Wondering about Bronzeville (Chicago: renters, condo, townhouse)

[aza139]

...how do longtime bronzveville residents feel about changes in the neighborhood? Do they view it as positive? How do they feel about whites moving in? Does anyone really care about that sort of thing?...

[Drover]

There seems to be some not-too-subtle misgivings about whites moving into Bronzeville, and more so than the usual grumblings about gentrification. This is because of the historic value of the neighborhood as the center of vibrant black culture and social life. Bronzeville was black long before white flight/black settlement swept through most of the South side. During the jazz age, it was Chicago's Harlem -- in essence, the black equivalent to what Pilsen is to the Mexican community today. There are people who are anxious to resurrect and maintain its roots as a black cultural and social destination/neighborhood.

[aza139]

thanks for your answer

[Manigault]

It can be inaccurate to make generalizations about Bronzeville because the area is not monolithic. There are long-time homeowners, rehabbers and renters. Its the renters who love community improvement but don't want rental rates to rise or for condo conversions to occur. My opinion is that they are unrealistic and are freeloading, in a sense. Renters really have no basis to demand that they can continue to live in an area or that they can continue to pay rent at a certain level as conditions improve.

The longtime homeowners like the gentrification but not all that it brings: that is things like more aggressive city inspections of rotting porches, leaning garages and the like. Things they took for granted, like parking a car in a vacant lot, are no longer available. But they are very happy that all the ships are rising with the tide of home value appreciation.

The rehabbers are the ones who are really gentrifying the area and a suprising number of them are black with a significant white minority. They sometimes have real cultural differences with the more long term residents and the renters.

My opinion is that misgivings and grumblings are more on an income basis than based on race. There have always been some whites living in Bronzeville -- even if only in mixed race marriages. One sign not to be overlooked: The new alderman in Bronzeville is a relative newcomer who rehabbed a townhouse on King Drive.

[aza139]

thank you for the comments, we are looking at buying a condo in Bronzeville

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Manigault

It can be inaccurate to make generalizations about Bronzeville because the area is not monolithic.

Uh, if it were monolithic, generalizations about it wouldn't be necessary, now would they? Generalizations are just that. They are not intended to imply that everyone does the same, thinks the same, believes the same, looks the same, etc., but to give a GENERAL sense of what's going on there...

[snoridge]

My daughter is moving to Chicago to student teach. She is considering living in NE Bronzeville....Prairie Shores apts...I'm a nervous wreck since I don't know the area...she will have a car to commute but what can anyone tell us about this area...safety, parks, restaurants, etc. Thanks