Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
That's the exact kind of cavalier attitude that is causing a great divisiveness in our country today. To dismiss the displacement of low to lower middle income citizens of a city simply as "new" or "progress" is nothing more than the justification of the destruction of other people's lives.
It isn't a matter of "old" and "new." Who says in every case that "new" is better than old? Not when it promotes overcrowding, filth and a lost sense of community. That's what happened in my former yuppie gentrified neighborhood. If that is "new" I'll take "old" any day.
Not as much cavalier as honest and realistic. It's not 1950 anymore... And as much as you and some others don't want it.... Change is inevitable.
Are there any cities you feel who's overall character/vibe/personality, or nightlife atmosphere got ruined by thug, gansta, low-life, pants around the ankles, wanna be criminal types?
Location: East Central Pennsylvania/ Chicago for 6yrs.
2,535 posts, read 3,281,063 times
Reputation: 1483
Quote:
Originally Posted by baileyvpotter
^^^agree. I too grew up in Chicago and lived close-by in a neighboring state (job relocation).
I find it rather sad when I see some neighborhoods and what was lost due to gentrification which
Jimrob described. I have also noticed (after being on this site for a short time) that many younger
people than myself (and yes yuppies) see blue collar workers as secondary citizens, which
is confusing since there are many blue collar workers with an college education.
As a boomer we too lived in the city, had an college education, supported small business owners,
took public transportation, engaged in conversations with people of all ages, took pride in our homes,
and neighborhoods and did a lot of walking (to get to the drug store, grocery store, etc...)
Many of the gentrified neighborhoods all filled with corporate retailers. Example by the Univ. of
Illinois (Circle Campus) the Italian neighborhood is a facade and there is a major shopping district
with corporate stores where we can see anywhere in any town or city in the States.
Though what you say is true, for the most part. Unless a new influx of the same ethnic group, immigrants came? Or their children stayed in the neighborhood? Once the original generation or two, live their lives and their children move and their parents and grandparents pass on. The old neighborhood has no means to remain the same? New groups or ethnic make-moving in. Are bound to change to their way of life?
You forget also, even before Gentrification? Many of these Original neighborhoods, settled by White ethnic European immigrants. Already were changed or changing to Latino or Black neighborhoods? So whether Gentrification came or not? It was not to remain the same. Pilsen community today had turned virtually all Mexican. Before now Gentrification is spreading there now. So we can't blame just Gentrification alone.
Just my small hometown once had areas of the city as Italian, Irish, Polish and English areas and split between Catholic and Protestant, with their own Churches. It is all mixed today and other races mixed in and believe me...... it is not full of Young Urban Professionals? Quite the opposite.
Funny how people have so much hate for high-earning people. I personally feel like most cities today are being ruined by the anti-yuppies. I thought hipsters were the anti-yuppie?
Though what you say is true, for the most part. Unless a new influx of the same ethnic group, immigrants came? Or their children stayed in the neighborhood? Once the original generation or two, live their lives and their children move and their parents and grandparents pass on. The old neighborhood has no means to remain the same? New groups or ethnic make-moving in. Are bound to change to their way of life?
You forget also, even before Gentrification? Many of these Original neighborhoods, settled by White ethnic European immigrants. Already were changed or changing to Latino or Black neighborhoods? So whether Gentrification came or not? It was not to remain the same. Pilsen community today had turned virtually all Mexican. Before now Gentrification is spreading there now. So we can't blame just Gentrification alone.
Just my small hometown once had areas of the city as Italian, Irish, Polish and English areas and split between Catholic and Protestant, with their own Churches. It is all mixed today and other races mixed in and believe me...... it is not full of Young Urban Professionals? Quite the opposite.
It isn't that I forgot but more because I remember many of the neighborhoods.
I can think of several neighborhoods which have been gentrified where the residents were unable
to afford the rising cost of rent and housing. Example: Wicker Park (Polish), Ukrainian Village
(Ukrainians) & Lincoln Square (Germans) and even Lakeview (which spans several neighborhoods).
These places were easy to gentrify because they were not dilapidated.
Back in the 80's the media made several points that by 2000 the majority of the minority would
be Hispanic, so I'm not surprised about Pilsen (and that's fine with me and I can understand the
community in Pilsen being concerned about being priced out and their neighborhood losing it's
identity).
I understand what you are saying but here's a question that I often wonder about. What about
Garfield Park? It's in a prime location, close to Humboldt Park, the el, the loop, has beautiful architecture
and the largest and probably the most beautiful conservatory in the US. Why isn't that area
being gentrified? Also, if places in the east coast such as New York has maintained European
neighborhoods and culture, why hasn't Chicago?
Last edited by baileyvpotter; 04-15-2015 at 10:51 AM..
Reason: edit
Most of this phenomenon is due to well-paying jobs clustering in cities, so the ones who can fill the jobs move there, make a lot of money, and drive prices up.
Location: East Central Pennsylvania/ Chicago for 6yrs.
2,535 posts, read 3,281,063 times
Reputation: 1483
Quote:
Originally Posted by baileyvpotter
It isn't that I forgot but more because I remember many of the neighborhoods.
I can think of several neighborhoods which have been gentrified where the residents were unable
to afford the rising cost of rent and housing. Example: Wicker Park (Polish), Ukrainian Village
(Ukrainians) & Lincoln Square (Germans) and even Lakeview (which spans several neighborhoods).
These places were easy to gentrify because they were not dilapidated.
Back in the 80's the media made several points that by 2000 the majority of the minority would
be Hispanic, so I'm not surprised about Pilsen (and that's fine with me and I can understand the
community in Pilsen being concerned about being priced out and their neighborhood losing it's
identity).
I understand what you are saying but here's a question that I often wonder about. What about
Garfield Park? It's in a prime location, close to Humboldt Park, the el, the loop, has beautiful architecture
and the largest and probably the most beautiful conservatory in the US. Why isn't that area
being gentrified? Also, if places in the east coast such as New York has maintained European
neighborhoods and culture, why hasn't Chicago?
Yes I TOTALLY AGREE on why don't Garfield Park Gentrify already? It has some gorgeous Greystones unique to Chicago and Lawndale. Many selling for less then $20,000. Though most total blight removed and grass lots left. Many might still be lost if not saved?
I'm not sure if NYC did some protecting from gentrification? Of ethnic neighborhoods? But it probably is NYC such a main entrance, of immigrants yet? It has enough new ones to keep the old ethnic areas re-populated with the same kinds?
Are there any cities who's overall character/vibe/personality, or nightlife atmosphere, etc. have been ruined by an influx of too many yuppies/snobby hipster types?
I've heard this suggested about both New York City and Washington DC.
Denver....they have driven prices sky high relative to the average wages. This place would be awesome if all of the hipster douchebags and pot heads left.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
