Holloween in the Hood
I grew up poor & lower middle class (dad self employed really depended on how business was going), but if we bothered going trick or treating we at least had a cheap K-mart costume. Some kids showing up at my door didn't even bother. SLACKERS!!
In Shaw (an historically gentrified blog)
Friday, October 31, 2003
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Water, water and more water
The sump pump which is VERY LOUD has been going off in my basement for several days now. The first day, when it rained cats & dogs, it was going off every 10 minutes. After that a little less often.
Yesterday my neighbor noticed water in his basement, no sump pump though. I told him that it's probably coming up through the floor.
The sump pump which is VERY LOUD has been going off in my basement for several days now. The first day, when it rained cats & dogs, it was going off every 10 minutes. After that a little less often.
Yesterday my neighbor noticed water in his basement, no sump pump though. I told him that it's probably coming up through the floor.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
FAKE LETTER TO DC NIGHTLIFE
Logan Circle and Adams Morgan need more 40s. Right on with attacking volunteer agreements, they present a burden on to the small store owner who wants to boost profits by selling fine malt liquors and value priced wines, like MD 20/20. Who are these people who are in these so called "neighborhood groups" telling us how we should run our business. If we want to sell single beers, that's our business, not theirs. They don't have to buy 40s if they don't want to. We are just saying we should be able to sell to those who appreciate kickin' back on the corner, or walking down 14th St. with a 40 in their hand and a buzz in their head.
Logan Circle and Adams Morgan need more 40s. Right on with attacking volunteer agreements, they present a burden on to the small store owner who wants to boost profits by selling fine malt liquors and value priced wines, like MD 20/20. Who are these people who are in these so called "neighborhood groups" telling us how we should run our business. If we want to sell single beers, that's our business, not theirs. They don't have to buy 40s if they don't want to. We are just saying we should be able to sell to those who appreciate kickin' back on the corner, or walking down 14th St. with a 40 in their hand and a buzz in their head.
Monday, October 27, 2003
Ghetto Mart trying to get mo' ghetto
The ghetto mart is trying to add more ghetto points according to the grapevine. The ghetto mart has a few ghetto points for the clerk in a box, now it is aiming for extra points by applying (so rumor has it) for an ABC license. If they get an ABC license they can then stock your 40s and MD 20/20.
The ghetto mart is trying to add more ghetto points according to the grapevine. The ghetto mart has a few ghetto points for the clerk in a box, now it is aiming for extra points by applying (so rumor has it) for an ABC license. If they get an ABC license they can then stock your 40s and MD 20/20.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
New Deal in Housing
I glad for the folks featured in the Post's Housing Program Chalks Up Win (washingtonpost.com) but this is still shiny and new. Hopefully they will be able to keep up the maintenance and keep it a desirable place for both the public assistance and the market rate renters.
What does this have to do with Shaw? Nothing directly. Indirectly it is a housing issue, and Shaw has housing issues. There are a few public housing projects around and about Shaw and housing projects tend to be the targets of these new ideas.
The question I have about these type of mixed income projects that never show up as an answer is what's the long term view? They don't give too many examples of previous mixed income projects that have been around for a long period of time. I wonder will the market rate people stick around after the newness rubs off, as market rate people have more choices and opportunities. I think of Boston's Harbor Point/Columbia Point, not far from the JFK Presidential Library where I interned one summer. Of course, this was a nice waterfront housing project, stuck in a somewhat questionable (according to some Bostonian friends) neighborhood. That is usually pointed to as a success.
Another thing about the Post article was a brief mention of programs for tenants. There was another Post article a week or so back about apartments in Eckington/Brookland area where it no longer looks like a projects building, that also had programs for tenants. This, I believe, is very important. People need real jobs, the training to get and keep those jobs, and programs to keep them from falling. Change the decor all you want, but without jobs you're not doing a thing to combat poverty and poor conditions that helped the environment to go down. Also in the creation of mixed income housing, those low income folks who can possibly move into mid-income (easier said than done, I know) levels, may have a greater chance of staying in the new development. If Harbor Point is a model, then 2/3 of the tenants must be mid-income. If it is one-for-one replacement or less, with those ratios the low income residents will lose spots in the new project.
I glad for the folks featured in the Post's Housing Program Chalks Up Win (washingtonpost.com) but this is still shiny and new. Hopefully they will be able to keep up the maintenance and keep it a desirable place for both the public assistance and the market rate renters.
What does this have to do with Shaw? Nothing directly. Indirectly it is a housing issue, and Shaw has housing issues. There are a few public housing projects around and about Shaw and housing projects tend to be the targets of these new ideas.
The question I have about these type of mixed income projects that never show up as an answer is what's the long term view? They don't give too many examples of previous mixed income projects that have been around for a long period of time. I wonder will the market rate people stick around after the newness rubs off, as market rate people have more choices and opportunities. I think of Boston's Harbor Point/Columbia Point, not far from the JFK Presidential Library where I interned one summer. Of course, this was a nice waterfront housing project, stuck in a somewhat questionable (according to some Bostonian friends) neighborhood. That is usually pointed to as a success.
Another thing about the Post article was a brief mention of programs for tenants. There was another Post article a week or so back about apartments in Eckington/Brookland area where it no longer looks like a projects building, that also had programs for tenants. This, I believe, is very important. People need real jobs, the training to get and keep those jobs, and programs to keep them from falling. Change the decor all you want, but without jobs you're not doing a thing to combat poverty and poor conditions that helped the environment to go down. Also in the creation of mixed income housing, those low income folks who can possibly move into mid-income (easier said than done, I know) levels, may have a greater chance of staying in the new development. If Harbor Point is a model, then 2/3 of the tenants must be mid-income. If it is one-for-one replacement or less, with those ratios the low income residents will lose spots in the new project.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Developers Find Profit In Selling, Not Renting (washingtonpost.com)
A cause for some housing problems maybe?
Of course a question will be, what happens when these folks who normally rent decide they want to up and move? Will they be opened up for rentals?
And is it me or what, but is every new project I see a luxury condo? What about plain old condos? Anyone make any of those anymore?
A cause for some housing problems maybe?
Of course a question will be, what happens when these folks who normally rent decide they want to up and move? Will they be opened up for rentals?
And is it me or what, but is every new project I see a luxury condo? What about plain old condos? Anyone make any of those anymore?
Monday, October 20, 2003
Gentrification & me, issue 5
Posted a lecture (I won't be able to get to because of a conflict in my schedule) titled "Housing Needs for the City and Region: Does the superheated housing market in Logan Circle contribute to concentrated poverty in Ivy City?" Wish I could go because it sounds silly (not to belittle anyone's research) to me. This is a metro area, so the poor are not limited to Ivy City. There are perfectly good neighborhoods in PG County. What I gather she may mean is there are fewer neighborhoods for low income folks to relocate to so there is greater concentration in neighborhoods they can afford.
