Urban renewal projects are proposed by mayors or local councilman who claim to want to see change in urban neighborhoods. They propose that these projects will “attract new residents” and “make the neighborhood more presentable”. Something that they don’t share is the negative effects of the projects that drastically change the neighborhood.
Gentrification: buying and renovating homes and offices in low-income, deteriorating neighborhoods for middle-income and upper-income families, while displacing low-income families and businesses. To accommodate the projects, the city must raise property values and rent/mortgage. Once it’s raised to a certain point, low-income families can no longer fulfill their needs like taking care of their families, let alone keep a roof over their heads. This is usually when evictions start, and families are forced to leave their homes. This is just one of gentrification’s negative effects.
Usually, the renovations completely discard a culture. Sadly, low-income neighborhoods host minorities (blacks, Hispanics, Asians), which all have extremely different cultures. Also, they may be historical neighborhoods which can hold many monuments and restaurants that are very special to that group of people. Many of these important and historical places are torn down or renovated into a “modern” coffee shop. Some cities such as Seattle or San Francisco, are completely transformed and are known for something else instead of the culture and people that were once there. People that did live in those neighborhoods have to unwillingly adapt to those changes and watch their own culture be hushed by luxury cafes and modern condos.
The upside of gentrification (yes, there is one) is that it can be stopped before it gets out of control. You can have neighbors sign petitions to keep construction companies from being able to complete the renovations. Ask your local councilman who opposed the projects to take a stand at their meetings. Let people outside of your community know what’s going on and ask them to take action with you. With these solutions, you can stop your historical neighborhood from being diminished.
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