Gentrification: the change in neighborhood

[Naphtali]

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Gentrification is change in neighborhood which is brought and appreciated by wealthier people in the society harming poor people who are battling to survive their life. These poor people have tough time to afford the changes brought in the society. In the article, ‘’Diluting the Cesspool’’, the author claims, ‘’The principal target of this refurbishing has traditionally been the housing stock,’’ (Goodsell, 2008: 539). By this, he means that the displacement of the old buildings has played predominant role for gentrification. The conversion of old building apartments to the high class apartments has made certain group of people very disappointed because they cannot afford to stay in those sophisticated apartments. This process has repeated in such a way that there is hardly any building left out in the city where those people with certain low-income can comfortably afford to live. These consequences are brought by high real estate rate, increased property price, high food and beverages cost, and high rent cost. These outputs of gentrification straightly affect the lower-class people in the community. When people in the society cannot adapt with the changes then they end up leaving the society or under circumstances, end up becoming homeless. Considering one’s effect, the majority of affluent people take gentrification as a weapon for the prosperity and development of the society. In total contrast, the mass of subordinate people opposes gentrification as an absolute barrier for their living. As a school student, I was told by one of my teacher that before a long time, out of scarcity of food Dinosaurs ate Dinosaurs. My effort is to say that, in order to survive, like animals, human beings, too, can go beyond the social limitations and their threshold. The increasing crime rates, murder, and robbery in the place where gentrification took place are proof to it. People start to make their living by crossing the boundaries of society when they strike with poverty on daily basis. Out of the ugly side and the bright side of the gentrification, the bright side is that gentrification has become favorable for rich people because they can afford the changes. Nevertheless, this change highly affects the social life of the locality members. In the above mentioned article, the author argues, ‘’Contradiction in the physical infrastructure parallel contradiction in the social life of the neighborhood,’’ (Goodsell, 2008: 541).

The culture of the people can be reflected on their constructions like, buildings, church, and sculptures. In a place where gentrification has not taken place, the constructions match with the culture of the people. Very clearly, gentrification winds a change in culture and rituals of the society along with it. Also, it disturbs and vibrates the harmony and peace of smooth-going society. It dismisses people who were living together as neighbors over long period of time. As per my opinion, in absence of any attempt made to slow down the gentrification rate, the charm ness of living a life would dramatically drop down and there will not be any love and sympathy left for human. Also, according to me there would not be any sense of living a life. This result would obstruct the social gatherings as well. Therefore, what so ever be the outputs of gentrification, lower-class people have become its victim.

Gentrification has induced the economic and social pressures, especially, to the poor and low-income people in the East Village. The East Village is a neighborhood of Manhattan in the New York City. Map directs that East Village is bounded by 14th Street on the north, Avenue D on the east, Houston Street on the north, and the Bovary and 3rd Avenue on the west. The old natives of the East Village claim that East Village was popularly known for the place of art. A young sociologist from Nepal, Keshar Ghimire, 32, while doing his thesis on gentrification, discovered that the East village, once, was safer place to live comparatively. However, there couldn’t be consistency because this historic place with its own culture, rituals, and values began to become the prey of gentrification. The smart people, aiming for business, entered this vary Village and started to follow the process that we now call ‘gentrification’. They started to break the old industries, where thousands of needy people were employed, in order to build high class business oriented complex for the upper level people of the society. In the article, ’Gentrification and the Avant-Garde in New York’s East Village: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, the authors state, ‘’Over 100,000 blue collar jobs disappeared from the city’s industrial base’’ (Bowler and Mc.Burny, 1991: 51). They agree that this sentiment is the consequence of gentrification. Where should these people move when their job is stolen? This ironic situation of the people has made the gentrification very hot issue to discuss. Additionally, this revolution totally gave a new shape and identification to East Village. According to NY times, by Lisa Belkin, September 2 1984, ’’The chrome and glass façade of a newly renovated co-op is a block away from a corner known for prostitution’’. Not surprisingly, the gentrification has changed the reputation and prestige of the East Village over years. This act created a gap in the perceptions of people from past and present about East Village. Therefore by all this above explanation it is clear that lower-level people are not responsible for gentrification but the sufferer. Gentrification is responsible for downswing situation of lower-class level of Harlem’s people from socio-economic perspective.