Yet I looked at some of her earlier research and there seems to be a lot of focus on neighborhoods that are predominately white and adjacent to predominately white neighborhoods. Another problem as mentioned in the report was high mobility rates of 62 percent for the District.
I'm wonder if the cure is as bad as the disease. On one hand you have low investment in areas, the housing stock is allowed to deteriorate (to the point of no return) and a negative growth rate for the District. When an area looks attractive profit-wise and investors invest, and people find it worthwhile to restore the housing stock, it becomes unaffordable to lower income families. Another problem I have is the income level. It treats a single mom making $30K the same way as a family of four. A household could be 1,2, 3, 4 persons. Income of $30,000 and one person, you could live in a Dupont studio apartment. The same amount for that single mom, doesn't go as far, maybe a 1 bedroom in Brookline or the apartments at Mt. Vernon Sq. Same income for a family of four... I have no clue what you can do with that. Also the 25% of your income going to housing does not apply. For me it never applied, it was more like 40%-50% of my income going to housing.
Posted a lecture (I won't be able to get to because of a conflict in my schedule) titled "Housing Needs for the City and Region: Does the superheated housing market in Logan Circle contribute to concentrated poverty in Ivy City?" Wish I could go because it sounds silly (not to belittle anyone's research) to me. This is a metro area, so the poor are not limited to Ivy City. There are perfectly good neighborhoods in PG County. What I gather she may mean is there are fewer neighborhoods for low income folks to relocate to so there is greater concentration in neighborhoods they can afford.
Yet I looked at some of her earlier research and there seems to be a lot of focus on neighborhoods that are predominately white and adjacent to predominately white neighborhoods. Another problem as mentioned in the report was high mobility rates of 62 percent for the District.
I'm wonder if the cure is as bad as the disease. On one hand you have low investment in areas, the housing stock is allowed to deteriorate (to the point of no return) and a negative growth rate for the District. When an area looks attractive profit-wise and investors invest, and people find it worthwhile to restore the housing stock, it becomes unaffordable to lower income families. Another problem I have is the income level. It treats a single mom making $30K the same way as a family of four. A household could be 1,2, 3, 4 persons. Income of $30,000 and one person, you could live in a Dupont studio apartment. The same amount for that single mom, doesn't go as far, maybe a 1 bedroom in Brookline or the apartments at Mt. Vernon Sq. Same income for a family of four... I have no clue what you can do with that. Also the 25% of your income going to housing does not apply. For me it never applied, it was more like 40%-50% of my income going to housing.
Ghetto Marts
Yes, it is confirmed that the new little mom & pop is a ghetto mart. This is how the definitions go:
Quickie Mart- 7-11 or something like that. Prices high, selection low. Must have aisles, must have essentials like TP, milk, eggs, coffee or other hot food item, and mac & cheese.
Ghetto Mart- similar to the quickie mart, except it has one or several of the following traits: a fine varied selection of 40s; cashier in a plastic box to prevent any human contact; dark store with bad lighting.
The new store has the people in the plastic box. But they have eggs and milk so I will likely wander over despite the insulting people in a box set up.
Yes, I have a problem with the plastic box. I understand the plastic box, but I hate the plastic box. What I hate even more is plastic box with lazy susan feature, to take out all human contact. Such features run against my image of the neighborhood. The plastic box, along with the selection of 40s screams GHETTO. The plastic box say, I don't trust none of you and this is a bad neighborhood. The 40s, say you just want to get drunk real quick, bunch of alcoholics.
Yes, it is confirmed that the new little mom & pop is a ghetto mart. This is how the definitions go:
Quickie Mart- 7-11 or something like that. Prices high, selection low. Must have aisles, must have essentials like TP, milk, eggs, coffee or other hot food item, and mac & cheese.
Ghetto Mart- similar to the quickie mart, except it has one or several of the following traits: a fine varied selection of 40s; cashier in a plastic box to prevent any human contact; dark store with bad lighting.
The new store has the people in the plastic box. But they have eggs and milk so I will likely wander over despite the insulting people in a box set up.
Yes, I have a problem with the plastic box. I understand the plastic box, but I hate the plastic box. What I hate even more is plastic box with lazy susan feature, to take out all human contact. Such features run against my image of the neighborhood. The plastic box, along with the selection of 40s screams GHETTO. The plastic box say, I don't trust none of you and this is a bad neighborhood. The 40s, say you just want to get drunk real quick, bunch of alcoholics.
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Cancelled Party
I was planning a pretty good party. For All Saints Day, Nov 2, a few friends, a few copies of historical documents, some readings, & food.
But my contractor wants to start early. Party cancelled.
I got to clean out the dining room to make a staging area for the kitchen redo. Toss out some things, box alot of things, toss out the non-functioning CD player, and figure out how I'm going to live without a kitchen for nearly a month.... 2 words. Hot plate.
I was planning a pretty good party. For All Saints Day, Nov 2, a few friends, a few copies of historical documents, some readings, & food.
But my contractor wants to start early. Party cancelled.
I got to clean out the dining room to make a staging area for the kitchen redo. Toss out some things, box alot of things, toss out the non-functioning CD player, and figure out how I'm going to live without a kitchen for nearly a month.... 2 words. Hot plate.
Friday, October 17, 2003
Ricky Raccoon
I heard him 3AM this morning kicking about in that crawl space between the ceiling and the roof. Did the one thing that I knew what to do in such situations, get up and turn on the bathroom fan, go back to bed. Apparently, the raccoon does not like bathroom fans.
I heard him 3AM this morning kicking about in that crawl space between the ceiling and the roof. Did the one thing that I knew what to do in such situations, get up and turn on the bathroom fan, go back to bed. Apparently, the raccoon does not like bathroom fans.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
DIE RACCOON DIE DIE DIE!!!
If this is an urban area why did I see a raccoon crossing Rhode Island Avenue at 6:40 AM this morning? Rhode Island is a 4 lane road, not counting street parking lanes, with an island. It crossed despite the cars. I was hoping one would hit it.
If this is an urban area why did I see a raccoon crossing Rhode Island Avenue at 6:40 AM this morning? Rhode Island is a 4 lane road, not counting street parking lanes, with an island. It crossed despite the cars. I was hoping one would hit it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
The Next American City: Gentrification October 15th, City Museum
It turned out better than I figured it would and when I left (a few minutes early) everyone was well behaved
It pays to get reservations. The event was sold out and the auditorium was packed to the gills with people, such as myself, sitting in the aisles. The crowd that came to hear the panelists was mixed. A few familiar faces from other neighborhood summits and events were littered among the sitting and standing.
