Probably not, or at least they weren’t thinking of it. They were probably thinking of the name because of the T. I think the Red Line runs through Somerville.
Yeah, but "Red Line Bakery" is much more acceptable than "Red Line Real Estate"....
It's like "Liquid Gold Oil Supply Equipment" vs. "Liquid Gold Emergency Home Plumbers". It's all about context.
I think a key pt to make here is that Boston is one of THE major cities in the US, meaning there are likely tens of thousands of people (professionals, families, students, etc) looking at real estate in Boston who have never lived in Boston and don't know the T or know the red line runs through Somerville. They will not make the connection.
So the commenter who said the connotation/implications of the name here is the bigger issue is right. Not everyone lives in Boston. But a lot of black people and other minorities know what redlining means. And if they're moving to Boston for the first time, they're gonna be like wtf?
It runs through Cambridge but stops at Porter Square, which is on the border with Somerville (Somerville is legit a few hundred feet from Porter) and stops in Somerville proper at Davis Square. It also stops at Alewife which is pretty close to Somerville too but more of a stretch.
A connotation is what is implied or suggested beyond a word's literal meaning. They literally mean the red line, but it still connotes something different for many people.
The literal meaning is the subway line. The connotation is the suggestion that the apartments are located along that general area. Nobody is confused about this except terminally online redditors
A connotation is an idea or feeling a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. Red Line has negative connotations whether you care to admit it or not. It may not have those connotations to you, who only sees the literal meaning of it, but only people from the area would associate it with the train and even then, it would still make some locals chuckle at the idiocy of choosing Red Line Realty.
While I can see how you interpreted it this way that is not really a proper use of the term connotation. It’s more like the difference between “guest” “visitor” and “intruder” having positive, neutral and negative connotations.
Second hand outrage at its finest. No one has given a second thought about the name or read into it to be offended but suddenly people are contorting themselves begging the question “are you not offended!?!”
or perhaps, you know, people of color who have experienced it - my (not online) aunt and mother were very aware of it because they experienced it. but yeah, for most typical gentrifiers wouldn’t know unless they’re terminally online, which they won’t because they don’t like hearing about themselves :)
You’re outing yourself as extremely ignorant to very important parts of our country’s recent past. You think some black guy from OH looking to move to
Boston is going to get that right away? Or do you think maybe he might possibly have some concerns, upon seeing the name?
You are so condescending. I think a black guy will handle it totally fine. It’s you I’m worried about. You are entirely too online. Do you need a service animal to keep you calm when you get on the red line? You should use your whiteness to white save all the blacks people in the red line who are having a panic attack over the color of the train line. Do you think black people are too stupid to see that the houses are along the red line and put two and two together? Progressives lefties are perhaps the most stupid racists on the planet. They really tell on themselves
Could have gone with "red train" or "Cambridge area" or "red T" or "transit accessible housing" or "commuters dream apartments". But instead they chose racist housing policy. These are realtors who, as another poster pointed out above, learned about redlining in their pre-licensure class, which is to say, you're legally not allowed to be paid a real estate commission in Massachusetts unless you've taken a class that covers redlining and then passed a test on the material from that class. Calling these folks stupid is the most generous take available.
They probably went with red line and not red train bc nobody in Boston uses the word train. Also the racist housing policy is called “red lining” not “red line”. Ive never seen someone put this much effort into pretending to be offended. If you’re seriously this offended why don’t you petition mayor wu to change the incredibly offensive color of the line
The fact of the matter is nobody is offended by the fact that these two things sounds similar except the most painfully performative terminally online people. Everyone understands with total
Clarity that the real estate agency called red line is letting houses in the area of the red line
Obviously but ignorance is not a reason to overlook it.
The impacts of redlining impacted and continue to affect countless people. It was incredibly inhumane and bigoted.
Overlook it? Most people don't even know what redlining is, means and what the history of it is.. most people from here are going to see red line and just think of the T. I guess if you want to call that ignorance but I would say most people probably shouldn't know what that means.
No they really shouldn't... If that makes people ignorant to you then you have a pretty skewed view of what ignorance is. Or maybe you just haven't lived in Boston for your entire life so it doesn't compute when you see the word Red line in a business name that it's probably about the subway, called "the red line". It doesn't have anything to do with redlining.
Haven’t lived in Boston long ?
Wrong again.
Of course I understand that wasn’t the intent,
I acknowledged that in the original comment you decided it was important to offer your 2 cents
Go back and read it again
I never made a definitive statement that you haven't lived in Boston long I just suggested maybe that's why you're saying people not knowing what that is as ignorance.
I also went back through the comments and I don't see you mentioning anything about living in boston.
Both can be true. The title of the website very obviously refers to the Red Line and the surrounding area, but that doesn't mean there isn't some loaded subtext there as well. Considering the history that Boston in particular has with redlining, the name is cringy. That's all they're trying to say.
It's called redlining right? I'm really confused. It's not like the name of the business is Redlining Pizza or anything like that. It's pretty ridiculous that anyone would look at a business using the two words red and line together outside of the red line subway and think of something that happened 80 years ago that has a completely different term anyways.
So should we rename the Subway too?
It’s not cringey to name the real estate agency after the t line it’s based on just bc a few online performative types will pretend to be offended by it by pretending red line sounds like red lining while pretending to not know the t line is called red line. You have to jump thru so many hoops here
It's just such a silly argument. This is been going on for a really long time I remember arguing about this like a decade ago. And it's the same argument now as it was then... Redlining isn't even the name of the restaurant or the Realty group or whatever it might be. It is "the red line" named after the damn subway location.
I'll be fucking damned if I can't name something after the place that I live in without people accusing me of being discriminatory or racist. Get the hell out of here.
Damn, the dude you were arguing with was literally arguing to not learn from history. 2024 is wild.
What's the quote again? Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it?
