Gentrification of Brooklyn (Bedford: section 8, rent, condo)

[thal]

What are people's thoughts on the gentrification of Brooklyn? Especially in areas like Williamsburg and Boerum Hill. I can understand why some of these hipsters get upset when the prototypical NYC worker moves into their neighborhood and drives up prices and new condo's keep coming to the area.

But what I am confused with is the hipsters. I dated someone who lived in Williamsburg about 8 years ago and the people that lived in the area at that time did nothing. I can understand the person who is the hardworking artist/musician but the pretend hipster who just lives there because of low rent and who's only job is waiting tables 3 times/week...It seems like most of these so called hipsters just dont want to work and live somewhere cheap and have cheap restaurants to go to...Again I respect the hardworking artist/musician but it seems they are hard to find???

[Henna]

Maybe the hardworking artist is hard to find --for you -- because you are looking in the wrong places. I know plenty. Also maybe the people you perceived as "doing nothing" but working in a restaurant 3x per week actually were doing something. I just wonder how you would know that they were doing nothing besides waiting tables? Is that what they said when you asked them?


And exactly what are you confused about? That there are people in the world who want to have an easy lifestyle where they pay cheap rent (which can't be found easily in Williamsburg or Boerum Hill these days anyway), work a few days a week, and have time to hang out?

There are hard-working artists and musicians out there. There are also lazy hipster-ish people out there. I suspect you might not be able to tell the difference between them if you passed them on a sidewalk or they are your server in the restaurant.

Can you clarify what you are confused about?

[Rudbeckia]

Good points Henna, I think people look at others and make assumptions.

[mead]

Since when have artists been hardworking? I thought waiting tables was the name of the game to support yourself with that lifestyle?

[Fred314X]

Hipsters (formerly known as yuppies) are frequently at the root of problems in various neighborhoods. They tend to follow the arts community because anything they consider "hip," "cool," or "trendy" is desirable in their world. Then, when they've driven the prices up beyond what most people can manage, they complain that "their" neighborhoods are being "targeted." You can't help but to use a lot of quotation marks when talking about hipsters!

[Joe Bama!]

Why do all the "hard working artists and musicians" leave their hometown to live in NYC or some other big city?
Has the thought never crossed their mind to be an artist in their hometown. Do they come here because they think that their hometown has nothing to offer them? So perpetually anyone with a creative mind and artistic profession leaves the small town, hence keeping the small town mentality going.
Has the thought ever crossed the minds of the out of towner artist moving to an established neighborhood the consequences of their actions?

[NJ Chutzpah]

since when did yuppies become hipsters

They are two separate entities

Gentrification has never really happened before to NYC

I mean the wackos of yesteryear had to deal with all the bad stuff

today's hipsters and yuppies really are not dealing with that

and the wackos of yesteryear really did not have money

not for nothing, the hipsters of today are subsidized by their folks

[Henna]

Originally Posted by Joe Bama!

Why do all the "hard working artists and musicians" leave their hometown to live in NYC or some other big city?
Has the thought never crossed their mind to be an artist in their hometown. Do they come here because they think that their hometown has nothing to offer them? So perpetually anyone with a creative mind and artistic profession leaves the small town, hence keeping the small town mentality going.
Has the thought ever crossed the minds of the out of towner artist moving to an established neighborhood the consequences of their actions?

ALL of them don't!! Some do. There are plenty of artists throughout the rest of the country. It's too bad that you are so ill-informed. And last I checked, this is a free country and people can move where they want.

[Joe Bama!]

[quote=Henna;5811351]ALL of them don't!! Some do. There are plenty of artists throughout the rest of the country. It's too bad that you are so ill-informed. And last I checked, this is a free country and people can move where they want.

quote]
Excuse me, not ALL but many. Is it not true that many artists leave there hometown for a metropolitan city of some sort?
I'm just throwing questions out there,
but would we have so many Red States in America if the artists stayed in their hometown? Just kidding,,, well maybe not but anyway,,

Yes it is a free country and people can move where they want, i am definately not going to dispute that,,,,
I am suggesting that the transitions be done with more care and consideration than it has been done in the gentrified neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
There is a lack of responsibility on the parts of everyone including natives like myself who patron the nice shops and have muffins on Bedford Ave.
There is a deep lack of respect for the preexisting cultures and neighborhoods that existed before. There are better ways to move freely around the country and i would just like to develop a dialogue, TOGETHER, where we can explore new and better ways of coexisting that are more humane and understanding.

And yes Henna, I speak of gentrification alot because it is ever present in this city. It is important to me to express the voices of the unheard and unseen. It is important to express my disappoitment with NY's disreguard for its people.

[Jrock247]

Originally Posted by Joe Bama!

Why do all the "hard working artists and musicians" leave their hometown to live in NYC or some other big city?
Has the thought never crossed their mind to be an artist in their hometown. Do they come here because they think that their hometown has nothing to offer them? So perpetually anyone with a creative mind and artistic profession leaves the small town, hence keeping the small town mentality going.
Has the thought ever crossed the minds of the out of towner artist moving to an established neighborhood the consequences of their actions?

Waaaaahhh!!!!!! all those old italians, puetro ricans and jews got priced out if they rented (or made a bundle if they owned). Who cares? I'd rather see a bunch of artists move in with family money than a bunch of section 8 dwelling, welfare cases.
Theres a reason that prices go up when artsy types move in, the beautify and make a neighborhood interesting. I'm sure the shops and restaurants are more interesting in Williamsburg than they are in Bed Stuy.