If I were a good reporter, which I'm not, I'd say who exactly was on the panel. I'll have to edit this information in later.
Abido of Abido contruction was there, as well as a woman from LA Casa Maryland, two fellows representing Arlington and DC Housing authorities, and a rep from Columbia Heights.
I made no notes from the DC housing speaker. However he did talk about managing the investment and growth coming into the city. He did try to provide some perspective on the problems that DC had in the early days. Back in the bad old days before gentrification you could not get investors (commerical/residential) into areas of DC even with incentives. Later in the quesiton and answer period he illustrated it a bit better. During the Mayor Barry years there was a lot of vacant housing stock, but DC was near bankrupt (think Control Board), and absentee property owners weren't paying their taxes. DC did not have the money to buy these or any other property in order to rehab them for low income housing. Even if the city wasn't on the cusp of bankruptcy, banks weren't interested in investing in those areas. So basically DC didn't have the power to get ahead of the housing problem. When the markets began turning around, those absentee property owners began selling their shells, banks got interested in investing, and by the time people realized what was going on, it was too late to make a major impact. My own notes, governement moves slow, markets move fast.
Abido, said he first got into development because of historic preservation. He also said, and it explained why he might have been so willing to participate in the forum, that he only develops shells and other places where there is no occupant to displace. He also mentioned that when he started banks were not interested in backing his projects, they weren't interested in the neighborhoods where he was going.
The La Casa speaker defined gentrification as the replacement of one neighborhood with another. Her thing was with helping immigrants, some who have been in this country for 20 years.
The Columbia Heights speaker provided some examples of people being displaced due to gentrification. One example was of 20 lawyers decending on an apartment building, which intimidated the tenants. Even though the tenants had a legal right to fight what was going on, some just gave up and moved out. Regardless of your income level, lawyers are scary. He touched upon the issue of culture and gentrification. Newcomers describe problems as "those people" when "those people" happen to be the people who lived there before.
The speaker from Arlington gave a regional point of view of things. He threw out a figure of 294,000 units will be needed but are not available.
Good times.
It turned out better than I figured it would and when I left (a few minutes early) everyone was well behaved
It pays to get reservations. The event was sold out and the auditorium was packed to the gills with people, such as myself, sitting in the aisles. The crowd that came to hear the panelists was mixed. A few familiar faces from other neighborhood summits and events were littered among the sitting and standing.
If I were a good reporter, which I'm not, I'd say who exactly was on the panel. I'll have to edit this information in later.
Abido of Abido contruction was there, as well as a woman from LA Casa Maryland, two fellows representing Arlington and DC Housing authorities, and a rep from Columbia Heights.
I made no notes from the DC housing speaker. However he did talk about managing the investment and growth coming into the city. He did try to provide some perspective on the problems that DC had in the early days. Back in the bad old days before gentrification you could not get investors (commerical/residential) into areas of DC even with incentives. Later in the quesiton and answer period he illustrated it a bit better. During the Mayor Barry years there was a lot of vacant housing stock, but DC was near bankrupt (think Control Board), and absentee property owners weren't paying their taxes. DC did not have the money to buy these or any other property in order to rehab them for low income housing. Even if the city wasn't on the cusp of bankruptcy, banks weren't interested in investing in those areas. So basically DC didn't have the power to get ahead of the housing problem. When the markets began turning around, those absentee property owners began selling their shells, banks got interested in investing, and by the time people realized what was going on, it was too late to make a major impact. My own notes, governement moves slow, markets move fast.
Abido, said he first got into development because of historic preservation. He also said, and it explained why he might have been so willing to participate in the forum, that he only develops shells and other places where there is no occupant to displace. He also mentioned that when he started banks were not interested in backing his projects, they weren't interested in the neighborhoods where he was going.
The La Casa speaker defined gentrification as the replacement of one neighborhood with another. Her thing was with helping immigrants, some who have been in this country for 20 years.
The Columbia Heights speaker provided some examples of people being displaced due to gentrification. One example was of 20 lawyers decending on an apartment building, which intimidated the tenants. Even though the tenants had a legal right to fight what was going on, some just gave up and moved out. Regardless of your income level, lawyers are scary. He touched upon the issue of culture and gentrification. Newcomers describe problems as "those people" when "those people" happen to be the people who lived there before.
The speaker from Arlington gave a regional point of view of things. He threw out a figure of 294,000 units will be needed but are not available.
Good times.
Neighborhood Research
I am happy to work where I work. I have access to things. Things like ILL (interlibrary loan) and our own library and paid databases.
What began as research on my house became research on my neighborhood. With that I got it somehow related to my work. Black people, I'm researching black folk, yeah... So I don't feel guilty doing it. Supposedly it will be an article for Washington History in 2004 hopefully.
Well as hinted the research gods hated me this weekend. I was looking at the 1930 census (the plan, work backwards from 1930 to 1870) and tried to copy the microfilm. The copier was low on toner. SO the staff person had to take the toner cartrige out, shake it, and put it back in. This action was good for 1 or 2 copies. I had several pages.
I thought, forget this, I'm heading to the Washington Historical Society..... they don't have the 1930 census, they only go up to 1900.
Can't go to the National Archives downtown.... research room is closed for 2 weeks.
Research gods hate me, and they hate Truxton Circle.
The thesis of the paper/project? Tracking demographic trends in the neighborhood. So far, as I have done a little from 1890 to 1900 to 1930 and read up on DC history, I've seen some things. There is some over crowding. In my house in 1900 there were 11 people in the house. Please note my house is 14 feet wide and only 2 bedrooms. My block, so far, nothing but rental housing. This is a trend. As a homeowner this is disturbing as I have known of some bad cheap landlords.
I am happy to work where I work. I have access to things. Things like ILL (interlibrary loan) and our own library and paid databases.
What began as research on my house became research on my neighborhood. With that I got it somehow related to my work. Black people, I'm researching black folk, yeah... So I don't feel guilty doing it. Supposedly it will be an article for Washington History in 2004 hopefully.
Well as hinted the research gods hated me this weekend. I was looking at the 1930 census (the plan, work backwards from 1930 to 1870) and tried to copy the microfilm. The copier was low on toner. SO the staff person had to take the toner cartrige out, shake it, and put it back in. This action was good for 1 or 2 copies. I had several pages.
I thought, forget this, I'm heading to the Washington Historical Society..... they don't have the 1930 census, they only go up to 1900.
Can't go to the National Archives downtown.... research room is closed for 2 weeks.
Research gods hate me, and they hate Truxton Circle.
