Gentrification in Inglewood (Torrance, Hawthorne, Gardena: sales, apartments, homes)

[LALove24]

What do you guys think the chances of gentrification coming to the City of Champions are? I've spoken to many L.A. area professors who think that the government is targeting Inglewood as its next gentrification project due to its closeness to the 405 and other freeways, proximity to the beach and LAX, and new and beautiful businesses popping up on Century, along with a new Hollywood park. What do you guys think. Please offer your opinion. Could it regain its prominence?

[JohnG72]

It depends on what you are looking for. Some areas of Inglewood are as ghetto as it gets. Some areas are very nice middle class areas with a mostly African American population.

If your idea of gentrification is whites moving in as has happened in downtown LA, I'd think again. Maybe latinos.

[the one]

gentrification is not possible. only because i dont think that is the appropriate word. gentrification to me is a historically blighted area being taken over by gays or whites or monied people.

ING is not really blighted. its got some pockets of nastiness, but nothing like skid row or downtown was.

for arguments sake i will substitute the word Revitalization for your word. do i think revitalization of ING is possible? yes!!! will it be difficult. yes.
hollywood park might just be rebranded and remade into a shopping area. the track has really not been doing too well. less races. less people. they tried to get people to come around. they brought bands. cheap food and beer. but the draw isnt like it was before. there are talks about remaking it. will it happen? who knows.

as for other corridors. it can happen. it can be revitalized. but this economy might stall any plans.

in the end, ING will be fine. it still maintains its appeal to many people. many people are moving back into the area. its got some nice homes. but like any section of a large metro area, it has its problems. problems that even a scarf boutique or cheese shop wont fix.

[Bunjee]

I agree that revitalization is more likely, and desirable, a term than gentrification. And I think that at least psychologically there is a kernel of revitalization already taking place. The community's refusal of a Walmart a few years ago indicates to me its having some sense of what would really be to its benefit. And the truth is, at least relative to really blighted areas in Watts, Inglewood is really overall not that bad.

I don't know that Hollywood Park, as a racing venue, will be closing down anytime soon. Personally, I think it should, to be rejuvenated as a cultural center (though retaining the name). It does rotate its racing season year 'round with Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, so there's a lot of inertia in tradition to overcome. But it's the most natural centerpiece to a civic rebirth. A cultural museum and performing arts center woud be perfect. And, you know, I'd keep the racetrack oval in the design, as tribute. A thoroughfare, maybe, even as an indoor/outdoor mallway.

[Charles]

Doesn't gentrification normally occur in downtown areas that have nearby employment (law, banking, finance, government officials, mostly white collar)? The scenario being employees, instead of commuting from the suburbs, gentrify the inner city near the jobs? If so, then not sure Inglewood would fit that model.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by LALove24

What do you guys think the chances of gentrification coming to the City of Champions are? I've spoken to many L.A. area professors who think that the government is targeting Inglewood as its next gentrification project due to its closeness to the 405 and other freeways, proximity to the beach and LAX, and new and beautiful businesses popping up on Century, along with a new Hollywood park. What do you guys think. Please offer your opinion. Could it regain its prominence?

One of the things that hinders businesses in Inglewood is the city's 10.25% sales tax rate. Why should someone shop at a Costco, Target, or Home Depot in Inglewood when they can drive a few miles to nearby cities like Hawthorne, Gardena, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, or Culver City and purchase the same item for less money?

[Lake Conroe resident]

Originally Posted by LALove24

What do you guys think the chances of gentrification coming to the City of Champions are? Could it regain its prominence?

IMO; not a chance, at least not in our lifetime.

[the one]

ING is not that far a commute from culver city, SaMo, LBC. people could very well live there and still find jobs realtively close by.

and im sure jobs do exist in ING.

but people dont always work where they live. im not sure thats central to gentirfication.

Originally Posted by Charles

Doesn't gentrification normally occur in downtown areas that have nearby employment (law, banking, finance, government officials, mostly white collar)? The scenario being employees, instead of commuting from the suburbs, gentrify the inner city near the jobs? If so, then not sure Inglewood would fit that model.

[King0fthehill]

The northern areas closest to Ladera, sure. There are also some nice apartments between Florence and Manchester off of Crenshaw, too...

I think South LA (and Inglewood) are pretty much untapped as far as potential goes. Literally, there are block after block of charming Spanish cottages and craftsman bungalows between Adams and Manchester. There's lots of potential in some NELA places, too..like Highland Park and to a lesser extent, Lincoln Heights.

[Lake Conroe resident]

What I know about ING came from living there; I lived there for 4 years (right off Century Blvd about a mile or two West of Hollywood Park/Forum). I will reiterate from the original response; IMO, again IMO, Inglewood is an absolute H-hole that will take many years to turn around, like I was mentioning, probably not in our lifetime. If LA Love wants to live in my old hood their welcome to it, have at it...