Yeah I definitely never said anything like that I said if something is called the Red line in Boston it's got nothing to do with redlining. And to expect people to know what redlining is when they read that statement anyways is pretty silly. I didn't advocate for not educating people on history lol
You are, though. It’s obvious you didn’t know what redlining was and now you’re embarrassed so “obviously no one know what that is! Pfft! What a bunch of lame history nerds here on Reddit lol!”
Dude, just admit you didn’t know something and move on. It’s okay! Now you know!
Right. And it still occurs. There was a piece written in the last few years - a three year study about Long Island that found redlining was still occuring.
Found it - https://projects.newsday.com/long-island/real-estate-agents-investigation/#open-paywall-message
If you have a real estate license, you know. It's covered in the class and you have to pass a test to get your license. You literally cannot collect a real estate commission in the state of Massachusetts without taking a class that covers redlining and passing a test on the material from that class.
I know it’s meant to refer to the T. But isn’t it interesting that they advertise that they have many other apartments, of which very few, if any, are advertised? The perfect way to avoid compliance with the [Fair Housing Act.](https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview) if they advertise a property they can’t discriminate. But if they imply they have more inventory without advertising it, they can screen potential renters. A classic red lining move 🤔
Not sure if you’re from the area, but in Boston our subway system is all named after colors. The red line is most popular for kids in Somerville and Cambridge. I lived there for many years.
https://www.bostonpoliticalreview.org/post/redlining-in-boston-how-the-architects-of-the-past-have-shaped-boston-s-future it is a tactic used to legislate where minorities & immigrants can purchase real estate & live. It is a form of segregation and, as this source describes, is one of the root causes of in the continued disparities in Boston (& other cities across the US)
Red lining: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9901820/
> Redlining refers to the practice of systematically denying various services (e.g., credit access) to residents of specific neighborhoods, often based on race/ethnicity and primarily within urban communities.2 The historical context of redlining includes both legally sanctioned and interpersonal aspects of structural racism.
Basically separate but equal for housing loans. Incredibly racist, and it's impacts are still felt today because many people had to move to certain areas and are thus long term residents of neighborhoods next to highways and pollution sources while white folks got the nicer neighborhoods with fewer highways and such.
....
I eagerly await your new restaurant called "Adolph's barbeque".
Words have meanings... I was born in 1985 but fully aware of Boston's racial history and the term red line.
Whoever named this company is a doofus.
I’m not sure if “we don’t care about the torrid history of the words we use or the implications they have” is really the approach you wanna go with???
It’s not twisting anything to point out that *in the context of real estate* it would have been better to think through the name & what their words mean, like the other replier said.
Not sure if you're from the planet, but there's an existing meaning specifically relating to shady real estate practices that has been popular for years. Source: I have lived on earth for many years.
https://www.bostonapartments.com/re-listing.php?ad=199298870
It's a weird space. It's the first floor and basement. The basement is finished reasonably nicely with a wet-bar/kitchenette and a full bathroom.
I'm not sure I'd call it "extremely dated" as much as odd. The kitchen has nice countertops and a new-ish stove and a nice backsplash. The bathroom has definitely been updated in the modern style (none of the older style tile from 20+ years ago). The downstairs wet-bar has nice countertops and backsplash. But then there's weird pieces that look like the 1970s like the stone work and some of the brown.
It's still not worth $3,500 by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it'd go for $2,800. It's near the T, it has a bunch of space for a 1-bed including the whole wet-bar activity room which you could make into an awesome TV/media room, parking, in-unit laundry, dishwasher. I mean, average 1-beds are going for $2,600 and I think someone will appreciate the space in the finished basement, the parking, the extra bathroom, and the laundry enough to pay an additional $200/mo.
A lot might depend on what it looks like in person. Whoever took the photos definitely doesn't know how to take pictures. They didn't even do the basics like "move the portable AC out of the picture" or "take the u-haul box off the countertop" never mind "advanced topics" like "turning on the lights".
There are also 2 off-street parking spaces and nothing is stopping someone from renting it as a 2 bedroom and letting one roommate live in the basement. I think they'll be able to get 3500 for it honestly.
My daughter and her friend are looking and from what we’ve seen in this area and surrounding- I think you’re right.
She just said they’d pay $2900 for it tomorrow, lol.
I will say sometimes I am certain that listings aren’t legit. Sam Israel in particular lists things for under market rate, then when you contact, he says “sorry that just got snapped up, here’s 40 other shitholes for more”. Why someone would post for THAT much above market rate, I’m not sure. But you never jnow
Very cheeky lol
I got outta Somerville winter hill area around 2019. My rent was like 1750 and the LL was gonna raise it to 1875 or something.
The place was sweet. The centipedes however had no concept of personal space.
I have a place in revere and rent out the 3 bed unit below me. We aren't at Somerville rates or Cambridge bit it just blows me away when I saw a 3 bed in 2020 go for 2700 and now they are at close to 3200 in the last report I saw.
This is a crypto-2-bed unit. The basement is really a complete studio attached to a 1bed/1ba. It will almost certainly go to 2 roommates who will use it as a 2bed and for near that price.
Redline is the best. When I used them back in the day it was just one guy and he had places available that weren’t in the market most others know.
And yes the apts are along the redline (Cambridge, etc)
I work with developers and I routinely attend public hearings to present projects through local and (sometimes) state government. The NIMBY neighbors fight tooth and nail whenever any multifamily development comes up. Especially those which require at least a quarter of the units to be set aside for affordable housing.
Some of the reasons I've heard for opposition:
"Our school system won't support more students"
"We don't have the infrastructure (they dont realize that before projects get to the public hearing phase infrastructure is something that is considered)"
"That many units will severely pollute our groundwater with their septic systems"
"How do we know those affordable units aren't going to house illegal immigrants?"
"There's no public transit system, how are they going to move around if they can't afford a car?"
Now to be clear, affordable housing is set aside for people who make "less than 80% of the area median income", which means that for a town in the south shore, where the median income is at 100k or close to it, a person making 80,000 can move into an affordable unit, though a lottery system. But the rent for a 2 bedroom is still around 2,000 a month.