The thesis of the paper/project? Tracking demographic trends in the neighborhood. So far, as I have done a little from 1890 to 1900 to 1930 and read up on DC history, I've seen some things. There is some over crowding. In my house in 1900 there were 11 people in the house. Please note my house is 14 feet wide and only 2 bedrooms. My block, so far, nothing but rental housing. This is a trend. As a homeowner this is disturbing as I have known of some bad cheap landlords.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Warehouse Theater
When the research gods decided I should do no more (long story, I may tell later) I wandered from the Washington DC City Museum and decided I would head home. But on the way I stopped by the Warehouse Theater, which is also a coffee shop. Luckily they have tea since I don't drink coffee.
Besides coffee they have art. If I had $700 I had nothing to do with and more wall space there was a piece I'd love to have in my house. Sadly, small walls and all money goes to the house.
At the same time they were rehearsing for a political piece of puppet theater. Dialog good, voices not so good.
I looked around and thought this would make a cool meeting spot. It's close to the Mt. Vernon Sq. metro. There is space to just chill.
When the research gods decided I should do no more (long story, I may tell later) I wandered from the Washington DC City Museum and decided I would head home. But on the way I stopped by the Warehouse Theater, which is also a coffee shop. Luckily they have tea since I don't drink coffee.
Besides coffee they have art. If I had $700 I had nothing to do with and more wall space there was a piece I'd love to have in my house. Sadly, small walls and all money goes to the house.
At the same time they were rehearsing for a political piece of puppet theater. Dialog good, voices not so good.
I looked around and thought this would make a cool meeting spot. It's close to the Mt. Vernon Sq. metro. There is space to just chill.
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Churches and Shaw
If there are two things the neighborhood has aplenty, they are liquor stores and churches. The odd thing about the churches is that many congregants of said churches don't live in the neighborhood. I cannot and will not condemn on that point, as I myself attend in Northern Virginia. My Aunt #1 drives all the way from the Hyattsville area to go to Shilo Bapist Church. When Aunt #2 is not hampered by CP* time disorder she tries to make it from near Howard Co., but by the time she shows all the parking in the tiny lot the church owns is gone. Every Sunday folks from the 'burbs flock into the city to attend church and go back home. They are now having to fight with residents for parking.
Back when I was a kid visiting Aunts #1 and #2 I believe there was plenty parking. Shaw was a BAD neighborhood. There weren't that many people as I recall. Of course I really don't remember that much about the environment outside the church, my more vivid memories are of the events inside the church.
Now people are rehabbing once vacant housing and moving in with their cars. It's becoming a problem. Some churches have begun to move out because of it, or at least make plans to move where their congregants live.... Maryland.
*Colored People's Time Disorder. This disorder strikes so many of our people and leaves them unable to show up at functions in a timely manner. Not only are those directly hampered by this victims but their friends and family as well. Yes, some of us are still annoyed that a whole family suffering from CP time disorder showed up 2 hours late for Thanksgiving dinner. And some wonder why I don't want to host this year......
If there are two things the neighborhood has aplenty, they are liquor stores and churches. The odd thing about the churches is that many congregants of said churches don't live in the neighborhood. I cannot and will not condemn on that point, as I myself attend in Northern Virginia. My Aunt #1 drives all the way from the Hyattsville area to go to Shilo Bapist Church. When Aunt #2 is not hampered by CP* time disorder she tries to make it from near Howard Co., but by the time she shows all the parking in the tiny lot the church owns is gone. Every Sunday folks from the 'burbs flock into the city to attend church and go back home. They are now having to fight with residents for parking.
Back when I was a kid visiting Aunts #1 and #2 I believe there was plenty parking. Shaw was a BAD neighborhood. There weren't that many people as I recall. Of course I really don't remember that much about the environment outside the church, my more vivid memories are of the events inside the church.
Now people are rehabbing once vacant housing and moving in with their cars. It's becoming a problem. Some churches have begun to move out because of it, or at least make plans to move where their congregants live.... Maryland.
*Colored People's Time Disorder. This disorder strikes so many of our people and leaves them unable to show up at functions in a timely manner. Not only are those directly hampered by this victims but their friends and family as well. Yes, some of us are still annoyed that a whole family suffering from CP time disorder showed up 2 hours late for Thanksgiving dinner. And some wonder why I don't want to host this year......
Saturday, October 11, 2003
The Ghetto and me, issue 1
A new little ghetto mart is opening up near the house. I call some of the little mom&pop hole in the wall stores ghetto marts because well, they are so ghetto. Add the prices of a 7-11, the selection of ... well not much of a selction, with a sprinkling of liquor store in some cases and you have part of the ghetto mart. The other part is in presentation. All the windows covered with posters for Kool cigarettes, malt liquor, beer, basically things that are bad for your health. Not one inch of window allows you to look in the store. They don't seem like friendly places to shop.
These places do provide a service. They sell milk and some basics and that's good when you're too lazy to walk to the Giant. Yet as a consumer, who when she isn't lazy has choices, I find these stores insulting. The cashier is behind plexiglass, the service is lacking, I feel that they really don't want me there.
A new little ghetto mart is opening up near the house. I call some of the little mom&pop hole in the wall stores ghetto marts because well, they are so ghetto. Add the prices of a 7-11, the selection of ... well not much of a selction, with a sprinkling of liquor store in some cases and you have part of the ghetto mart. The other part is in presentation. All the windows covered with posters for Kool cigarettes, malt liquor, beer, basically things that are bad for your health. Not one inch of window allows you to look in the store. They don't seem like friendly places to shop.
These places do provide a service. They sell milk and some basics and that's good when you're too lazy to walk to the Giant. Yet as a consumer, who when she isn't lazy has choices, I find these stores insulting. The cashier is behind plexiglass, the service is lacking, I feel that they really don't want me there.
Crazy Paint
I'm still thinking bold colors. Face it, it doesn't matter what I do to the back of the house. I could do polka dots, but I don't think it would look right. But I gotta match the fence.
Maybe I should just do the part that juts out. That I can do myself, sort of. Prime it and then throw on some funky color. Bright yellow and a dark blue door? Too Swedish. No red doors. Red doors are too common. I've seen some pretty cool purple doors. There is a super cool door on 8th street near Q street, but that is too .... expensive.
I've also thought, painting the individual bricks a different color to create a pattern. Maybe doing something with tile.
But I got to keep in mind nobody is really going to see the back of the house. Nobody except the neighbors and the crackheads who wander through the alley.
I may wait until I go to London and maybe get some ideas there. I like British, not the Victorian colonial type of British style, but modern British style. Maybe they incorporated the crazy African paint style.
I'm still thinking bold colors. Face it, it doesn't matter what I do to the back of the house. I could do polka dots, but I don't think it would look right. But I gotta match the fence.
