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Whenever I bring up gentrification in a neighborhood like Polish Hill and compare it to the gentrification in a neighborhood like East Liberty in other threads I'm challenged/countered by people who say it's "different" gentrification.
The only difference that I can see involves race because in both circumstances an increasingly affluent incoming white demographic is causing rental increases that are displacing poorer demographics. There's a palpable sentiment that it is somehow morally- and/or ethically-unacceptable for affluent whites to displace poor black renters from some neighborhoods but that it is somehow "okay" to ask poorer whites to get out of the way of "progress" (making things better for affluent whites) in other neighborhoods.
How many poor white renters have been displaced by incoming affluent whites in Polish Hill, Lawrenceville, and Bloomfield in recent years vs. how many poor black renters have been displaced by incoming affluent whites in East Liberty in recent years? Is there a way to measure this demographic shift for comparison purposes? In my eyes socioeconomic displacement is challenging and tragic regardless of the race of the underclass that is being displaced, but some on this sub-forum seem to feel as if one racial group deserves more concessions/sympathy than other racial groups.
I'd have already been displaced from renting in my neighborhood myself if not for the fortunate timing of my new partner moving in with me to split housing expenses in our 1-BR apartment. Again, though, because I'm white there's an assumption I should just move to Carrick or Sheraden or somehow leverage my white privilege better to make more money to stay put. If mountains are being moved to make sure working-class blacks can stay in their neighborhoods, then what mountains are being moved to make sure working-class white can also stay in our neighborhoods?
What I remember people saying in the past was the long-time residents in historically white neighborhoods that gentrify in Pittsburgh are mostly homeowners. Homeowners can of course be gentrified too, if the property taxes get too high for them to pay, but for the most part they choose to leave a neighborhood on their own terms, and get a nice windfall they weren't expecting when they do so.
Just considering the rental population only, a fair amount of the working class of these neighborhoods were students or 20somethings who were never going to be renting in the same neighborhood for decades. I'm not saying that these aren't real working class people - we have this bad tendency now as a culture to associate class with educational status, not income, and when you don't make much money, it doesn't matter if you have a degree or not - you struggle. But for a lot of these people, living in these neighborhoods was just a stop along the way before going somewhere else, or buying a home.
Still, IMHO gentrification is gentrification. All it means is a higher economic class of people displacing a lower economic class of people. And nationwide it's actually far more common in white neighborhoods than black ones. I think you see different levels of attention paid in large part because there just isn't the same sort of self-organization in working-class white neighborhoods. Which is - going back to my first paragraph - because a lot of the old-timers can just cash out and move to Shaler or something.
how much has your rent increased since you lived there?
63% in nine years.
Let's assume I was making $30,000/year in 2010 and paying $550/month in rent. That's $6,600/year in rent (22% of gross income).
Let's now assume I was making $30,000/year in 2019 and paying $900/month in rent. That's $10,800/year in rent (36% of gross income).
Let's now assume in 2028 I'll be making $30,000/year and paying $1,467/month in rent (63% increase over 2019 rent). That's $17,604/year in rent (59% of gross income).
Naturally nobody's wage/salary SHOULD stay that static/constant over time. Let's assume an average annual salary increase of 3%, which seems typical.
$30,000/year in 2010 and paying $550/month in rent. (22% of gross income).
$39,143/year in 2019 and paying $900/month in rent. (28% of gross income).
$51,073/year in 2028 and paying $1,467/month in rent. (34% of gross income).
If the average working-class person receives a 3% annual wage increase (I mean I do and most people I know receive a comparable annual wage increase), then, yes, my rent increases have been outpacing my wage increases. This is, in essence, gentrification, and since higher-earning people keep moving into my neighborhood and driving pressure upwards, that 63% rent jump from 2010 to 2019 could be a >63% jump from 2019 to 2028, meaning I could even be paying ~40% of my gross income towards rent in 2028. Going from paying ~1/5 of one's gross income on rent to paying ~1/3 of one's gross income on rent means less discretionary income to spend elsewhere.
As I said I'm not personally concerned as long as I'm cohabitating and splitting the bills on this 1-BR unit with someone who earns even less than I do and who couldn't afford to live on his own in a 1-BR, but if I found myself single again and trying to pay ~$900/month in rent plus utilities (plus student loans, plus other life expenses) it would be tough going. I personally know three households who have been pushed out of my neighborhood since I've been here, and I'm sure there are others.
We don't make the news, though, because when it's a trickle out of the neighborhood annually nobody bats an eyelash vs. when it's a big push at one time (Penn Plaza). I find myself jealous of Penn Plaza's tenants because they were given four-figure relocation stipends and relocation assistance to be sited as near to their existing homes as possible in comparable housing. No such assistance will be offered to me if and when I get priced out of my neighborhood.
There's also a double-standard because while people can tell me "just shut up and work a second job or pursue your terminal degree to boost your earnings potential to stay in your neighborhood" nobody ever would have said things like that to the Penn Plaza tenants who wanted to stay in their newly-trendy neighborhood, too.
There's also a double-standard because while people can tell me "just shut up and work a second job or pursue your terminal degree to boost your earnings potential to stay in your neighborhood" nobody ever would have said things like that to the Penn Plaza tenants who wanted to stay in their newly-trendy neighborhood, too.
The majority of people in Penn Plaza, IIRC, were elderly or disabled, and thus on fixed incomes. They would never have any higher earnings potentials. so of course no one seriously suggested those things. You on the other hand, are a millennial with a college degree. Young people with college educations often (although not universally) have pay increases which go up by more than inflation over the course of their career, because they are getting more experience in their field, which either leads to promotions or quitting and moving on to a higher-paid position. I realize this isn't what happened for you, but it's not that uncommon (and it was much more common 10-20 years ago) so you shouldn't be surprised some people say this.
