Gentrification
Gentrification is often associated with growth, and prosperity within a community. With new stores, businesses, homes, and new residents any community can modernize, and improve.
The reality behind the modernization of many communities in New York City dating back to the 1800s with the displacement of Seneca Village is often pure destruction and sadness according to the Central Park Archives.
The rapid growth and development of New York City influenced how communities were affected by the displacement of low-income families with wealthy and often pretentious residents.
The Gentrification of New York City
New York City has become attractive, over the years, to wealthy people looking to live near Central Park and expand from downtown. Once downtown peaked in population in the 1800s, people moved upward, many with wealth influencing the communities in the process.
The most proliferate symbol of gentrification is the destruction of Seneca Village to build Central Park. According to the Central Park archives, many affluent African Americans.
While others populated Seneca Village for years. However, wealthy people from downtown looked to move, and create a European-like massive park. Seneca Village was in the way, hence all members were displaced, and not compensated for their properties.
Walking through New York City over the years illustrates how the cost of living has significantly increased, originating downtown after the foundation of the city. A good example can still be evident in the small community of Chelsea in the old meatpacking district of Manhattan NYC.
Gentrification has changed the face of New York City
Gentrification has changed the face of New York City significantly. In the process, many generations of families have suffered as a consequence. Gentrification as defined by the process by which wealthy people move into the neighborhood bringing prices high for everything, and everyone.
Hence, “Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district’s character and culture. The term is often used negatively, suggesting the displacement of poor communities by rich outsiders. But the effects of gentrification are complex and contradictory, and its real impact varies (B. Grant)”.
As a result, families that can no longer afford to live where they grew up, and expanded for generations, have to find affordability else. Thus, the process repeats in the new communities. Gentrification fixed New Yorkers’ everyday life.
The price of wealth
Oftentimes it is extremely difficult to afford even a cup of coffee you’re all Mom and Pop’s coffee shops, Ripley’s with high-end Starbucks shops. In addition, rent becomes extremely expensive therefore families that have lived in this community for 4 years have to move or be forced to move to 2 under these circumstances.
The argument is not that Gentrification is all bad, it does bring some wealth to many communities and significantly improves the everyday lives of those folks.
Open new shops make the place look better, there is more security, are secure and there’s been an influx of wealth, and change to the shops and all the stores throughout the community. However, the Chelsea Meatpacking District in New York City rather than the meatpacking companies expanding they decrease since the process of gentrification.
Many argue that the wealth and influence of Revenue went to the pockets of the new shops, the new luxury brand stores such as Louis Vuitton, and such.
Therefore, the people that lived in those communities who were entitled to the benefits of such, were completely left out of the decision and Landscaping and improvement in the community.
Wealthy members of other communities moved in, purchased apartment buildings, and compressed, and expel everyone else who was not fluent enough to keep up with the changes.
New York City Housing
Considering New York City Housing is very compact, and populated by apartment buildings, living in NY is not an easy feast. When wealthy people move in they find the prices of rent affordable, they are willing to pay higher prices than average in the community, inflating rent, and the cost of living.
Although their leases prevent rent from increasing everything else becomes extremely expensive, no one can afford the new prices of regular goods. For example, if you live in a community where you pay $500 for rent and you spend $200 on food and other minor expenses.
Suddenly now you have to spend $400 for the same things or by yourself driving miles away from your community looking for better prices. businesses increase prices however rather than your neighborhood mom-and-pop stores now big companies take over those businesses. they adapt to the new customer base with deep pockets willing to pay for a $5 cup of coffee.
Conclusion
Gentrification makes leaving for the current residents difficult, and expensive. This makes it seem, and evident that new wealthy residents still the homes, and communities of communities occupied by generations by the same families, typically African Americans, and low income people. What do you Think?
References
https://www.meatpacking-district.com/history/
https://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/gentrification-city/
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