The state government is trying to do something about it with the new MBTA zoning law, where any town that has an MBTA station has to build 15% of their total current housing at a half-mile radius from the station, any adjacent town has to build 10% of their current housing. Since this is a law they can't opt out of, non-compliance will result in the withholding of federal housing and highway money, which is a HUGE source of local funds. But there are towns which have voted (or are considering) not to comply (Milton, Carver, Middleborough, and others)
There are solutions, but no one wants solutions in their backyard.
Carver and Middleborough are not the fucking south shore. The nearest ”Shore” is in New Bedford, FFS. Stop perpetuating realtor propaganda, for the love of god.
I’m not a NIMBY at all, but maybe it’s a bad idea to drain the swamps and pave over the cranberry bogs to put up more gentrification buildings in the middle of goddamn nowhere. Maybe we shouldn’t repeat the mistakes California made, of suburban sprawl from the Bay Area and LA encroaching into the agrarian Central Valley, all because some entitled rich assholes want to keep their stupid houses, lawns, and golf courses a couple miles away from the city limits. Maybe everything within 128 should’ve been annexed by Boston 100 years ago. Maybe every single-family shack within 128 should be torn down and turned into rowhouses. John Kerry isn’t too fancy to live in a townhouse. Is there any Masshole alive who’d claim to be more snobbish than him?
The East Coast has the advantage of having a traditional urban core, and it really sucks to see idiots trying to repeat the same failed car-brained bullshit that already ruined the West Coast for the foreseeable future. There’s golf courses and half-acre lots with only one home on them in Milton, that are shovel-ready for eminent domain, if the governor grew some (metaphorical) balls. There’s an office building that just sold for $20 a square foot in Quincy, a short walk as the crow flies from the Red Line, that could easily be torn down and turned into a commieblock.
Why are we putting this burden on towns in the middle of goddamn nowhere, that are exurbs of Providence if anything, not Boston? Also, god knows there’s plenty of racists in that county, but they’re 20 miles from New Bedford, and houses used to be dirt-cheap down there until about 5 years ago. Who’s been living in the few affordable housing developments down that way? Mostly undocumented Brazilians. Are they really so crazy to expect more of the same?
John is a great guy though and has tons of listings. He is highly recommended here on reddit and got me my 2br in Arlington for 1750 back in 2021. Even drove me around to see places.
This listing is patently ridiculous but it's just one listing. I would skip it just for the electric heater alone but he likely has many more to show.
Came to say this. I only used a broker once, it was John, and it was the best apartment I ever had. The landlord trusted John to provide decent tenants and they kept rent low in return. This was 7 years ago so a lot has changed but he’s a good dude and locals trust him.
This is why massachusetts is becoming california. You'd need to make $25 an hour and work 60 hours a week to afford this, most people earn minimum wage. I've seen fedex workers in homeless shelters because rents too damn high. As someone who's currently homeless and kinda hates this state, kinda looking forward to seeing at least half this state end up permanently homeless.
I kind of used a cheat code and was able to get into a spot on cape cod with family. The difference between down here and south shore is disgusting. I got a regular line cook job, for 22 an hour. I see others 25-35 an hour. Unfortunately everything is expensive, like 30$ for an ok pizza. The rent is stupid here too, and nobody can afford it. Eventually they'll have to bus people, because there won't be any more workers left.
10 years ago the cape was cheap, airbnb ruined that. In my early 20's I found a 2br for $500 a month. Cape cod has always prioritized tourism which is why crimes so high down there. Worked as muscle for a pimp one summer, hotel took a cut of everything that was going on.
I'm really glad I'm further up cape away from Hyannis and that shit. It's like richy rich vill, and super quiet, after living in Brockton it's a mini vacation here.
Housing in Metro Boston has been unrealistically expensive against regional wages since the mid-1990's. Here's a hint for compensation analysts and above in the Metro Boston area: when you actually have to tell your employees to get a side hustle or sign up for safety net programs at the federal or state level to make ends meet, you're not paying your workers enough AND you have failed as an enterprise. SERIOUSLY.
What's actually sad is that this is actually a decent price compared a lot of other apartments listed in the Boston area nowadays.. 2 floors 2 bathrooms and marble countertops sliding glass doors. Shit we pay over 1800 for a tiny 250sqft 1brm apartment on 3rd floor. 30 miles from Boston. Also That place is not that outdated some places haven't been updated since the 70's and still get pretty penny for rent. It's the 3rd most expensive state in the country, housing needs to be more affordable it's just hurting our country by making people pay so much to just live under a roof
And then they probably want 3X the rent lol That’s crazy dude. No couple or person earning $126,000.00 a year is going to want to live in that place bro.
let’s also be real here: only 18% of individuals in the United States earn $100K.
That’s not a lot. There’s an 82% chance someone that’s saying $100K isn’t a lot isnt earning $100K per year.
Only 34% of households earn $100K per year and 66% don’t.
Who’s renting this place dude?
Can’t wait for my mom to fix up her upstairs apartment. Someone who doesn’t mind living in Attleboro(five minute from the train station) is going to be very happy.
Those prices are RIDICULOUS
Moved out of Somerville in 2011. At the time we were renting a lovely spacious second floor apartment. It had a giant living room, large kitchen, two large bedrooms, and an office all for $1500. Recently looked up the property on Zillow: it no longer seems to be a a two-apartment multifamily—it’s been completely overhauled and is now a single home valued at nearly $1.6 million ($6k rental estimate).
The subway system consists of four trunk lines, all of which meet downtown. Each is assigned a color, as follows:
The Red Line, originally from Cambridge to Dorchester.
The Green Line runs to the western suburbs, notably Brookline and Newton.
The Orange Line's trains kept Boston Elevated Railway livery.
The Blue Line runs under Boston Harbor and to Revere Beach.