Maybe I should just do the part that juts out. That I can do myself, sort of. Prime it and then throw on some funky color. Bright yellow and a dark blue door? Too Swedish. No red doors. Red doors are too common. I've seen some pretty cool purple doors. There is a super cool door on 8th street near Q street, but that is too .... expensive.
I've also thought, painting the individual bricks a different color to create a pattern. Maybe doing something with tile.
But I got to keep in mind nobody is really going to see the back of the house. Nobody except the neighbors and the crackheads who wander through the alley.
I may wait until I go to London and maybe get some ideas there. I like British, not the Victorian colonial type of British style, but modern British style. Maybe they incorporated the crazy African paint style.
Friday, October 10, 2003
You know you have problems when...
You know you have problems when you're looking at some low budget African film and you're getting design ideas from impoverished South African houses as seen in the movie.
Apparently Africans like strong bold colors. A dark navy blue with red pillars and a bright yellow door. Well crazy ideas have been coming into my head. I need to paint the rear of the house, as it is butt ugly. One, I would need to contact Popcorn who did a so-so job on the front of the house. Second, I'd have to buy a lot of paint. Third, I'd have to do it before it gets too cold to paint. I wonder if it is too cold now.
You know you have problems when you're looking at some low budget African film and you're getting design ideas from impoverished South African houses as seen in the movie.
Apparently Africans like strong bold colors. A dark navy blue with red pillars and a bright yellow door. Well crazy ideas have been coming into my head. I need to paint the rear of the house, as it is butt ugly. One, I would need to contact Popcorn who did a so-so job on the front of the house. Second, I'd have to buy a lot of paint. Third, I'd have to do it before it gets too cold to paint. I wonder if it is too cold now.
Crap on. Crap off. The Crapper
WARNING THIS IS REALLY GROSS. YOU MAY TOSS YOUR COOKIES.
Wednesday is take the dumpster to the curb day. When I took the dumpster from the back to the front I fugured I'd throw out the refuse that was up upon my fence.
Someone, an old guy. "Cleans" the alley every so often and tapes up "No Dumping" signs, that fall apart after the first rain. This cleaning is basically shifting whatever is in the alley up against the fences. So up against mine was a dirt encrusted sleeve, fallen leaves, concrete chunks, and some other stuff. All placed in the dumpster. One thing, which called for the rubber gloves was the pan. When Lem was putting in my fence he pointed out that someone had taken "a dump" near my fence. He pointed to a pan with some unknown brown/yellow liquid and debris in it. Lovely. Well I turned the pan over a few days after that and it was dry by Wednesday, ready for the dumpster, but still stinky. The alley had an odor. But at that time I thought it was a mixture of leftover stink from the pan and the puppy on the opposite side of the alley.
Yesterday, I'm out staining the back fence. When I move closer to the ground I smell something stinky. I blame the puppy. I take the dumpster thru the alley and back into the yard. Then I notice a pail in the alley. Same ugly colored liquid and refuse. I take a long pole, stand back, and dump it into the alley. Stink-E.
Great I knew the crack-heads urinated but leaving bowls and pails of their crap, oh-no!
WARNING THIS IS REALLY GROSS. YOU MAY TOSS YOUR COOKIES.
Wednesday is take the dumpster to the curb day. When I took the dumpster from the back to the front I fugured I'd throw out the refuse that was up upon my fence.
Someone, an old guy. "Cleans" the alley every so often and tapes up "No Dumping" signs, that fall apart after the first rain. This cleaning is basically shifting whatever is in the alley up against the fences. So up against mine was a dirt encrusted sleeve, fallen leaves, concrete chunks, and some other stuff. All placed in the dumpster. One thing, which called for the rubber gloves was the pan. When Lem was putting in my fence he pointed out that someone had taken "a dump" near my fence. He pointed to a pan with some unknown brown/yellow liquid and debris in it. Lovely. Well I turned the pan over a few days after that and it was dry by Wednesday, ready for the dumpster, but still stinky. The alley had an odor. But at that time I thought it was a mixture of leftover stink from the pan and the puppy on the opposite side of the alley.
Yesterday, I'm out staining the back fence. When I move closer to the ground I smell something stinky. I blame the puppy. I take the dumpster thru the alley and back into the yard. Then I notice a pail in the alley. Same ugly colored liquid and refuse. I take a long pole, stand back, and dump it into the alley. Stink-E.
Great I knew the crack-heads urinated but leaving bowls and pails of their crap, oh-no!
Thursday, October 09, 2003
History research and gentrification
Yes, we have gentrification on the brain.
Anywho. I'm doing some historical research on the neighborhood looking at housing and other demographic trends. Looking at the census, things I noticed from one census to another..... people move. There is a very good chance the people in a certain house won't be there in the next 10 years. I'm not in the same place I was 10 years ago. 10 years ago I was in a dorm in Massachusetts. Gawd I'm old.
Anyway, taking the fact that people move, especially renters and gentrification. If neighborhood desirablity was the only factor a demographic shift would occur anyways, regardless of rise in rents. If every time a low income person moved, they were always replaced by a middle income person one may say it's gentrification or something like it. Because over time as lower income folks move out and are not replaced by lower income people you'd have a great economic demographic change in say 10 years if the rate is say over 5%. Year one 100% Low income, Yr2 95%, Yr3 90%, Yr 5 80%, Yr 8 65%, in ten years there are only half of the low income people. Well, that's using my math, and my math isn't that good. Less than half may be there if the movement rate is taken just from the low income population. Possibly rates may change depending on the economy, unemployment in the area, lack of businesses and services, or what have you.
Yet even 10 years ago Shaw was not 100% low income. There were people who stuck through the riots and the crack years who were somewhere in the middle class sphere. Throw in high concentrations of middle class people in newly built condos, there is a major population shift right there.
Yes, we have gentrification on the brain.
Anywho. I'm doing some historical research on the neighborhood looking at housing and other demographic trends. Looking at the census, things I noticed from one census to another..... people move. There is a very good chance the people in a certain house won't be there in the next 10 years. I'm not in the same place I was 10 years ago. 10 years ago I was in a dorm in Massachusetts. Gawd I'm old.
Anyway, taking the fact that people move, especially renters and gentrification. If neighborhood desirablity was the only factor a demographic shift would occur anyways, regardless of rise in rents. If every time a low income person moved, they were always replaced by a middle income person one may say it's gentrification or something like it. Because over time as lower income folks move out and are not replaced by lower income people you'd have a great economic demographic change in say 10 years if the rate is say over 5%. Year one 100% Low income, Yr2 95%, Yr3 90%, Yr 5 80%, Yr 8 65%, in ten years there are only half of the low income people. Well, that's using my math, and my math isn't that good. Less than half may be there if the movement rate is taken just from the low income population. Possibly rates may change depending on the economy, unemployment in the area, lack of businesses and services, or what have you.
