'What's Wrong With Gentrification?' Asks New York Mag
This week New York Magazine takes a view on gentrification that is, if not contrarian, at least a little controversial. (The article follows a similar one in the semi-annual magazine n+1). As will come as no surprise to most readers, gentrification these days is treated as something of a dirty word. Why’s that? Mostly because…
This week New York Magazine takes a view on gentrification that is, if not contrarian, at least a little controversial. (The article follows a similar one in the semi-annual magazine n+1). As will come as no surprise to most readers, gentrification these days is treated as something of a dirty word. Why’s that? Mostly because it conjures up associations of, as n+1 wrote, “the forced displacement of the urban working class by mobile, college-educated professionals.” This may be more myth that fact though: In his recent book There Goes the ‘Hood, Columbia urban planning prof Lance Freeman found that poor residents and those without a college education were actually less likely to move if they resided in gentrifying neighborhoods” and that “the discourse on gentrification has tended to overlook the possibility that some of the neighborhood changes associated with gentrification might be appreciated by the prior residents. In other words, the rehabilitation of an old house or the opening of an upscale bakery isn’t necessarily a zero-sum game in which the long-time residents are lose out. Not only that, claims the New York Magazine article, but gentrification is the only hope that many urban centers have of saving themselves: “The ailing cities that save themselves in the 21st century will do so by following Brooklyn’s blueprint,” the article says in closing. “They’ll gentrify as fast as they can.”
What’s Wrong With Gentrification? [New York Magazine]
Photo by kathyylchan
Jailbait – 100% correct….the whole “debate” is stupid – cause there can be no debate, it was, is and likely will always be….
And with that in mind, I would say to those that “resent” gentrification of their neighborhood – RE lasts hundreds of years, people only about 70, neighborhoods will always change – just be thankful that your neighborhood is becoming more desirable, not less.
on the funny side, my objection is the Quiche-ification and the Brunch-ification that comes with all those delicate white folks
Posted by: BK realestate veteran at December 15, 2009 11:32 AM
Brunch is actually a great way for low-income people to eat at some of the nicest and most expensive restaurants at a much more reasonable price.
Harlem’s housing situation is very different from most parts of gentrifying Brooklyn. Harlem’s brownstone stock was chopped up into apartments, early on, and many of those were SRO apartments. Many of those buildings were owned by absentee landlords. Neighborhoods like many parts of Bed Stuy and Crown Heights have been owner occupied for generations. That makes a big difference in the quality of the neighborhood.
Brenda, I think it is more nostalgia to think about the mom and pop stores and variety we once had. I don’t think of it as result of gentrification but just changing times, more moderm. It is what people want and how they shop.
I roll my eyes at each new pretentious shop and overpriced drinking hole that opens in my neighborhood. But that is how money is made. I see same sort of thing near my weekend house where local commercial mall strip. Drive-up starbucks…makeover of old strip stores to be more fashionable etc. Gourmet this and that. And believe me the local population is not becoming gentrified. Pretty downscale folks compared to Brooklyn(most parts).
on the funny side, my objection is the Quiche-ification and the Brunch-ification that comes with all those delicate white folks
Arguing against gentrificiation pricing people out of a neighborhood is like arguing against gravity — pointless. Neighborhoods change, people want to live certain places, they can pay more so they will pay more, some people can’t afford it, they move, end of story. The character of a neighborhood is not etched in stone. There’s a market for real estate and things change. What’s the alternative? Rent control the whole city? Place restrictions on who homeowners can and cannot sell their houses to? Put price limits on how much a homeowner can sell his house for?
Montrose hits the nail on the head in terms of the sociology of it all, but at the end of the day it’s life and the old-timers will either have to live with it or move.
Joe– I think you’re on to something with the point that current residents often resent the fact that it took gentrification for the city to address longstanding issues.
But why should that hostility extend to the new neighbors? That, to me, is where the breakdown occurs.
You cease to be “salt of the earth” once you start being hostile to your neighbors who have done nothing negative to you…
Posted by: havelc at December 15, 2009 11:21 AM
I didn’t really call the woman a b-i btw. I am quite happy that my next door neighbors are sweet couple from Texas and that there are hot girls from all over the world living in my building.
And let’s also keep in mind– and this is spoken from the perspective of someone who used to work minimum wage in a mom and pop store– mom and pop stores pay shit and give zero benefits.
I love shopping local and helping local merchants as much as anyone, but let’s not become too enamored with a golden age that never existed…
Joe– I think you’re on to something with the point that current residents often resent the fact that it took gentrification for the city to address longstanding issues.
But why should that hostility extend to the new neighbors? That, to me, is where the breakdown occurs.
You cease to be “salt of the earth” once you start being hostile to your neighbors who have done nothing negative to you…