Gentrification: Past and Present

[David Anderson]

What is gentrification? And who benefits from the changes? investors, residents (new and old), and community? With all the construction transpiring in Dallas the word has been dropped in many conversations. When a subject matters come up it is best to know the history of it and how the word got its connotation. This is exactly why a focus on context is important whether history or political science so that an individual can correctly interrupt the periods perspective.

As far as written history can go back it seems that gentrification as a concept was a phenomenon from the Middle Ages. Even though it can be argued that there might have been some case in ancient Roman Empire and other Roman providences. However it can be seen in the switch from Middle Ages to Early Modern period in Europe. With the Age of Exploration came rewards and consequences. Empires and Kingdoms flourished from the free trade with colonies in the West Indies, Africa, and the Americas. Gold, spices, slaves, silks, and other forms of material wealth flowed in and out of sea ports. This gave rise to the middling class, which broke “The Great Chain of Being” (a European social ladder much like the Indian caste system), because merchants were gaining power and wealth from the increase of trade and commerce.  In places such as England the middle class became a prominent part of parliament, and Kings would utilize them as sponsors for wars so he could route having to use his nobles. Now the new class would need a title since they held holdings in land and other formidable wealth, however it was not a name of traditional value such as a baron or count. So the merchants received the title of Gentry or landed Gentry. Gentry also makes reference to being of gentle birth. The families who rose to power and bought land usually bought it from serfs or peasants and constructed a loose manorialistic system, more like tenant farmers in America post-Civil War south. And if they did not have a cropping business in mind the business might be one of cattle or some type of woolen animal which required less people to work than a farm. This displaced a lot of peasants who had to move to the nearest city in search for jobs, creating slums and seedy places.

Now what does this have to do with the gentrification of today? Well it all depends on which side of the argument you are partial. After reading an article on gentrification in Brooklyn the line doesn’t seem to be a clear cut definite. In this particular article Ms. White a generational resident of a Brooklyn brownstone community is witnessing her neighborhood undergoing gentrification. Ms. White is a widow and is unsettled by the changes that she is noticing. Here are a few facts or comments from the New York Times piece:

1. First of all we know the home has been in her family for many years. “ In 1916 her maternal grandparents moved to Warren Street and in the early 1920’s bought a red brick town home on the block between Court and Smith Streets that dates back to the mid-1800s” (Rosenblum).

2. The community seems to be transforming into a bustling revolving door of commerce and families. “Small creatures on bikes and skateboards whiz by so briskly that Ms. White fears being sent sprawling to the ground. Court Street reminds her increasingly of a street in Manhattan, and that’s not a compliment” (Rosenblum).

3. Like most people she does not like change; it makes her unhappy and unable to correctly acclimate with her neighborhood. “I don’t need the money and I could care less” she explained-but she watches uneasily as other long-timers struggle to adapt to a shifting landscape” (Rosenblum).

The connotation of the article does not lend itself to being a positive outlook for Ms. White it is as if she is being pushed off her land or pressured to change, much like the Native Americans during the building of the Trans-continental Railroad. There is no doubt in the article that the economy of the neighborhood is moving and growing, one could argue the commerce is bringing life to the community. But who is benefiting from the increase in cash flow. The journalist does mention a real estate firm and how much they made from the sale of two units (granted the cost of living is higher in the New York, tri-state area) “Corcoran [real estate firm] sold 285 Warren Street for 1.73 million in February and 309 Warren Street… for 2.73 million the following month” (Rosenblum). Ms. White is at a fork in the road that has many options. It is a logical fallacy to promote she only has two decisions to make, there are a plethora things that can be done. Even so what is the right choice for her? Will this change the identity of the neighborhood she grew to love and appreciate?

Ms. White is in the prayers and thoughts of many people who probably read this article and that should not be understated. However some things in life are certain, as long as a person lives things do change that’s the nature of earth. Even the globe goes under times of change. The four seasons can be cited as an example. Summer, fall, winter, and spring, landscapes and regions never look the same after these reoccurring phenomena. Sometimes unexpected floods or mud slides change communities, or even tsunamis, but man must figure out a way to adapt. Even in places where there is mostly on season like a desert or rainforest, mostly dry or mostly wet, there are still sparks of life.

Lastly with a new generation comes new memories and goals changing the landscape of the city. The city has its own cycle, money is moving from one area to the next. In another part of town someone is witnessing the decay of their community, so she is not alone as a chronicler of time. In the article she gives resolve to stay and work things out. “She herself hopes to stay as long as she can. “Where would I go?” she said. “And really, why would I leave? People say, ‘Aren’t you afraid?’ I’m not afraid. I know the sounds. I hear people going to the subway. I’m very comfortable here” (Rosenblum).

Good for you Ms. White, Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote words for a situation such as this:

 

“It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be that we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are---
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Lord Alfred Tennyson, Ulysses

 

Works Cited

Tennyson, Alfred. "Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Ulysses." Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Ulysses. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2013.

Rosenblum, Constance. "A Witness to Gentrification in Cobble Hill." New York Times. New York Times, 6 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Sept. 2013.