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Turns out, it's not what many people seem to think. A new study (not from a real estate company or the NYT) says that gentrification is GOOD for long term residents. Combined with expected benefits like increased safety and more amenities, long time residents, including renters are no more likely to move than if the neighborhood was not gentrifying. This is contrary to what many, including the person who conducted the study, expected. In fact, for those that stay, the financial health of the original residents increases- likely due to new job opportunities within the neighborhood. This is very interesting data considering how hard many people come down on those responsible for gentrifying a neighborhood. What's so interesting about this to me is that the amount of displacement done by gentrification is negligible. Which means that there would be normal population movement anyway and gentrification doesn't increase this rate.
Doubt this. The main problem is affordability for long-term residents. Also long-term residents are not as well educated and well skilled compared to gentrifiers. Also most of these jobs in gentry areas pay low except for those start up software tech companies. It all boils down to sustainability. The only locals that benefit from gentrification are property owners, businesses and educated locals. These types of residents i have mentioned can afford to remain and enjoy the new amenities because they can probably afford it. Last gentrification does not push people out. People who cant afford to live in hipvtrendy areas move out on their own free will
Last edited by Bronxguyanese; 01-22-2014 at 03:34 PM..
The affordability of long-term residents is not impacted because the majority are protected by rent stabilization, and to a much lesser degree, rent control. So if the entire area is "gentrified", you can sit tight in your 5 story walk-up because you are guaranteed life-time renewals at rent increases that are tied to the Rent Stabilization board, not the landlord or any other interest group.
As a result, the locals do benefit....those in the projects in Fort Green aren't going anywhere, and now they have safer streets...same goes for those in rent stabilized apts which are abundant (think Washington Heights for example). They reap all the benefits and not pay for the priviledge, while the gentrifyers are paying top $ to live next door.
The affordability of long-term residents is not impacted because the majoritye protected by rent stabilization, and to a much lesser degree, rent control. So the entire area is "gentrified", you can sit tight in your 5 story walk-up because you are guaranteed life-time renewals at rent increases that are tied to the Rent Stabilization board, not the landlord or any other interest group.
As a result, the locals do benefit....those in the projects in Fort Green aren't going anywhere, and now they have safer streets...same goes for those in rent stabilized apts which are abundant (think Washington Heights for example). They reap all the benefits and not pay for the priviledge, while the gentrifyers are paying top $ to live next door.
Plenty of landlords in the heights stop taking section 8. Where did those section 8 Dominicans move to? Across the Harlem River in the Bronx were landlords accept section 8. also ENY black population grew but also with new affordable housing. Where did many of these blacks live before? You know the answer!
Doubt this. The main problem is affordability for long-term residents. Also long-term residents are not as well educated and well skilled compared to gentrifiers. Also most of these jobs in gentry areas pay low except for those start up software tech companies. It all boils down to sustainability. The only locals that benefit from gentrification are property owners, businesses and educated locals. These types of residents i have mentioned can afford to remain and enjoy the new amenities because they can probably afford it. Last gentrification does not push people out. People who cant afford to live in hipvtrendy areas move out on their own free will
Also, keep in mind as old people move into nursing homes, to whatever retirement locations, or die, landlords renovate their rent stabilized or controlled apartments and jack up the rent. So eventually a lot of low income apartments are phased out of existence that way. Nearly all remaining rent controlled apartments are occupied by senior citizens and the best deals on rent stabilized apartments are occupied by old people too. Very often kids went away to college, got good jobs, etc., so there is no one to pass the apartment to, and there are plenty of old single people too with no kids. So many apartments never get passed down. Each year the city loses considerable numbers of rent stabilized apartments and as the baby boomers complete retirement and move up in their age expect the loss of many more rent controlled units.
LLs cannot stop taking section 8 as it is illegal in NYC to discriminate based on section 8 or other such government rental programs. Secondly, it really doesn't matter if they stop taking new section 8 vouchers, as the existing population, which is what we are talking about, isn't going anywhere. A LL can no longer simply opt out of section 8 once they are in as this would be discriminatory...so you are stuck unless they move.
