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To accomplish this project, I plan on visiting several neighborhoods that are currently in differing stages of gentrification. And while several neighborhoods are currently in the throes of gentrification (or were, pre-recession), I’ve decided to begin with what is perhaps the current hot-spot of such neighborhoods: Echo Park

Echo Park, or EP as I like to call it, is without doubt LA’s quintessential (ongoing) gentrification case. The old-time bastion of Latino culture located NW of Downtown and home to the famous Dodger Stadium is prized for its authentic grittiness and street culture, gorgeous hillside vistas, charming cottages, central location as well as being home to one of the finer parks in the city. For these reasons, combined with the rising cost of real estate, it comes to little surprise that gentrification would continue its eastward march along Sunset.

As a neighborhood actively in the midst of redevelopment and major changes, it is one that is hotly-contested, with both sides staking out large claims of the barrio; north of Sunset, yuppie homeowners have snapped up and renovated cute Spanish adobes, while south of Sunset, hipsters pile in multifamily units with the existing Mexican population. And while the neighborhood is still overwhelmingly Hispanic, locals have already begun to view newcomers with mistrust and suspicion; cautious of their long-term plans for the neighborhood – for good reason, too.

Despite gentrification efforts having been hindered by the onset of the recession, Echo Park significantly gentrified – at least according to people in the area, who say more than 20% of the population now is white. Honestly, I have no clue as to what the current census counts are, and I’m hesitant to refer to old ones for the fact the census bureau is known for vastly under-counting urban areas. (That and the fact that neighborhoods heavy in immigrants (illegal or otherwise) by and large don’t take part in census counts). It is those immigrants, who, according to locals, are being chased out or wrongfully evicted from apartments by landlords in order make way for renovations and rent increases to appeal the new demographic. This change, while having been somewhat of a gradual process – albeit one that gains far more traction with the passing of each year – is quite surprising for a neighborhood, which until 8 years ago, was almost exclusively Hispanic.

Unlike some “up and coming” neighborhoods that, because of the frantic pace of gentrification, the neighborhood is neither it’s old – or new self, and instead plays an rather odd middle position. Chelsea, NY is an example of this; a neighborhood that is neither fully upscale and trendy, nor gritty and bohemian. Interestingly enough, despite its sense of transition, EP is true to its dual personalities, being both a ‘hip’ destination and proud Latino cultural center. It is these unique syntheses of old time Mexican culture and flavor, with that of the newer hipster arrivals’ that has propelled EP into the ranks of my favorite neighborhoods.

Its unique, sometimes uneasy existence between the new and old is manifested in various ways, with my favorite being the jarring contrasts and juxtaposition between their respective stores and hangouts. Overpriced clothing boutiques, swank coffee shops, eclectic niche stores, chic cafes, and of course, the ubiquitous trendy art galleries mesh with greasy taquerías, aromatic panaderías, tired laundromats and other, general stores. The result is the creation of a unique, one of a kind hybrid culture that has appealed to and drawn people from all walks of life.

Will the currently hamstrung gentrification efforts resume when the market picks up? Or will EP sour, reverting back to its original state? Whatever the outcome may be, I hope it remains a place where the sense of pride in the establishments, people and civic attitude keeping its great small town feel – and position as an oasis in this burgeoning city of 4,000,000.

In the world’s 2nd largest Mexican city, amongst a dog’s dinner of other social challenges, is a rather surprising one: gentrification. Unlike the “traditional” concerns, such as safety, schools and employment, this is an entirely different one. Gentrification, the shifting of the gentry (class) in a neighborhood, and usually, the ensuing socioeconomic change, has become reality in many neighborhoods in Los Angeles and cities across the world. In a city that is fifty percent Hispanic, such neighborhoods, -- places where Hispanic or Hispanic-descended people comprise a plurality or majority -- have been particularly affected; be it for better or worse, depending on whom you ask. The impact of gentrification on these neighborhoods, and their inhabitants, especially those that are Hispanics, will be the subject of this project.

Gentrification can, and does, happen for a myriad of reasons. Most commonly, gentrification follows significant economic (re-)development. These often include the opening major institutions, as these attract an educated workforce; museums, universities and hospitals are all examples of these. Although, mass transit, social, culinary or art scenes can attract outside investment as well. Perhaps most importantly, though, is the location of a neighborhood; particularly its proximity to the above.