Gentrification is the process of restoration and beautification. The gentrification process are dicussed in Harlem very frequently. The old buildings are replaced by the suffisticated new buildings. Also, the old shops and grocery stores that was affordable for the residents are being replaced by Standard business complex where the price of every materials are increased comparing to the old ones. These people have to purchase their daily amenities in hiked price. Also, they do not get a job in this gentrified world. In a book, listening to Harlem, Author writes, ‘’Harlem residents and community organizations have been added addressing a number of injustices from higher prices and lower service to redlining, the process by which banks deny lending within specific geographic boundaries’’ (David J Maurrasse, 2006 : 4). The extreme situation of the people who have been laid off by gentrification is reflected on the author’s about above writing. The three main issues namely, high price, low service, and bank denial for lending money, are the main components which make socio-economy. So, it is clear to say that the gentrification in Harlem made the socioeconomic life of poor people worrying. Harlem is a landmark place to live for the African-American people because it is historical place for the new generations. Dating back to the past, the black people had fought for the freedom by the help of the artistic work such as poem. So, they did not want their arts and artistic places like Museums and Theaters, moved away by the exotic projects. Not only the physical changes made the gentrification in Harlem a very debatable issue but also the social changes. Harlem had a bitter reputations in the eye of the World because it was known for the place of prostitution and social ill deeds, especially, drug business and robbery. Both positives and negatives of Harlem was mingled. On the bright side, Harlem was known for its art, architecture, and beauty. On the ugly side, it was popularly known for poverty and drug. In his book, listening to Harlem, the Author opposes, ‘’The Majestic architecture, unique culture, commanding public figures, and overall vibrancy have co-existed with high crime, unemployment, and potentially exclusive racial and ethnic tensions’’ (David J Maurrasse, 2006 : 13).

Some sociological leaders and business professionals started to invest and relocate the harlem, perhaps, to erase the reputation of Harlem. Eventually, Harlem became more hot spot for anybody who wanted to invest there because of its long history. This process automatically affected the natives of Harlem adversely, more precisely, from socio-economic perspective. Presently, there are many changes to discuss about in Harlem. Today’s Harlem is surprisingly different from the old Harlem that once was known as ‘’ The Capital of Blacks’’. More significantly, there are convenient and luxurious apartments that the lower class people can barely afford, there are elegant Models where those category of people do not deserve to go. In contrast, there is hardly one place where those particular people can afford to go. This process of renewing and renovating the city brought the nightmares in the life of people living a subordinate life. Partially, the homeless people snoring on the street is one consequence of gentrification. Many wealthier people from other places are making a move to Harlem affecting the residents of Harlem negatively. As an illustration,presently, the medias of New York
City were communicating to its listener that our former President, Bill Clinton, shifted his office to Harlem. Also, the listeners were informed via media that the celebrity Samuel L Jackson had also moved to Harlem.

The simple question is, what should be the life style? and do they get enough respect and space when the people with strong political and musical background come to rule the Harlem. This consequently spoils their expeditions who fought for Harlem in past. During the scenario of mid nineteenth century, Harlem was undermined and hated by the white people living around the City. The past pages of Black’s History also informs that there were barely any organizations fighting for the development, prosperity, and freedom of Harlem. Surprisingly, latter on, when Harlem became a curios, enthusiastic,and symbolic place for Blacks and Whites, the young professionals, families, and the real estates companies started to cast an eye upon Harlem and ended up by the renewing the urban so called ‘Gentrification’. The gentrification still exists in the present world. Real estate business is inclining every day creating an unaffordable atmosphere for those poor people to sustainably live their life.As Gentrification in the Harlem and the East Village gave birth to many consequense, it is still unclear that where is it leading the culture, life style, and rituals of Harlem’s and East Village’s people. Some people have benefited from this process, while others have suffered very harshly. Howe ever, the gentrification in aforementioned place stirred the attention of the World because, very obviously, it made the life of the people, who were financially fragile, immensely hard.

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