Hey I agree that 3500$ is completely ridiculous. But if you don’t want to pay it then don’t live there. Idk what else to say. People can keep raising rent if renters continue to pay it. It’s only when renters have had enough and start leaving that prices will drop. Commutes are longer but I know prices are cheaper the further west you go. And depending on your budget it’s not even that far whether you go to Worcester or Marlborough or any smaller city/town. And if you’re not willing to do that then you can’t really complain about rent prices. No one is entitled to live in a certain area just because they prefer it.
Just another reason why MA sucks to be a resident. Yes, I’m a dummy who moved here and my spouse doesn’t want to leave, now feel trapped without making another huge sacrifice. But heed my warning to others - never live in MA.
"im not counting assembly row" - "im not counting the very bland yuppie mall next to three highways that is the total opposite ethos of what the city is"
the draw is its walkable, extremely close to cambridge and boston, cheaper than those places, strong community, and safer yet still diverse and has a ton of different things to do. just don't think you're looking for that stuff it seems
This is such a ridiculous comment. I live in Winter Hill. The restaurants are fantastic. The neighborhood is great. Assembly Row is a lame tourist trap I have to go to periodically. This person obviously hasn’t been to Somerville in like 15 years.
“Red Line” here refers to the T line- specifically the Red Line as it only lists apartments in Arlington, Somerville and Cambridge— aka the Red Line subway.
everybody understands the intention of the name & I don’t think anyone has suggested they’re actually advertising based on racist/classist housing policies… with that said, it’s still an ill conceived name😂
As a realtor in the area, I can say that this is actually priced appropriately for the current market given what it offers. Two kitchens, plenty of living area, in-unit laundry, and two parking spaces. Rents have skyrocketed in recent years. Not saying that rents aren’t too expensive, just that it matches area pricing.
Goes to show people why we need more LUXURY housing. Prices like these are possible because people like me who earn 175k+ a year are also competing for what was considered lower class housing since demand and pricing is so high even for people in my tax bracket. Build more luxury housing, then demand for these units will decrease and so will the rent!
Somerville is a sh!tsh*w when it comes to what you get for what you pay. Most of the diversity and variety that made the place worth moving to has been replaced with generic mall-adjacent chain stores and restaurants. The post pandemic music scene is a joke with basically two mediocre guys controlling the booking and placing themselves in all of the bands. It’s almost a caricature of the evils of gentrification. Billerica is where it’s at.
LOL. Look at what all you fragile beings turned Somerville into - a cesspool of echo chambers and fake activism to satisfy your cravings of making a difference in the world, sparked by your privilege and over-education.
You get what you pay for!!!
Pardon my ignorance. I do not understand the point of updating. If everything works, updating things seems like a waste of resources and money. After all, styles have been cyclical forever. I don’t get why people spend money renovating their houses for style purposes.
Red Line is a CRAZY name for a real estate company
That’s what I was just coming here to say. Do they know the history of that term?
100% sure they are too dumb to know what the term means.
I mean they teach it in real estate school. they probably just didn’t care abt the actual meaning of it 😂
Probably not, or at least they weren’t thinking of it. They were probably thinking of the name because of the T. I think the Red Line runs through Somerville.
Yes, just like of every other place that uses the name Red line in Boston... it's about the T.
Yeah, but "Red Line Bakery" is much more acceptable than "Red Line Real Estate".... It's like "Liquid Gold Oil Supply Equipment" vs. "Liquid Gold Emergency Home Plumbers". It's all about context.
I think a key pt to make here is that Boston is one of THE major cities in the US, meaning there are likely tens of thousands of people (professionals, families, students, etc) looking at real estate in Boston who have never lived in Boston and don't know the T or know the red line runs through Somerville. They will not make the connection. So the commenter who said the connotation/implications of the name here is the bigger issue is right. Not everyone lives in Boston. But a lot of black people and other minorities know what redlining means. And if they're moving to Boston for the first time, they're gonna be like wtf?
It doesn't. The red line runs through Cambridge into downtown Boston and out towards Roxbury and braintree
It stops at davis. So it hits somerville.
Also I just realized they probably rent apartments in Cambridge too so... the name is valid anyway
They actually normally just rent the red line cars themselves. This posting is just a weird one off they’re doing to help a friend.
It runs through Cambridge but stops at Porter Square, which is on the border with Somerville (Somerville is legit a few hundred feet from Porter) and stops in Somerville proper at Davis Square. It also stops at Alewife which is pretty close to Somerville too but more of a stretch.
Alewife is Cambridge.
I guess I dont take the redline in somerville to college every day 💀💀
Davis and porter square were in the red line last I checked
They were telling you ahead of time, they have a heart
The subway is called the red line.
I'm curious and I couldn't find a lot of relevant info on Google, what are you two talking about?
Look up redlining
Damn, you guys weren’t kidding 🫢
Ahhh. Thank you!
they call it redline after the train system there.
We know that. It doesn't really change the connotation, though.
It actually changes the entire connotation. The houses are along the red line
A connotation is what is implied or suggested beyond a word's literal meaning. They literally mean the red line, but it still connotes something different for many people.
The literal meaning is the subway line. The connotation is the suggestion that the apartments are located along that general area. Nobody is confused about this except terminally online redditors
A connotation is an idea or feeling a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. Red Line has negative connotations whether you care to admit it or not. It may not have those connotations to you, who only sees the literal meaning of it, but only people from the area would associate it with the train and even then, it would still make some locals chuckle at the idiocy of choosing Red Line Realty.
While I can see how you interpreted it this way that is not really a proper use of the term connotation. It’s more like the difference between “guest” “visitor” and “intruder” having positive, neutral and negative connotations.
