ethnic, which is fine, but if you're not of that ethnicity, it can be a rough assimilation. Both articles talk about gentrification, but that can only go so far without some serious neighborhood impact - and it's not like most of the inhabitants of Eastie were looking to get moved out. That's a pretty settled in group of people. 

Additionally, if you're not from there, there's not a lot to do in Eastie. You have to go back into Boston or elsewhere for your culture, nightlife (at least a street-safe version), and job, not to mention your venti no-foam lattes...there's no Starbucks in Eastie. That said, there are some fantastic places to get much more authentic Italian Roast Espresso, that will not only put hair on your chest, but will then melt it right off. 

I recently toured through Eastie between 12:30 and 1:30 AM on a Sunday - on a bus from the airport as the T was out of service. Not an area where I'd feel comfortable walking home from the T stop at that time of night, or possibly any other, to be sure. Maybe if I were a local, but still...not the safest looking of areas. And, speaking of the airport, the noise factor from the planes arriving and departing from Logan is not to be underestimated. A good chunk of Eastie is in one or more flight patterns. That's a lot of noise. 

So, while other real estate markets in Boston have dropped, Eastie's plummeted.  No surprise; however, I don't think the locals are too upset over it...unless they sunk their life savings into buying and renovating with the hopes of flipping.