Unsurprisingly, the location of a neighborhood can be another driving factor. Neighborhoods are often coveted for their accessibility, but also other things such as amenities, desirability and infrastructure (charming architecture, for instance). The result of such is a neighborhood gentrifying for the sole reason that it is affordable and offers convenience to the aforementioned employment centers in paragraph 1.Gentrification, too, can happen for sheer fact a neighborhood is affordable; it is no secret that artists are traditionally known to seek out larger spaces, at cheaper rents. These are often in tandem with people being priced out of other neighborhoods, usually those that are further along in the gentrification process, and moving to the next closest neighborhood. (An example of this is Bushwick is to Williamsburg as Echo Park is to Silverlake.). Still, regardless of the method or degree of gentrification, or why it takes place, the mere change itself is almost guaranteed to alter the fabric/character of the neighborhoods and leave some impression on the locals.

It is those very people, whose plight, struggle, stories, experiences and opinions on the popular gentrification issue I am seeking. I mean, after all, they the ones on the receiving end of it, right? That right there should lend a lot of validity and credence to their thoughts on the issue – certainly much more so than some biased transplant would, anyways. Upon some deep brainstorming on the issue, several questions come to mind: How are they affected; positively, negatively? Does gentrification really change – for better or worse – the neighborhood? Will they benefit from the improvements likely to come, or will such improvements only cater to newcomers? Do gentrification and the ensuing disbursement really represent a loss of identity, culture and cohesion? The aim of this project is to thoroughly such questions, and chronicalize, or at the very least, document their stories, opinions and emotions on this topic.

Hopefully, hearing their stories, I will realize the bigger picture of gentrification; family, education, politics, economy and religion all included.

Lately, I've been spending more and more time in my fair city's Downtown. Long depressed and neglected, the supposed "central lotus" of Los Angeles – a metropolitan area of 12,000,000 people -- can come off as downright barren and desolate. However, it wasn't always this way. During its late 1890's and 1900's heyday, Downtown was the crème de le crème of Los Angeles, with its abundance rich turn of the century architecture, and its streets jam packed with life and urbanity.

In a case played out all over America, the vicious white flight of the 1940s and '50s exacted a rather heavy toll on Downtown (and inner-city America as a whole), creating a huge population exodus and leading many businesses to board up or shutter completely. For decades, Downtown Los Angeles, on a downward spiral, rotted: investment waned, and eventually completely evaporated, companies fled and future ones steered clear. DTLA might as well have had typhoid fever. Unsurprisingly, such a vacuum exacted toll on the demographics and socioeconomic strata of the area.

Now, at the helm of its population were vagrants and the desolate; the living dead. Solitude and destitution had taken hold. In light all of the aforementioned, the neighborhood sooner or later was stigmatized with a terrible reputation: one as a no-man's land where vagrants, other "unwanted" types and their associated ilk (drugs, violence, prostitution, etc) run amok. Eventually, civilians, too, began to avoid Downtown like the plague.

Downtown was forced to fend for itself, and wallowed in its own misery and decrepitude. Urban blight, a synthesis of lethargy, lack of concern, and not-terrible intentions, combined with ignorance, was formed.

Thankfully, light was (is?) at the end of the tunnel. On the heels of the great 1990's and 2000's large-scale urban renaissances and influx into formerly blighted urban neighborhoods, Downtown benefited immensely -- and for all of the right reasons. With its stellar architecture and rich building stock, East Coast-style density and urbanity (rarities in Los Angeles) location of hundreds of thousands of jobs, position as a freeway and transit hub, and lastly, the drastic expanding of entertainment options and venues (Staples Center, LA Live, 7th + Fig, etc), Downtown flourished.

The impact of the said renaissance was unrivaled, and is probably the greatest effort to revitalize Downtown in recent memory. Everywhere you looked, development was abound. Cranes dotted the skyline, finishing projects at breakneck speeds, construction crews glutted formerly abandoned buildings, prepping them for conversion to lofts, brown butcher paper plastered the windows of soon to open cafes and restaurants (70 opened in 2008 alone), dozens of clubs, bars and speakeasies opened in spaces in newly available ground-level retail, filming crews descended on the area, placing Downtown at the forefront of urban filming in the US, 35,000 people poured into the bevy of newly built and re-purposed condominiums, forming one of the largest, most prominent and vibrant artist communities anywhere, rooftop parties proliferated, heck..even a grocery store opened.

Civility had returned. Downtown had finally become a viable place to live, work and even play.

Posted by Devan at 7:33:00 PM Comments