Quincy is a place of distinct character. Situated between Boston and its South Shore, the coastal city of 90,000 is a unique collision of urban and suburban influence. Traditionally working-class with pockets of unassuming affluence, Quincy’s economic roots are industrial while recent decades have seen the City’s residential complexion shift towards that of the office worker. And of course, two United States Presidents lay buried beneath its well-trodden streets.

In the middle of this landscape is Quincy Center, an assortment of city government, commerce, historical sites and private residences. After moving from Quincy as a teenager in 2009, my visits to Quincy Center were scarce. Stately and tired, it had the dinge and frenetic pace of a city center without the upside. It was anathema to name-brand retailers, short on quality dining, and without attractions beyond a shabby movie theatre. Nor was it the first place you’d want to find yourself at night. For all of Quincy’s strengths, its downtown was not one.

So, when I began to hear tales of Quincy Center’s turnaround, that it was becoming a hot spot for young people, I was intrigued. And though the changes have been well-reported, I returned recently to find the Quincy Center of old fading away. Familiar landmarks like the Bethany Congregational Church, with its menacing gargoyles, and the unremitting Granite Trust building have been joined by soaring luxury apartments and trendy eateries. There is even a greenway replete with fountains and trees on what was a congested street.

The redevelopment efforts have a clear potential to change the identity of Quincy Center and that of the city itself. Modern residential builds and a burgeoning dining scene are bringing a new sense of life to the area. Young professionals and businesses seeking cheaper alternatives to Boston and Cambridge have taken notice, and more will follow suit. On the other side of the coin however are Quincy Center’s small business community and residents, who are at risk to be trampled by the stampede. The changes afoot should be considered diligently.

Yes, there are benefits to having greater numbers of young people living and working in Quincy. A new generation brings an energy and thirst for progress not yet evaporated by thirty years sitting at a desk. And a Deloitte survey from last year found that today’s young professionals favor objectives that emphasize job creation and societal improvement to those prioritizing sales and profit. That mindset is a necessary precursor to fighting for an equitable Quincy and driving a positive approach to community development.

And to be fair, a growing corporate presence in Quincy doesn’t sound all bad either. Quincy Center, home to the headquarters of Stop & Shop, the grocery giant, and Presidents Place, which leases space to Harvard Vanguard and Quincy College, has long-possessed corporate footprints while falling somewhere short of critical mass. The center’s ongoing facelift, cheaper-than-Boston overhead and Red Line proximity might just be enough to draw the kinds innovative businesses to push Quincy through the final phase of its decades-long economic rebirth.

The revival, however, could spell trouble for life-long residents and long-time businesses of the city. Affordable housing in Quincy Center and other neighborhoods is a reported problem already, one sure to be exacerbated by an influx of high-salary professionals. Renters may be forced elsewhere, along with the city’s millennial natives, who have watched home prices double over ten years. Small businesses face a parallel concern. As demand for commercial real estate increases, so too will rent. Many colorful businesses that have long represented the upside of Quincy Center’s character—KC’s Sportscards, Nick’s Pizza, and the outlandishly painted tropical fish store—are still standing. Let’s hope they remain so.

A moment of stark contrast between new Quincy Center and old unfolded toward the end of my visit. After mazing through side streets, I arrived at the entrance to West of Chestnut, the chic and towering residential complex erected in 2016. Across the street was Sully’s—the longstanding local watering hole known for its eponymous neon signage—forlorn and shuttered. My moment of reflection was soon broken as a twentysomething darted from the apartment to collect his Amazon groceries.

Quincy Center is changing rapidly. New residential buildings, improved infrastructure, and a spate of dining establishments have roared into the downtown, creating a lively and urbane atmosphere once reserved for points north of the Neponset River. Although a young workforce and increased corporate presence carry social and economic promise, public officials would do well to push harder on affordable housing while exploring measures to protect small businesses from soaring rents.