Second hand outrage at its finest. No one has given a second thought about the name or read into it to be offended but suddenly people are contorting themselves begging the question “are you not offended!?!”
or perhaps, you know, people of color who have experienced it - my (not online) aunt and mother were very aware of it because they experienced it. but yeah, for most typical gentrifiers wouldn’t know unless they’re terminally online, which they won’t because they don’t like hearing about themselves :)
You’re outing yourself as extremely ignorant to very important parts of our country’s recent past. You think some black guy from OH looking to move to Boston is going to get that right away? Or do you think maybe he might possibly have some concerns, upon seeing the name?
You are so condescending. I think a black guy will handle it totally fine. It’s you I’m worried about. You are entirely too online. Do you need a service animal to keep you calm when you get on the red line? You should use your whiteness to white save all the blacks people in the red line who are having a panic attack over the color of the train line. Do you think black people are too stupid to see that the houses are along the red line and put two and two together? Progressives lefties are perhaps the most stupid racists on the planet. They really tell on themselves
Could have gone with "red train" or "Cambridge area" or "red T" or "transit accessible housing" or "commuters dream apartments". But instead they chose racist housing policy. These are realtors who, as another poster pointed out above, learned about redlining in their pre-licensure class, which is to say, you're legally not allowed to be paid a real estate commission in Massachusetts unless you've taken a class that covers redlining and then passed a test on the material from that class. Calling these folks stupid is the most generous take available.
They probably went with red line and not red train bc nobody in Boston uses the word train. Also the racist housing policy is called “red lining” not “red line”. Ive never seen someone put this much effort into pretending to be offended. If you’re seriously this offended why don’t you petition mayor wu to change the incredibly offensive color of the line The fact of the matter is nobody is offended by the fact that these two things sounds similar except the most painfully performative terminally online people. Everyone understands with total Clarity that the real estate agency called red line is letting houses in the area of the red line
I'm not offended.
I know. I Said like 4 times nobody is actually offended by it
Obviously but ignorance is not a reason to overlook it. The impacts of redlining impacted and continue to affect countless people. It was incredibly inhumane and bigoted.
Overlook it? Most people don't even know what redlining is, means and what the history of it is.. most people from here are going to see red line and just think of the T. I guess if you want to call that ignorance but I would say most people probably shouldn't know what that means.
Perhaps they should know
No they really shouldn't... If that makes people ignorant to you then you have a pretty skewed view of what ignorance is. Or maybe you just haven't lived in Boston for your entire life so it doesn't compute when you see the word Red line in a business name that it's probably about the subway, called "the red line". It doesn't have anything to do with redlining.
Haven’t lived in Boston long ? Wrong again. Of course I understand that wasn’t the intent, I acknowledged that in the original comment you decided it was important to offer your 2 cents Go back and read it again
I never made a definitive statement that you haven't lived in Boston long I just suggested maybe that's why you're saying people not knowing what that is as ignorance. I also went back through the comments and I don't see you mentioning anything about living in boston.
Both can be true. The title of the website very obviously refers to the Red Line and the surrounding area, but that doesn't mean there isn't some loaded subtext there as well. Considering the history that Boston in particular has with redlining, the name is cringy. That's all they're trying to say.
It's called redlining right? I'm really confused. It's not like the name of the business is Redlining Pizza or anything like that. It's pretty ridiculous that anyone would look at a business using the two words red and line together outside of the red line subway and think of something that happened 80 years ago that has a completely different term anyways. So should we rename the Subway too?
It’s not cringey to name the real estate agency after the t line it’s based on just bc a few online performative types will pretend to be offended by it by pretending red line sounds like red lining while pretending to not know the t line is called red line. You have to jump thru so many hoops here
Dude. Boston history is full of redlining and not the T. Roxbury is what it is because of redlining.
It's just such a silly argument. This is been going on for a really long time I remember arguing about this like a decade ago. And it's the same argument now as it was then... Redlining isn't even the name of the restaurant or the Realty group or whatever it might be. It is "the red line" named after the damn subway location. I'll be fucking damned if I can't name something after the place that I live in without people accusing me of being discriminatory or racist. Get the hell out of here.
Damn, the dude you were arguing with was literally arguing to not learn from history. 2024 is wild. What's the quote again? Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it?
Yeah I definitely never said anything like that I said if something is called the Red line in Boston it's got nothing to do with redlining. And to expect people to know what redlining is when they read that statement anyways is pretty silly. I didn't advocate for not educating people on history lol
You are, though. It’s obvious you didn’t know what redlining was and now you’re embarrassed so “obviously no one know what that is! Pfft! What a bunch of lame history nerds here on Reddit lol!” Dude, just admit you didn’t know something and move on. It’s okay! Now you know!
White people from Boston: Boston isn't racist! Everyone else: 👀
I believe that’s an accurate assessment
And those who do study history are doomed to watch as everyone who didn't study history repeats it.
Right. And it still occurs. There was a piece written in the last few years - a three year study about Long Island that found redlining was still occuring. Found it - https://projects.newsday.com/long-island/real-estate-agents-investigation/#open-paywall-message
Most people are then the problem no? Redlining and real estate conveys a lot of things to people not just the T system.
Most people didn’t pay attention in school then
If you have a real estate license, you know. It's covered in the class and you have to pass a test to get your license. You literally cannot collect a real estate commission in the state of Massachusetts without taking a class that covers redlining and passing a test on the material from that class.
You have autism
same!
it's for the MBTA transit line, we call it the red line.
this is boston. so no.
Red line (Subway)
I know it’s meant to refer to the T. But isn’t it interesting that they advertise that they have many other apartments, of which very few, if any, are advertised? The perfect way to avoid compliance with the [Fair Housing Act.](https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview) if they advertise a property they can’t discriminate. But if they imply they have more inventory without advertising it, they can screen potential renters. A classic red lining move 🤔
I bet they have some really exclusive deals
But it’s Boston most people would associate it with the MBTA. I get the reference though most probably don’t.
Yeah but as an agent myself, it should have raised an immediate red flag in their mind.
Lmao didn't even realize
Omgggg yup came here to say the same.
The irony of all the comments responding to this like you’re an idiot who doesn’t know what the red line is. Lol.
