Change is Not Always Good

When I made this meme, I was thinking about how a place can be great as it is, but when developers raise prices that force people out, it completely change for the worst. So basically, this explains that the change associated with gentrification isn’t good all the time.

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/04/theres-basically-no-way-not-be-gentrifier/8877/

In the link above it kinda touches on the point that I’m making. One thing I read in the link said It doesn’t “matter where you live. You’re displacing someone, and making income segregation worse.”

That is one example of how places that have been gentrified can be made worst.

Made by Isaiah P.

Why Gentrify Us?

During the process of creating this meme my idea was to push the issue about how if we don’t come together, we can’t succeed as a whole. Allowing gentrification for push others out forces us to fail.

Isaiah P.

No No No!

This meme was put together to explain how we should come together and stand up to the people (who try to gentrify us) who come in our neighborhood and tries to push us out by raising property values and taxes in the area for personal profit.

Isaiah P.

Gentrifiers Be Like…

This meme explains how people who gentrify lie and deceive the people who are being gentrified. Often, communities are told that development will make their neighborhoods better, but often it prices them out of their homes.

Isaiah P.

Out with the Old and In with the New: Not a Good Policy for Our Communities

Meme Created By: Davina

“Baby let me ‘UPGRADE’ you!”

Meme Created By: Kabbeh Davies

A Stroll Down Baltimore Avenue by Jerron Corley

 

Ahh…look at the lovely high rises between the 4900 and 4800 blocks of Baltimore Avenue. Pretty neat, right? I mean, what could be the problem? While these wealth-bearing neighbors are living it up in the homes of their dreams, there are citizens of lower economic status as well as citizens of color struggling to survive the gentrification in their neighborhood.

That was the goal of today’s trip through Baltimore Avenue. It was only right, for I live by the avenue at the end of South 60th Street and I deserve to have a clear idea of what’s going on, as well as the other members of my community. One factor of the spreading gentrification that will never go unnoticed occurs every morning on SEPTA’s 34 Trolley Line, that travels westbound through Baltimore Avenue, and eastbound to Center City. On the way downtown, one will begin to notice how the racial lines divide. Whiter residents begin to board the trolley at 51st and 50th Streets. Then the housing changes. The paint is no longer faded. It’s nice and fresh and colorful. Businesses start popping up, like:

 

 

The Gold Standard Cafe on 48th and Baltimore, as well as the Satellite Cafe located at the corner of 50th and Baltimore.

During this stroll, I entered the Mariposa Food Co-op and noticed how most of their products cannot be found in your everyday community grocers, such as Sav-A-Lot or the Fresh Grocer. This is due to the fact that the products in stock are chosen by the governing members of the shop, most living in the area. I spoke to one of Mariposa’s members, who was handling produce at the time. He cites that majority of the members in the co-op may live in the area, but are not originally from it. It was upsetting to him that businesses are popping up and forcing out those who have lived in the community for 30+ years.

The beauty of Baltimore Avenue shows out the most between 40th and 49th Street. When you reach 50th Street, however…..

 

There are abandoned high-rises, as well as homes being developed as you read this post. Pavement is uneven, streets are unattended to, and the stores are of lesser quality and unattractive appearance. What happened to the thriving businesses? What happened to the beautiful environment? WHERE is the money?

Creative Endeavors: Ways We Express Our Thoughts About Gentrification

Over the course of the summer, the Voices Summer Program Participants have worked on creative projects to express thoughts and feelings about gentrification, the trips we’ve been on, and our overall experience this summer. Students have worked on creating poems, wordles, posters, drawings, music, and other things to express themselves. In the coming days, our students will be sharing what they’ve made through this blog, culminating in our final event at Temple University on Wednesday, August 6, 2014.

 

By: Molly

My Day at Baltimore Ave.

By: Gary

I had a really good experience today over on Baltimore Avenue and I’m really glad I decided to go. The 15th street trolley station looks completely different. All of the walls were taken down and it looks like a miniature skating rink. Once you get outside at 40^th street, it looks like a very prosperous neighborhood. It’s a very nice neighborhood, but there were hardly any teens or children around. Mostly there were only elderly people waiting for the trolley to come by. Once we got towards 47^th street we were able to see more people and get a better understanding of Baltimore Ave. There’s a lot of diversity, plenty of stores and businesses, and overall nice surroundings.

When it came to public transportation there were mostly adult African Americans of all ages riding and waiting for the trolley. I didn’t even see a trolley operator that wasn’t Black. To a point, I didn’t like it because it gives me the impression of “What if they’re the only ones without a car and every other White person doesn’t have to deal with it like a Black person would?” It makes me think that even though this is a prosperous neighborhood, the Whites still dominate over the Black people in regards to wealth and power. Also, as soon as you go past 50^th street, it is easy to see where the value starts to go straight down. Buildings aren’t as pretty and the community looked less flourishing as you go further up the avenue.

Although, it’s a beautiful neighborhood to be in it is still an area that has dealt with heavy gentrification. There’s no telling the changes that will happen as the years go by. It is clear that it’s not a community for everyone.

VOICES Program Goes to Baltimore Ave

A group of participants today walked down Baltimore Ave between 45th and 56th streets to see what gentrification looks like along a commercial corridor. Students talked to individuals on the street and business workers to get a feeling for the changes that have been brought to this area of the city.

A group of us waiting for the 34 trolley. Credit: Instagram

“The Heart of Baltimore Avenue” Mural at 47th and Baltimore Ave. Credit: Instagram

By: Molly