Is "White Flight" over on LI? (Hempstead, Babylon: real estate, apartment)

[Burb]

Before coming to LI I viewed "White Flight" as a phenomenon that started in the 60's, reversing itself in the 90's, and now pretty much normalized with towns having diverse populations, some still segregated by neighborhood.

I see so many posts steering people away from certain towns and schools. Some may do so because of racial prejudices but I suspect most motives are good, I would want to know if a neighborhood I was pondering had a problem with crime or a poor school district.

I'm looking for opinions, when will things change on Long Island for towns like Copiague, Amityville, Freeport and Westbury. These seem like great places with parks, beaches, etc. Isn't it only a matter of time before things reverse and people of all demographics find the area attractive? Are there any examples of reverse white flight on LI to date?

[dman72]

Originally Posted by Burb

Before coming to LI I viewed "White Flight" as a phenomenon that started in the 60's, reversing itself in the 90's, and now pretty much normalized with towns having diverse populations, some still segregated by neighborhood.

I see so many posts steering people away from certain towns and schools. Some may do so because of racial prejudices but I suspect most motives are good, I would want to know if a neighborhood I was pondering had a problem with crime or a poor school district.

I'm looking for opinions, when will things change on Long Island for towns like Copiague, Amityville, Freeport and Westbury. These seem like great places with parks, beaches, etc. Isn't it only a matter of time before things reverse and people of all demographics find the area attractive? Are there any examples of reverse white flight on LI to date?

No, it's pretty much gone the other way. Towns that were not considered "undesirable" 20 years ago are considered that now.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Burb

Before coming to LI I viewed "White Flight" as a phenomenon that started in the 60's, reversing itself in the 90's, and now pretty much normalized with towns having diverse populations, some still segregated by neighborhood.

I see so many posts steering people away from certain towns and schools. Some may do so because of racial prejudices but I suspect most motives are good, I would want to know if a neighborhood I was pondering had a problem with crime or a poor school district.

I'm looking for opinions, when will things change on Long Island for towns like Copiague, Amityville, Freeport and Westbury. These seem like great places with parks, beaches, etc. Isn't it only a matter of time before things reverse and people of all demographics find the area attractive? Are there any examples of reverse white flight on LI to date?

Isn't the term for 'reverse white flight' gentrification?

I can't think of any areas on LI which have undergone a true reversal in the decades I have lived here, but I do see some communities fighting to make a comeback, i.e. Patchogue.

[Burb]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Isn't the term for 'reverse white flight' gentrification?

I can't think of any areas on LI which have undergone a true reversal in the decades I have lived here, but I do see some communities fighting to make a comeback, i.e. Patchogue.

Interesting read on gentrification that may have anwered my initial questions. Historically young single counter-culturists are the catalysts for gentrification. middle class and affluent families follow after the neighborhood shops are established by the hipsters, gays, beatnicks, whomever.

Gentrification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perhaps towns on LI looking to rebound from hard times need to attract the hipsters and such by establishing cafes with poetry readings, eclectic book stores and head shops?

[dman72]

Originally Posted by Burb

Interesting read on gentrification that may have anwered my initial questions. Historically young single counter-culturists are the catalysts for gentrification. middle class and affluent families follow after the neighborhood shops are established by the hipsters, gays, beatnicks, whomever.

Gentrification - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perhaps towns on LI looking to rebound from hard times need to attract the hipsters and such by establishing cafes with poetry readings, eclectic book stores and head shops?

People have tried that approach in Patchogue and Bay Shore. It doesn't really work very well. People looking for that lifestyle can live in NYC, where there are thousands and thousands of 20-30 somethings all with the same motives. You move to Bay Shore, and half of the people in that age group are more concerned with how big the fin on the back of their Subaru WRX and where they can score cheap hair gel. NYC is where people of the "artsy" mindset move from all over the world. People of that mindset on LI generally flee.

[Burb]

Originally Posted by dman72

People have tried that approach in Patchogue and Bay Shore. It doesn't really work very well. People looking for that lifestyle can live in NYC, where there are thousands and thousands of 20-30 somethings all with the same motives. You move to Bay Shore, and half of the people in that age group are more concerned with how big the fin on the back of their Subaru WRX and where they can score cheap hair gel. NYC is where people of the "artsy" mindset move from all over the world. People of that mindset on LI generally flee.

Hmm, I have to agree, tough to compete with NYC. Perhaps Bay Shore will pull it off since it's close enough to the city to commute. Babylon Village and Huntington have their share of eclectic shops and cafes that attract an artistic element. If Bay Shore takes it a step further opening gay bars, artist colonies and Bohemian beach cafe's, who knows?

[dman72]

Originally Posted by Burb

Hmm, I have to agree, tough to compete with NYC. Perhaps Bay Shore will pull it off since it's close enough to the city to commute. Babylon Village and Huntington have their share of eclectic shops and cafes that attract an artistic element. If Bay Shore takes it a step further opening gay bars, artist colonies and Bohemian beach cafe's, who knows?

Well, that all depends on who wants to move there..the local government can "encourage" it (grants, tax breaks for certain types of businesses), but it doesn't mean they will come. Some areas upstate along the Hudson have been more successful with this.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Isn't the term for 'reverse white flight' gentrification?

I can't think of any areas on LI which have undergone a true reversal in the decades I have lived here, but I do see some communities fighting to make a comeback, i.e. Patchogue.

Well I believe in the 50's Hempstead was the "the place" to be! It had a ton of businesses and it was a great town. My father grew up there in the late 40's through the 70's...it has changed drastically since then. I mean, Hempstead has got to be one of LI's worst towns!

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Burb

Hmm, I have to agree, tough to compete with NYC. Perhaps Bay Shore will pull it off since it's close enough to the city to commute. Babylon Village and Huntington have their share of eclectic shops and cafes that attract an artistic element. If Bay Shore takes it a step further opening gay bars, artist colonies and Bohemian beach cafe's, who knows?

That might help, but I think another element in successful gentrification is transportation. A community might create a funky, counter-culture downtown, but it needs to be easily reached by the people who wish to be a part of creating the scene. With so many LI downtowns, you walk a block or two off Main Street and you are surrounded by single family homes. Not many hipsters want the picket fence to paint and lawn to mow. They want to be able to stroll out of their apartment and be at their favorite cafe/gallery, etc. in minutes. They don't want to fuss with parking.

[scottzilla]

I think the term white flight refers to the exodus out of NYC to live in what was perceived to be a better area-LI.
I'm sure you can find examples of white folks leaving suburban areas but for the most part, I think it's an urban term.
Along these lines, I chuckle when I read real estate discussions here that advise against living in (And even living near) certain areas that are "bad". Gordon Heights, Homestead Village come to mind as recent discussions. I chuckle because everyone tip-toes around the fact that these areas are "Black". Nobody has the guts to say "Don't live there because it's a black neighborhood".