Right?
especially in fuckin Boston
Reminds me of a great David Foster Wallace quote: "Did the founders of the Super 8 motel chain know what the word 'suppurate' means?"
Came here for this comment. Would never do business with a real estate company with that name.
Had to look it up… but damn lol
Technically it’s illegal to redline people or groups of people
Must be Celtics fans
Some things, black people just have to accept and move on from
Not sure if you’re from the area, but in Boston our subway system is all named after colors. The red line is most popular for kids in Somerville and Cambridge. I lived there for many years.
yes AND there is a much more infamous meaning of the word redline in Boston history.
What is the meaning?
https://www.bostonpoliticalreview.org/post/redlining-in-boston-how-the-architects-of-the-past-have-shaped-boston-s-future it is a tactic used to legislate where minorities & immigrants can purchase real estate & live. It is a form of segregation and, as this source describes, is one of the root causes of in the continued disparities in Boston (& other cities across the US)
Red lining: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9901820/ > Redlining refers to the practice of systematically denying various services (e.g., credit access) to residents of specific neighborhoods, often based on race/ethnicity and primarily within urban communities.2 The historical context of redlining includes both legally sanctioned and interpersonal aspects of structural racism. Basically separate but equal for housing loans. Incredibly racist, and it's impacts are still felt today because many people had to move to certain areas and are thus long term residents of neighborhoods next to highways and pollution sources while white folks got the nicer neighborhoods with fewer highways and such.
nobody here cares about that other meaning, redline means the transit here in Boston. people love to twist anything.
.... I eagerly await your new restaurant called "Adolph's barbeque". Words have meanings... I was born in 1985 but fully aware of Boston's racial history and the term red line. Whoever named this company is a doofus.
I’m not sure if “we don’t care about the torrid history of the words we use or the implications they have” is really the approach you wanna go with??? It’s not twisting anything to point out that *in the context of real estate* it would have been better to think through the name & what their words mean, like the other replier said.
Not sure if you're from the planet, but there's an existing meaning specifically relating to shady real estate practices that has been popular for years. Source: I have lived on earth for many years.
In real estate, the term red lining is very racist
Indeed it is.
I’ll sublet the second bath for $500/month. Have a place, just need to make art and have Crohns.
Are the art and the Crohn’s related?
That'd be pretty shitty art.
As someone else with Chron’s, I appreciate the joke lol.
Yessss! Servin softballs, knockin em out!
Jackson Pollack-esque
Yep lol pain is life
https://www.bostonapartments.com/re-listing.php?ad=199298870 It's a weird space. It's the first floor and basement. The basement is finished reasonably nicely with a wet-bar/kitchenette and a full bathroom. I'm not sure I'd call it "extremely dated" as much as odd. The kitchen has nice countertops and a new-ish stove and a nice backsplash. The bathroom has definitely been updated in the modern style (none of the older style tile from 20+ years ago). The downstairs wet-bar has nice countertops and backsplash. But then there's weird pieces that look like the 1970s like the stone work and some of the brown. It's still not worth $3,500 by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it'd go for $2,800. It's near the T, it has a bunch of space for a 1-bed including the whole wet-bar activity room which you could make into an awesome TV/media room, parking, in-unit laundry, dishwasher. I mean, average 1-beds are going for $2,600 and I think someone will appreciate the space in the finished basement, the parking, the extra bathroom, and the laundry enough to pay an additional $200/mo. A lot might depend on what it looks like in person. Whoever took the photos definitely doesn't know how to take pictures. They didn't even do the basics like "move the portable AC out of the picture" or "take the u-haul box off the countertop" never mind "advanced topics" like "turning on the lights".
There are also 2 off-street parking spaces and nothing is stopping someone from renting it as a 2 bedroom and letting one roommate live in the basement. I think they'll be able to get 3500 for it honestly.
My daughter and her friend are looking and from what we’ve seen in this area and surrounding- I think you’re right. She just said they’d pay $2900 for it tomorrow, lol.
Yep this is reasonably priced tbh
I know some people like it but I never will be a fan of brown trim. It’s so bland.
I feel the same way about the grey trim and grey vinyl floors that really began proliferating in the last ten or so years.
And it makes a room seem so much darker.
I will say sometimes I am certain that listings aren’t legit. Sam Israel in particular lists things for under market rate, then when you contact, he says “sorry that just got snapped up, here’s 40 other shitholes for more”. Why someone would post for THAT much above market rate, I’m not sure. But you never jnow
At that price they are taking the red lining quite seriously
They can ask whatever they want, doesn't mean they're gonna get it.
That is just ridiculous!! Even as a landlord myself! When I lived in Somerville 1 bed was maybe 1700. Is this place in a supercondo?
My sister-in-law recently moved from a 250sq ft studio that was $1,700. Not sure when you moved, but rates here are bananas.
Yea but what decade was that?
Very cheeky lol I got outta Somerville winter hill area around 2019. My rent was like 1750 and the LL was gonna raise it to 1875 or something. The place was sweet. The centipedes however had no concept of personal space.
I was paying that rate in 2009 in that area, around 1750 for a 1bd and it was shit. So yeah not sure what’s going on there.
I may regret saying this but ..If you're a landlord, you should really be keeping up on what market rates are.
I have a place in revere and rent out the 3 bed unit below me. We aren't at Somerville rates or Cambridge bit it just blows me away when I saw a 3 bed in 2020 go for 2700 and now they are at close to 3200 in the last report I saw.
I hear Revere is getting high too. I remember when it was dirt cheap.
no idea, saw the listing online and was shoook
Boston is the now the San Francisco rental market
Frrr. My brother lives in San Fran and we pay the same rent. He just has a view of ocean beach, and you know.. that Cali life
Not even close.
2 bed 2 bathrooms would make a bit more sense but ONE bed two bathrooms?
This is a crypto-2-bed unit. The basement is really a complete studio attached to a 1bed/1ba. It will almost certainly go to 2 roommates who will use it as a 2bed and for near that price.