Yet even 10 years ago Shaw was not 100% low income. There were people who stuck through the riots and the crack years who were somewhere in the middle class sphere. Throw in high concentrations of middle class people in newly built condos, there is a major population shift right there.
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Gentrification and Me issue 4
Am I on number 4 now?
PBS: POV Flag Wars: What is Gentrification
One site, just for definition of what I am talking about. The rest of the site in on the film Flag Wars, a battle for a neighborhood between two "historically oppressed groups" blacks and gays. In my own observations both groups can be downright unpleasant to the other, but luckily, not always.... at least not to the other's face.
Maybe later I'll do themes on gentrification: Gays and gentrification; Artists and gentrification; Buppie (Black yuppie) gentrification; Black flight and gentrification; Anti-gentrification groups; DC/Shaw and gentrification.
Someone, John, pointed out a talk that is going to be given at the City Museum October 15 at 6:30 on gentrification and the city. I predict there will be an angry discussion as the topic enflames passions. I plan to go but if it just turns into a yelling match at any point I'm leaving. If I want to see people yell, I'll go to a civic association meeting with the peanut gallery.
Am I on number 4 now?
PBS: POV Flag Wars: What is Gentrification
One site, just for definition of what I am talking about. The rest of the site in on the film Flag Wars, a battle for a neighborhood between two "historically oppressed groups" blacks and gays. In my own observations both groups can be downright unpleasant to the other, but luckily, not always.... at least not to the other's face.
Maybe later I'll do themes on gentrification: Gays and gentrification; Artists and gentrification; Buppie (Black yuppie) gentrification; Black flight and gentrification; Anti-gentrification groups; DC/Shaw and gentrification.
Someone, John, pointed out a talk that is going to be given at the City Museum October 15 at 6:30 on gentrification and the city. I predict there will be an angry discussion as the topic enflames passions. I plan to go but if it just turns into a yelling match at any point I'm leaving. If I want to see people yell, I'll go to a civic association meeting with the peanut gallery.
Truxton Fantasy #1
I ask my best friend Mikey a lot of stupid questions like, if you had $10 million dollars... and such. But today I asked myself a stupid question, if I had the power to change the character and nature of Truxton Cirlce (Eastern Shaw) what would I change it to?
Transportation
1. I'd make it way easy to catch a cab on New Jersey or Rhode Island, regardless of the hailer's color or destination. Cabbies are evil and at times hard to find.
2. I'd allow left handed turns on New York Avenue. Anyone who has gotten stuck on NY trying to turn left KNOWS what I'm talking about.
3. I'd put rumble strips on residential roads.
4. Mt. Sinai Baptist would build a parking garage, that residents can use M-F.
People/Residents
1. Diversity balance would be maintained. Meaning families, seniors, whites, blacks, latinos, asians, gays, straights, professionals, blue color workers, low income folks, college kids, teens, natives, immigrants, English-speaking, ESL folks, car people, metro people, joggers, walkers, cyclists, fat/cubby/chunky people, ana-looking women, athletic beautiful people all have a place in the neighborhood.
2. There would be a good critical mass of civic minded involved citizenry who would dedicate themselves to the improvement of the neighborhood. There are such people now, but not a critical mass of them.
3. Residents and guests would respect the people of the neighborhood by not dumping trash in the alleys and on the streets. Nor would they roll through with loud thumping bass. Nor would they honk their horns as an alternative to knocking on their intended's door.
4. People would take pride in their homes and themselves.
Business/Commerical
1. There would be 2-3 decent sit down eateries, at least 1 table-cloth'ed restaurant (think Mimi's not Subways) either in Truxton Circle or along 7th Street between S and P.
2. The commerical strip would be dotted with businesses that promote walking and provide an environment for neighbors and friends to run into one another.
3. There would be only a small handful of liquor stores and those stores would sell only decent quality beverages. Few 40s, few MD 20/20, few Wild Irish Rose. The bulk of their sales would not be from things that get you smashed real fast. They would have a good selection of red wines.
4. A bookstore would exist in my fantasy version of the hood. That or a Krispy Kreme. Actually, I can go downtown for books, give me a Krispy Kreme.
Okay, now I got KK on the brain. If you've had a fresh, hot Krispy Creme dougnut, you know what I mean.
drool.
I ask my best friend Mikey a lot of stupid questions like, if you had $10 million dollars... and such. But today I asked myself a stupid question, if I had the power to change the character and nature of Truxton Cirlce (Eastern Shaw) what would I change it to?
Transportation
1. I'd make it way easy to catch a cab on New Jersey or Rhode Island, regardless of the hailer's color or destination. Cabbies are evil and at times hard to find.
2. I'd allow left handed turns on New York Avenue. Anyone who has gotten stuck on NY trying to turn left KNOWS what I'm talking about.
3. I'd put rumble strips on residential roads.
4. Mt. Sinai Baptist would build a parking garage, that residents can use M-F.
People/Residents
1. Diversity balance would be maintained. Meaning families, seniors, whites, blacks, latinos, asians, gays, straights, professionals, blue color workers, low income folks, college kids, teens, natives, immigrants, English-speaking, ESL folks, car people, metro people, joggers, walkers, cyclists, fat/cubby/chunky people, ana-looking women, athletic beautiful people all have a place in the neighborhood.
2. There would be a good critical mass of civic minded involved citizenry who would dedicate themselves to the improvement of the neighborhood. There are such people now, but not a critical mass of them.
3. Residents and guests would respect the people of the neighborhood by not dumping trash in the alleys and on the streets. Nor would they roll through with loud thumping bass. Nor would they honk their horns as an alternative to knocking on their intended's door.
4. People would take pride in their homes and themselves.
Business/Commerical
1. There would be 2-3 decent sit down eateries, at least 1 table-cloth'ed restaurant (think Mimi's not Subways) either in Truxton Circle or along 7th Street between S and P.
2. The commerical strip would be dotted with businesses that promote walking and provide an environment for neighbors and friends to run into one another.
3. There would be only a small handful of liquor stores and those stores would sell only decent quality beverages. Few 40s, few MD 20/20, few Wild Irish Rose. The bulk of their sales would not be from things that get you smashed real fast. They would have a good selection of red wines.
4. A bookstore would exist in my fantasy version of the hood. That or a Krispy Kreme. Actually, I can go downtown for books, give me a Krispy Kreme.
Okay, now I got KK on the brain. If you've had a fresh, hot Krispy Creme dougnut, you know what I mean.
drool.