Personally, I just don't see any point in having sour grapes about changes in neighborhoods. I mean, I was more or less gentrified out of Lawrenceville back in 2014. We could have afforded a three-bedroom house in the neighborhood at that time, but my wife, being from Pittsburgh, was convinced only rich people buy homes which cost more than $300,000, meaning we had to move on. I miss the convenience of living somewhere closer in with a lot more to do, but I don't feel jealous in any way of the people who have found a way to stick it out. Part of it was I never saw our home as anything other than a "starter home" - I'm much more of a rootless kinda person, and honestly it kinda irks me to think we'll be in our current house (as much as I like it) probably until both the kids are out of the home.
From what I understand, you don't even really like Polish Hill any longer. You complain there aren't enough amenities in the neighborhood, and you don't use the ones which are there. Other than being able to walk to your job, why are you staying there? I know you can still find one bedrooms for under $900 per month all over the city (Oakland, Bloomfield, Shadyside, North Side, etc.)
To the person who sent me the rep message, why is the answer "just buy a house"?
Why shouldn't someone be sounding an alarm about rent increases outpacing wage increases NOW before the disparity between rising rents and relatively flat wages results in gentrification actually becoming a larger issue here in future years?
This issue isn't about ME specifically. As an educated dually-employed couple we can afford our rent. Why can't I empathize with and advocate for others who ARE currently priced out or who ARE being priced out as we speak?
Not everyone can or should be a homeowner, and not every renter should be at the mercy of the "free market". Just look at San Francisco for an example of how that doesn't work. Do we want Pittsburgh to be in danger of being that way in 50 years, too? Why not have the difficult conversation(s) regarding housing (un)affordability now vs. waiting until it's too late, like San Francisco did?
To the person who sent me the rep message, why is the answer "just buy a house"?
Why shouldn't someone be sounding an alarm about rent increases outpacing wage increases NOW before the disparity between rising rents and relatively flat wages results in gentrification actually becoming a larger issue here in future years?
This issue isn't about ME specifically. As an educated dually-employed couple we can afford our rent. Why can't I empathize with and advocate for others who ARE currently priced out or who ARE being priced out as we speak?
Not everyone can or should be a homeowner, and not every renter should be at the mercy of the "free market". Just look at San Francisco for an example of how that doesn't work. Do we want Pittsburgh to be in danger of being that way in 50 years, too? Why not have the difficult conversation(s) regarding housing (un)affordability now vs. waiting until it's too late, like San Francisco did?
The majority of people in Penn Plaza, IIRC, were elderly or disabled, and thus on fixed incomes. They would never have any higher earnings potentials. so of course no one seriously suggested those things. You on the other hand, are a millennial with a college degree. Young people with college educations often (although not universally) have pay increases which go up by more than inflation over the course of their career, because they are getting more experience in their field, which either leads to promotions or quitting and moving on to a higher-paid position. I realize this isn't what happened for you, but it's not that uncommon (and it was much more common 10-20 years ago) so you shouldn't be surprised some people say this.
Personally, I just don't see any point in having sour grapes about changes in neighborhoods. I mean, I was more or less gentrified out of Lawrenceville back in 2014. We could have afforded a three-bedroom house in the neighborhood at that time, but my wife, being from Pittsburgh, was convinced only rich people buy homes which cost more than $300,000, meaning we had to move on. I miss the convenience of living somewhere closer in with a lot more to do, but I don't feel jealous in any way of the people who have found a way to stick it out. Part of it was I never saw our home as anything other than a "starter home" - I'm much more of a rootless kinda person, and honestly it kinda irks me to think we'll be in our current house (as much as I like it) probably until both the kids are out of the home.
From what I understand, you don't even really like Polish Hill any longer. You complain there aren't enough amenities in the neighborhood, and you don't use the ones which are there. Other than being able to walk to your job, why are you staying there? I know you can still find one bedrooms for under $900 per month all over the city (Oakland, Bloomfield, Shadyside, North Side, etc.)
i really don't know where you stand politically but this is why i respect your analysis so much, i think. totally reasonable and down to earth. thank you for the contributions. scr, i do feel for you, but you saw the train coming and are standing in the tracks. there are plenty of places with an 50 minute commute to work where you don't have to break a sweat.
i really don't know where you stand politically but this is why i respect your analysis so much, i think. totally reasonable and down to earth. thank you for the contributions. scr, i do feel for you, but you saw the train coming and are standing in the tracks. there are plenty of places with an 50 minute commute to work where you don't have to break a sweat.
How do you know the impact of an unbuilt park compared to "many other projects"?
Which necessities are crumbling away?
Who is this park a monument to? Trump, whose federal government footer the majority?
Just walk around the city. We are building a park while streets, bridges, and sidewalks are crumbling away. This cap is a not a necessity like many other projects. The main beneficiaries are the egos and ambitions of our local "leaders".
Just walk around the city. We are building a park while streets, bridges, and sidewalks are crumbling away. This cap is a not a necessity like many other projects. The main beneficiaries are the egos and ambitions of our local "leaders".
I do walk around the City, and I'd wager I do more than often than you. Most bridges are not City owned, most sidewalks are private and people like you will never stop crying about road conditions. It's tiring to hear meaningless suburban complaints about what the City should be doing. But thanks for sharing!
We are also adding a huge park in East Liberty/Larimer and it's surrounded by affordable housing.
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