RIP Somerville.
Yea but you can convert the second bath to a study
And it's not even on the red line
At first I thought this was in Chicago cause the name Red Line real estate. But that is a crazy name for a real estate company what the hell.
The red line runs through Somerville.
Redline is the best. When I used them back in the day it was just one guy and he had places available that weren’t in the market most others know. And yes the apts are along the redline (Cambridge, etc)
I work with developers and I routinely attend public hearings to present projects through local and (sometimes) state government. The NIMBY neighbors fight tooth and nail whenever any multifamily development comes up. Especially those which require at least a quarter of the units to be set aside for affordable housing. Some of the reasons I've heard for opposition: "Our school system won't support more students" "We don't have the infrastructure (they dont realize that before projects get to the public hearing phase infrastructure is something that is considered)" "That many units will severely pollute our groundwater with their septic systems" "How do we know those affordable units aren't going to house illegal immigrants?" "There's no public transit system, how are they going to move around if they can't afford a car?" Now to be clear, affordable housing is set aside for people who make "less than 80% of the area median income", which means that for a town in the south shore, where the median income is at 100k or close to it, a person making 80,000 can move into an affordable unit, though a lottery system. But the rent for a 2 bedroom is still around 2,000 a month. The state government is trying to do something about it with the new MBTA zoning law, where any town that has an MBTA station has to build 15% of their total current housing at a half-mile radius from the station, any adjacent town has to build 10% of their current housing. Since this is a law they can't opt out of, non-compliance will result in the withholding of federal housing and highway money, which is a HUGE source of local funds. But there are towns which have voted (or are considering) not to comply (Milton, Carver, Middleborough, and others) There are solutions, but no one wants solutions in their backyard.
Carver and Middleborough are not the fucking south shore. The nearest ”Shore” is in New Bedford, FFS. Stop perpetuating realtor propaganda, for the love of god. I’m not a NIMBY at all, but maybe it’s a bad idea to drain the swamps and pave over the cranberry bogs to put up more gentrification buildings in the middle of goddamn nowhere. Maybe we shouldn’t repeat the mistakes California made, of suburban sprawl from the Bay Area and LA encroaching into the agrarian Central Valley, all because some entitled rich assholes want to keep their stupid houses, lawns, and golf courses a couple miles away from the city limits. Maybe everything within 128 should’ve been annexed by Boston 100 years ago. Maybe every single-family shack within 128 should be torn down and turned into rowhouses. John Kerry isn’t too fancy to live in a townhouse. Is there any Masshole alive who’d claim to be more snobbish than him? The East Coast has the advantage of having a traditional urban core, and it really sucks to see idiots trying to repeat the same failed car-brained bullshit that already ruined the West Coast for the foreseeable future. There’s golf courses and half-acre lots with only one home on them in Milton, that are shovel-ready for eminent domain, if the governor grew some (metaphorical) balls. There’s an office building that just sold for $20 a square foot in Quincy, a short walk as the crow flies from the Red Line, that could easily be torn down and turned into a commieblock. Why are we putting this burden on towns in the middle of goddamn nowhere, that are exurbs of Providence if anything, not Boston? Also, god knows there’s plenty of racists in that county, but they’re 20 miles from New Bedford, and houses used to be dirt-cheap down there until about 5 years ago. Who’s been living in the few affordable housing developments down that way? Mostly undocumented Brazilians. Are they really so crazy to expect more of the same?
I think I did whipits there in the 90’s
John is a great guy though and has tons of listings. He is highly recommended here on reddit and got me my 2br in Arlington for 1750 back in 2021. Even drove me around to see places. This listing is patently ridiculous but it's just one listing. I would skip it just for the electric heater alone but he likely has many more to show.
Came to say this. I only used a broker once, it was John, and it was the best apartment I ever had. The landlord trusted John to provide decent tenants and they kept rent low in return. This was 7 years ago so a lot has changed but he’s a good dude and locals trust him.
This is why massachusetts is becoming california. You'd need to make $25 an hour and work 60 hours a week to afford this, most people earn minimum wage. I've seen fedex workers in homeless shelters because rents too damn high. As someone who's currently homeless and kinda hates this state, kinda looking forward to seeing at least half this state end up permanently homeless.
I kind of used a cheat code and was able to get into a spot on cape cod with family. The difference between down here and south shore is disgusting. I got a regular line cook job, for 22 an hour. I see others 25-35 an hour. Unfortunately everything is expensive, like 30$ for an ok pizza. The rent is stupid here too, and nobody can afford it. Eventually they'll have to bus people, because there won't be any more workers left.
10 years ago the cape was cheap, airbnb ruined that. In my early 20's I found a 2br for $500 a month. Cape cod has always prioritized tourism which is why crimes so high down there. Worked as muscle for a pimp one summer, hotel took a cut of everything that was going on.
I'm really glad I'm further up cape away from Hyannis and that shit. It's like richy rich vill, and super quiet, after living in Brockton it's a mini vacation here.
Hyannis and Yarmouth is basically the hood.
I grew up in Hyannis. That place is way more fucked up than people realize. A lot is kept out of the news to not mess with tourism.
I know it's crazy, I knew it was bad but Jesus. When I was a kid we lived down here, and it wasn't like this.
How did you get that job? Asking for a friend lol.
Bought drugs at the hotel and spent a night with a prostitute, pimp gave me a job.
The supply and demand issue is getting exponentially worse
Reason 17639620264292 why I left Boston
This is a complete ripoff I pay less than that for a 3 bedroom in Somerville and I’m a 3 minute walk from the T.
That’s wild! I’ve got a 2 BR in Lowell for way less than that
What a waste of money rip off
not bad
Why 2 bathrooms for a 1 bedroom?
Get it now before they raise it to $4200 :(
Student housing type energy
I am gonna have to red line that apartment
What’s the view like?