The affordability of long-term residents is not impacted because the majority are protected by rent stabilization, and to a much lesser degree, rent control. So if the entire area is "gentrified", you can sit tight in your 5 story walk-up because you are guaranteed life-time renewals at rent increases that are tied to the Rent Stabilization board, not the landlord or any other interest group.
As a result, the locals do benefit....those in the projects in Fort Green aren't going anywhere, and now they have safer streets...same goes for those in rent stabilized apts which are abundant (think Washington Heights for example). They reap all the benefits and not pay for the priviledge, while the gentrifyers are paying top $ to live next door.
Wish persons would stop equating RS with "cheap" or even affordable housing.
Yes, many RS apartments are below market rate but that means nothing if tenants are paying half or more of their income each month in rent.
There are RS apartments going for $1500 per month or greater. Even persons in "cheap" RS apartments say paying <$900 can and often do have problems. Many of such persons are seniors living on fixed incomes. If your total monthly income is only $1200 or so and your rent is $800, do the sums....
Yes, RS tenants will benefit from amenities and or services that increase in their area, but that often does not translate into their particular apartment. Know plenty of RS tenants where the landlord treats them like red headed step children. Paint/plaster peeling, vermin, poor heat, etc... If and when landlord addresses the problem things are done to satisfy the spirit of the law, PERIOD. That is if an appliance breaks down unless tenant agrees to pay for a new one (with the accompanying rent increase) they will get some second or third hand POS. Problems such as leaks or whatever are addressed "when we can get to it", and even then using the cheapest contractor with Hispanic/Asian day workers picked up off the street.
Case in point a co-worker that lives in a mixed RS building (some apartments have been gut renovated to get them at or above market rate, others are long term RS tenants), who has been dealing with water leaking down bathroom ceiling for *THREE* months. She showed us cell phone pictures and the place looks like the projects. Building says they are "investigating" the source of the leak and will are "on it".
Walk around many parts of Manhattan at least and look up into apartments at night when the lights are on and blinds open. You will see plenty of similar RS apartments (paint/plaster peeling, etc...) and those are the conditions which prevail.
Most RS tenants that are paying below market rent are reminded often of that fact and if they do not like the conditions on the ground they can pack up and move. So yes, you can have an apartment in The Village, or UES and take advantage of living in that area, but your actual living conditions certainly may not be a "deluxe apartment in the sky"...
In the early stages of gentrification when the yupsters first show up and the first set of stores get built, thats the phase where locals tend to benefit most.......its only when its time to renew a lease that was previously $625 to $1150 is when the problems start for a lot of the locals.......Gentrification tensions really REALLY dont start until the locals realize a lot of their new neighbors look @ them like they dont belong in the neighborhood even though the gentrifiers themselves are a minority. Its not until a lot of the gentrifiers bring the racist/classist attitudes they cultivated in the suburbs into a predominantly nonwhite/working class area (cuz I hear they do this in white ethnic hoods too), callin cops on people for just sittin and hangin on a stoop or cryin and moaning just because some neighborhood girls draw washable chalk hop scotch boards or play double dutch in the street.....THATS when a lot of the "f&&#k the yupsters" attitude is born......If the gentrifiers were like all the other people who have come and gone through new york over the years.....you know, I move in, I live my life, if enough people like myself move in I may start a business that caters to my demographic, then it wouldnt be such a raw nerve issue. a good 70% of hte anti gentrification attitude is a response to the "im gods gift to the neighborhood/the whole world revolves around me and im the self appointed expert and authority of a neighborhood I didnt know existed 2 years ago" attitude a lot of yupsters bring to the neighborhood with them.
This is what gentrification causes in Brooklyn. Look at these longterm residents give a horrifying beat down to gentry folks. I could not watch the video any longer. This video was very disturbing.
This is what gentrification causes in Brooklyn. Look at these longterm residents give a horrifying beat down to gentry folks. I could not watch the video any longer. This video was very disturbing.
Its not even worth looking at, and I'll tell you why. The NYPD will deal with the situation, even if they have to kill the "long term residents". So they don't do anything at all by acting like stupid savages and attacking the gentry folks. If this is the best they can behave, we can see why they are poor and downtrodden. Its because of their utter stupidity. Don't want to be treated bad? Don't act like you belong in the Bronx Zoo!
I'm sure there were way more beat downs happening long before gentry folks arrived.
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