I've noticed that there are a fair few people who are outspoken against gentrification. For those who don't know, gentrification is the process of poor/run down neighborhoods being bought out by higher income residents and developers. Usually the neighborhoods become much nicer and safer, but the poorer residents are usually pushed out.
That's really the only complaint I've ever heard, that and that the neighborhood loses its "soul." Which I find a mildly silly argument. What soul? Shitty schools? Liquor stores? Shootings and crime? Metal bars on your windows and doors? There are a lot of neighborhoods in DC that 10 years ago were pretty unsafe for anyone to go to. Now a lot of them have improved greatly. People actually WANT to go there and live there. There are new shops, and local businesses that were already established and are lucrative see more business. The ones that weren't lucrative usually get closed down.
It's a shame that the poorer residents usually have to move, but frankly if they want to stay in a nice neighborhood then they should work towards it.
What are your thoughts on this?
That's really the only complaint I've ever heard, that and that the neighborhood loses its "soul." Which I find a mildly silly argument. What soul? Shitty schools? Liquor stores? Shootings and crime? Metal bars on your windows and doors? There are a lot of neighborhoods in DC that 10 years ago were pretty unsafe for anyone to go to. Now a lot of them have improved greatly. People actually WANT to go there and live there. There are new shops, and local businesses that were already established and are lucrative see more business. The ones that weren't lucrative usually get closed down.
It's a shame that the poorer residents usually have to move, but frankly if they want to stay in a nice neighborhood then they should work towards it.
What are your thoughts on this?
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