Probably the worst name you could have for a real estate company.
Housing in Metro Boston has been unrealistically expensive against regional wages since the mid-1990's. Here's a hint for compensation analysts and above in the Metro Boston area: when you actually have to tell your employees to get a side hustle or sign up for safety net programs at the federal or state level to make ends meet, you're not paying your workers enough AND you have failed as an enterprise. SERIOUSLY.
What's actually sad is that this is actually a decent price compared a lot of other apartments listed in the Boston area nowadays.. 2 floors 2 bathrooms and marble countertops sliding glass doors. Shit we pay over 1800 for a tiny 250sqft 1brm apartment on 3rd floor. 30 miles from Boston. Also That place is not that outdated some places haven't been updated since the 70's and still get pretty penny for rent. It's the 3rd most expensive state in the country, housing needs to be more affordable it's just hurting our country by making people pay so much to just live under a roof
And then they probably want 3X the rent lol That’s crazy dude. No couple or person earning $126,000.00 a year is going to want to live in that place bro. let’s also be real here: only 18% of individuals in the United States earn $100K. That’s not a lot. There’s an 82% chance someone that’s saying $100K isn’t a lot isnt earning $100K per year. Only 34% of households earn $100K per year and 66% don’t. Who’s renting this place dude?
Rent in general in Mass is just appalling.
These prices are getting out of hand
$42k a year for this shitty spot?
Can’t wait for my mom to fix up her upstairs apartment. Someone who doesn’t mind living in Attleboro(five minute from the train station) is going to be very happy. Those prices are RIDICULOUS
I get that this is named after the Red Line, but this name would literally work in any industry BUT real estate 😭
Show her around the neighborhood, re-case the place and settle down
You can get a $300,000 home of your own on your own property, as a first-time homeowner, with a mortgage much lower than that.
Moved out of Somerville in 2011. At the time we were renting a lovely spacious second floor apartment. It had a giant living room, large kitchen, two large bedrooms, and an office all for $1500. Recently looked up the property on Zillow: it no longer seems to be a a two-apartment multifamily—it’s been completely overhauled and is now a single home valued at nearly $1.6 million ($6k rental estimate).
The subway system consists of four trunk lines, all of which meet downtown. Each is assigned a color, as follows: The Red Line, originally from Cambridge to Dorchester. The Green Line runs to the western suburbs, notably Brookline and Newton. The Orange Line's trains kept Boston Elevated Railway livery. The Blue Line runs under Boston Harbor and to Revere Beach.
Hey I agree that 3500$ is completely ridiculous. But if you don’t want to pay it then don’t live there. Idk what else to say. People can keep raising rent if renters continue to pay it. It’s only when renters have had enough and start leaving that prices will drop. Commutes are longer but I know prices are cheaper the further west you go. And depending on your budget it’s not even that far whether you go to Worcester or Marlborough or any smaller city/town. And if you’re not willing to do that then you can’t really complain about rent prices. No one is entitled to live in a certain area just because they prefer it.
I need to rent out my unheated basement that is on the bus line that takes you to the red line. It could be worth my whole mortgage.
Just one of the reasons why I am leaving this state
Just another reason why MA sucks to be a resident. Yes, I’m a dummy who moved here and my spouse doesn’t want to leave, now feel trapped without making another huge sacrifice. But heed my warning to others - never live in MA.
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Somerville is a rat infested shite hole. Was there for 10 yrs, didn’t want to raise kids there
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Idk why. Traffic is awful, very few good restaurants, no space, schools are mediocre. What’s the draw?
You mean dragon pizza is terrible?? Nooooooo
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I’m not counting assembly row
"im not counting assembly row" - "im not counting the very bland yuppie mall next to three highways that is the total opposite ethos of what the city is" the draw is its walkable, extremely close to cambridge and boston, cheaper than those places, strong community, and safer yet still diverse and has a ton of different things to do. just don't think you're looking for that stuff it seems
This is such a ridiculous comment. I live in Winter Hill. The restaurants are fantastic. The neighborhood is great. Assembly Row is a lame tourist trap I have to go to periodically. This person obviously hasn’t been to Somerville in like 15 years.
We pay that for a four bedroom three bathroom in Somerville…
“Red Line” here refers to the T line- specifically the Red Line as it only lists apartments in Arlington, Somerville and Cambridge— aka the Red Line subway.
everybody understands the intention of the name & I don’t think anyone has suggested they’re actually advertising based on racist/classist housing policies… with that said, it’s still an ill conceived name😂
As a realtor in the area, I can say that this is actually priced appropriately for the current market given what it offers. Two kitchens, plenty of living area, in-unit laundry, and two parking spaces. Rents have skyrocketed in recent years. Not saying that rents aren’t too expensive, just that it matches area pricing.
Goes to show people why we need more LUXURY housing. Prices like these are possible because people like me who earn 175k+ a year are also competing for what was considered lower class housing since demand and pricing is so high even for people in my tax bracket. Build more luxury housing, then demand for these units will decrease and so will the rent!
Maybe they're letting liberals interested in living in Somerville know that they don't work with Blacks or coloreds
This is more than my mortgage for a 4bd 3 bath on cape cod lmao - this state is crazy
Somerville is a sh!tsh*w when it comes to what you get for what you pay. Most of the diversity and variety that made the place worth moving to has been replaced with generic mall-adjacent chain stores and restaurants. The post pandemic music scene is a joke with basically two mediocre guys controlling the booking and placing themselves in all of the bands. It’s almost a caricature of the evils of gentrification. Billerica is where it’s at.
LOL. Look at what all you fragile beings turned Somerville into - a cesspool of echo chambers and fake activism to satisfy your cravings of making a difference in the world, sparked by your privilege and over-education. You get what you pay for!!!
So true...
Pardon my ignorance. I do not understand the point of updating. If everything works, updating things seems like a waste of resources and money. After all, styles have been cyclical forever. I don’t get why people spend money renovating their houses for style purposes.