Possibly moving to Boyle Heights...good/bad idea?

[jm1982]

RudyODc, yeah I know what you mean . It's nice having a bit more variety / diversity .

I like the northeast areas myself , eagle rock seems like a nice place to live

[hjt123]

Originally Posted by jm1982

But despite gentrification happening in echo park there is still a large Hispanic population it's still a Hispanic majority and gentrification has been going on for years .

Silverlake also still has a big Hispanic population and wasn't necessarily a historically Hispanic area like echo park or Boyle heights or east la .

The question is can you improve an area significantly economically without the change in ethnic demographics

The people going to the popular bars or living in the new construction buildings are generally going to be outside of the area .

I haven't been to Eastside luv..but I'm guessing not all the patrons live in Boyle heights

Also regarding gentrification ...what is a breakneck speed ? ...again echo park has been gentrifying for years ..but I was just there yesterday and it doesn't look like a Brentwood , Santa Monica or other such area .

I am sure though with less restrictive development and no rent control laws the area would of looked a lot different now

Also regarding lack of ownership ...a lot of people of all backgrounds in all parts of LA lack home ownership because of the expense .

All the efforts by the government and other groups to preserve affordability haven't worked .

They haven't worked in NYC or San Francisco either

Also why wouldn't it be right if developers buy buildings and improve them .. I am against destroying historical buildings but I like the idea of improving buildings that are vacant / rundown .

Hopefully there will be a way to retain the cultural history while also improving the area .

I don't agree though that once nonhispancics move in its all over ...hasn't happened yet in echo park , highland park or other neighborhoods .

Yeah, I wasn't arguing over the potential positive effects of gentrification. People cashing out big time on their homes and the excessive Envios Dinero/Check Cashing stores being replaced is inarguably a good thing.

I was supporting the statement that if you want to keep Boyle Heights Latino, it has to be owned by Latinos.
It wouldn't be such a big deal if Boyle Heights went from 95% latino to 70% latino in the next 5-10 years as long as they were the primary power holders in the neighborhood.

[jm1982]

It's hard to guarantee that

With the way things are now , the gap between rich and poor...power/money is more concentrated than ever before in US history .

I don't have info on who owns most of the property in Boyle heights ..but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't mostly owned by Latinos .

I think we are seeing Latinos doing better economically with more going to college etc, but I don't imagine them wanting to live in Boyle heights more than white hipsters or yuppies .

[sfcarlos65]

So, I'm looking to leave San Francisco (19 year resident). I lived in Boyle Heights from 1970-77, as a child. I'm now a college-educated, single, Mexican male. I worked in the Hospitality Industry for 20+ years, open to changing careers. Do you think Boyle Heights would be a good fit??

[RudyOD]

Originally Posted by sfcarlos65

So, I'm looking to leave San Francisco (19 year resident). I lived in Boyle Heights from 1970-77, as a child. I'm now a college-educated, single, Mexican male. I worked in the Hospitality Industry for 20+ years, open to changing careers. Do you think Boyle Heights would be a good fit??

I think only you can determine that based on your interests. There are many college educated Mexicans returning to Boyle Heights and re-investing in their community. In part because the reality is that they are out-priced from the rest of L.A., and the jobs don't pay as well here as they do in San Francisco and New York.

If you have time to come down to L.A. for a weekend, I would check out the Boyle Heights Art Walk (check out this site for news and calendar of events: Boyle Heights Beat ), spend a night at Eastside Luv chatting up locals and asking what they think of the neighborhood. Maybe catch a show at Casa101 Theatre. Boyle Heights is undergoing an artistic renaissance, not unlike the Arts district next door, and if you are into that and a community that is very active and aware of itself, then you will love it there.

I personally wouldn't recommend moving anywhere before checking out the neighborhood in person, and not just going from hearsay.

Also, the next CicLAvia (called Heart of LA: CicLAvia | Heart of LA ) will be touching the edge of Boyle Heights, as well as the arts district and other downtown neighborhoods. Might be a good time to get down on the streets and explore in way that you wouldn't usually get to. It's October 6th.

[sfcarlos65]

@RudyOD: Than you for the input. Yes, I'll consider it, all you've suggested.