Tree boxez in the hood
Pity the poor tree box. My tree box, which face it is pitiful. has a dying basil-something (not sweet basil, I could use sweet basil) and a couple of tansys and a lot of root fiber from what? The tree? Plants long since gone? The tansys?
I'm going to have to redo the whole darned thing. What I have done was use some timbers to make a box, fill it with dirt, throw in some plants, and put up some fencing in one corner. The neighborhood kids gave me a run for my money. I had to yell at them for walking into it and on top of it. The edge fencing, I had to replace plastic, that got broken with metal, of which one was broken. Then there were the adults getting out of cars. Lastly the tree itself, blokcing out all light, evil, evil tree.
I'm thinking I should pull out everything, dig up the root filled dirt, put in some barrier between the tree and the plants so the tree's roots can't invade the box, and try to build up the box by another level.
Next, cheap plants.
Pity the poor tree box. My tree box, which face it is pitiful. has a dying basil-something (not sweet basil, I could use sweet basil) and a couple of tansys and a lot of root fiber from what? The tree? Plants long since gone? The tansys?
I'm going to have to redo the whole darned thing. What I have done was use some timbers to make a box, fill it with dirt, throw in some plants, and put up some fencing in one corner. The neighborhood kids gave me a run for my money. I had to yell at them for walking into it and on top of it. The edge fencing, I had to replace plastic, that got broken with metal, of which one was broken. Then there were the adults getting out of cars. Lastly the tree itself, blokcing out all light, evil, evil tree.
I'm thinking I should pull out everything, dig up the root filled dirt, put in some barrier between the tree and the plants so the tree's roots can't invade the box, and try to build up the box by another level.
Next, cheap plants.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Got nothing but Love for my neighbors
Yesterday went over to Kelly's and they said I could have their bricks so I can pave my perimeter. Just gives me a warm feeling.
Also another lovely feeling, yesterday we had a civic association meeting that did not suck. It was depressing as all out. Did you know DC is number #1 in getting 11 known cancers? The peanut gallery did not show, but we had one manageble nut.
Yesterday went over to Kelly's and they said I could have their bricks so I can pave my perimeter. Just gives me a warm feeling.
Also another lovely feeling, yesterday we had a civic association meeting that did not suck. It was depressing as all out. Did you know DC is number #1 in getting 11 known cancers? The peanut gallery did not show, but we had one manageble nut.
Gentrification and Me, issue 3
Yuppie Scum save the neighborhood: ABC NewsActually titled "There Goes the Neighborhood?Gentrification May Be Good for Everyone, Some Experts Say," by Oliver Libaw for ABC news.com. This April 2002 article's focus is in Brooklyn, NY another gentrifying area on the east coast. The author says despite the opinions of gentrification and attitudes towards the young urban professional, gentrification is actually good for lower income residents. Why? They are less likely to move out and benefit from the improvements gentrification brings. He quotes from Frank Braconi, a co-author in a New York City gentrification study that examined gentrification and low income residents. They do acknowledge that displacement of the poor, one of the major problems of gentrification, does occur. However it must be placed also in the context of general movement of people, as this is a mobile society where people move around a lot.
Gentrification and Displacement, by Lance Freeman & Frank Braconi
A PDF file and article/report from the Citizens Housing and Planning Council's The Urban Prospect publication volume 8, no. 1. This is a lovely 4 page report regarding the displacement of low income people in gentrifying areas of New York City.
First they get into, "define displacement". Displacement, could be several things, it could be the government moving people by force (think highway project), it could be people looking for cheaper rent (Secondary Displacement), or it could be people moving out due to social forces (think moving 'cause they don't wanna live near Puerto Ricans). There are several factors in secondary displacement, which people most associate with gentrification. The desire for lower rents could be pushed by rise of rents or loss of income.
To track displacement they used the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey to gather data. This allowed them to look at movement in the 1990s. Looking at a chart they provide, except for the period between 1991-1993 the rate of displacement was between 5%-6%, kind of small.
They challenge an assumption that "low income households [are] more likely to move out of gentrifying neighborhoods than other neighborhoods?" with "gentrification could encourage households to stay put." Right now I'm thinking Tracy Chapman's Fast Car where the goal is to get out of the lower income environment and "get a bigger house and live in the suburbs." Well what happens when the nice neighborhood comes to you? Being one who has been poor, and talking with others who have lived in "the ghetto", there is this goal to get the heck out of the ghetto to live a better life. So in this scenario, the better neighborhood comes to the ghetto in the form of gentrification. Well that's my theory.
They state that lower income households are faced with a decision when gentrification comes to them. On one hand, stay and take advantage of the neighborhood improvements or move because of higher housing costs. What these families do, depends on which factor is more important. For the authors gentrification makes it less likely that a lower income household will move. They say "poor households residing in on of the seven gentrifying neighborhoods were still found to be 20% less likely to move than poor households residing elsewhere."
The authors never say that displacement does not occur. Yet, we cannot ignore general mobility among people. They say it best in their concluding paragraph that as vacancies appear in gentrifying neighborhoods, they are filled by middle class households, coupled with loss of affordable housing, it takes an appearance that the middle class is driving out the poor.
The economic cleansing of San Francisco: Is San Francisco becoming the first fully gentrified city in America
Okay, I couldn't end this without a story of evil gentrification kicking out the poor and defenseless. Despite the above reports of gentrifying being good for a neighborhood, we all know the mainline thinking that gentrification is evil, evil, evil because it forces families on the streets and the anti-gentrification forces have the examples to prove it. This is one such example from a 1998 San Francisco article about 3 poor elderly Latino women in danger of losing their home due to raising rents. Other Latino women are profiled too. Okay no one is kicked out in the story, but they are all endanger of not being able to keep up with the rents.
And for good measure " Case Study in Displacement on Elizabeth Street Warning: Gentrification in Progress" by J.A. Lobbia in New York City. This covers a NYC building in the process of gentrifying. There are poor immigrants crammed in some units, while other units rehabbed & expanded for 1 or 2 people. The landlord is finding ways to kick out the poorer residents, such as suing them for lease infractions. The truly EVIL part of the landlord is that he sues his Chinese renters and buys off his Latino renters to get them out.
Labels: data/demographics, gentrification
Monday, October 06, 2003
Gentrification and Me issue 2
Home sick today so updating things between things.
Dealing with Neighborhood Change: A Primer on Gentrification and Policy Choices
This is a Brookings Institute report in PDF file format that attempts to take a neutral stance on gentrification by just defining it, looking at what causes it, identifying stakeholders and possible solutions in trying to create equitable development. It's about 80 pages so it is long. Washington, DC among other cities experiencing the change in demographics in particular neighborhoods are covered. DC and DC neighborhoods in particular, are covered in pages 54-60. They conclude that the causes for gentrification in DC are varied. Columbia Heights is given special attention. The footnotes and bibliography and all the facts packed into the report make it a good resource for anyone on either side of the gentrification arguement.
Chicago Matters: Inside Housing- Town Meetings
Although this is about Chicago, DC residents can feel the Chicago citizens in the town hall meeting in this audio report. As of today, the sponsoring radio station's audio library is down, but do try again. The focus is Lincoln Square where older residents are being priced out of their neighborhood due to the rising cost of housing.
Home sick today so updating things between things.
Dealing with Neighborhood Change: A Primer on Gentrification and Policy Choices
This is a Brookings Institute report in PDF file format that attempts to take a neutral stance on gentrification by just defining it, looking at what causes it, identifying stakeholders and possible solutions in trying to create equitable development. It's about 80 pages so it is long. Washington, DC among other cities experiencing the change in demographics in particular neighborhoods are covered. DC and DC neighborhoods in particular, are covered in pages 54-60. They conclude that the causes for gentrification in DC are varied. Columbia Heights is given special attention. The footnotes and bibliography and all the facts packed into the report make it a good resource for anyone on either side of the gentrification arguement.
Chicago Matters: Inside Housing- Town Meetings
Although this is about Chicago, DC residents can feel the Chicago citizens in the town hall meeting in this audio report. As of today, the sponsoring radio station's audio library is down, but do try again. The focus is Lincoln Square where older residents are being priced out of their neighborhood due to the rising cost of housing.
Sunday, October 05, 2003
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Not an update on the neighbor who failed to heed my advice. But concerns next door. I think they'll be renting. My gut tells me the owner is in slumlord mode, so I won't expect any high quality tenants. Regardless if they are high quality, or not, there are things that need to be done, that I wouldn't expect any renter to do. For example, the bricks over the window look as if they are on the verge of falling out. A minor problem, which I can remedy. The owner had the house painted a color close to mine, before it had been a dark shade of purple red. Before the color of my house jumped out as it was a light house between two dark colored houses. Now, at night the colors blend together. That pissed me off. I took a good amount of thought in picking out the color. The last problem, which actually isn't my problem as it is the other neighbor's problem, overgrown weed trees.
Before I thought they were going to sell. But rumor had it he wanted $300K for the house. The house is not going to sell for $300K. The house with the basement and the big backyard on our block sold for $300K. This house has no basement and there's a poor job done on the roof and he wasn't going to put any top of the line appliances in. Although they did a decent job inside the house, it doesn't look like a $300K house. Maybe a $220-$250K but not $300K. Heck the house across the street was listed at $400K and that DEFINITELY was not worth that much. Sunny worked on the house first. G-d in heaven only knows what mistakes still lurk in the walls, despite the other people brought in after him.
Not an update on the neighbor who failed to heed my advice. But concerns next door. I think they'll be renting. My gut tells me the owner is in slumlord mode, so I won't expect any high quality tenants. Regardless if they are high quality, or not, there are things that need to be done, that I wouldn't expect any renter to do. For example, the bricks over the window look as if they are on the verge of falling out. A minor problem, which I can remedy. The owner had the house painted a color close to mine, before it had been a dark shade of purple red. Before the color of my house jumped out as it was a light house between two dark colored houses. Now, at night the colors blend together. That pissed me off. I took a good amount of thought in picking out the color. The last problem, which actually isn't my problem as it is the other neighbor's problem, overgrown weed trees.
Before I thought they were going to sell. But rumor had it he wanted $300K for the house. The house is not going to sell for $300K. The house with the basement and the big backyard on our block sold for $300K. This house has no basement and there's a poor job done on the roof and he wasn't going to put any top of the line appliances in. Although they did a decent job inside the house, it doesn't look like a $300K house. Maybe a $220-$250K but not $300K. Heck the house across the street was listed at $400K and that DEFINITELY was not worth that much. Sunny worked on the house first. G-d in heaven only knows what mistakes still lurk in the walls, despite the other people brought in after him.
Gentrification and me issue 1
I have been collecting a bunch of websites that talk about gentrification. What I hope to do, since I know a few people besides myself look at this site is talk about what is covered. My own feelings are mixed. I am part of the gentrification process simply based on my income (now and future), education and home improvement status. However I do have some sympathy for groups threatened by the changes. As an African-American I do feel bad about the fact that I moved into a predominately black neighborhood that is becoming more of a white neighborhood.
First, my favorite I'm the Enemy a Salon article where the author aknowleges that she's part of the San Francisco gentrification problem, but in away points out the problems of some of the people organizing against gentrification. Maybe I like it because I identify with the author. Although I am not a long term resident. For a while I was poor and (I am still) Black, the same type of folks who are being pushed out of gentrifying areas. The author works in the Arts field, where artists are known for being poor and starving. I work in the library/museum field, not known for being a high paying line of work. Like the author, I figured out how to cash in on my talents (okay a lot of it luck) and save up and buy a house before prices got insane. The author is describing and anti-gentrification meeting, one of several she has attended. The question become who is the "they" , the enemy, that is spoken of in the meetings? The "they" described seem a lot like her, despite the other attendee's assurances that no, she's different. Another problem the "poor people". She describes how some minorities, as the anti-yuppie argument can get race based, have cashed in. A Salvadoran who bought when the prices were rock bottom sold for a nice profit. This is something that is hinted at, but which I thought about after reading this was the tendency of white anti-gentrifiers to turn the minority population, who are typically hurt by this, into their 'noble savages'. Nobel savages are your Tontos, your Fridays, or other moral dark skinned character who is put down by white society but is good and uncorrupted by the bad white man's ways. The author points out that given the chance, the Salvadoran in this case, lusts and chases after the same thing the big bad yuppie does and the noble savages, in this case the Salvadorians, given a chance will gladly move into the yuppie middle class. It is the white bohemians who have chosen a more imporverished lifestyle and who are seemingly trying to impose it on their non-white neighbors.
Gentrification: Gen....What?
Kim Tate is the author and teenager in this article about the changes in her neighborhood. In this her family is selling the house in a gentrifying neighborhood. She seems to be trying to make sense of what is going on around her. Her view of the changes are slightly negative. I say slightly because it lack some of the very angry rhetoric I've seen on other sites. To be any angrier might condemn her parents for even daring to sell their house. There is sadness, but also the same sort of sadness you might find from any teen reflecting on leaving their home. A good thing is at the end of the article there are resources for folks in the Atlanta metro region who are threatened by gentrification.
I have been collecting a bunch of websites that talk about gentrification. What I hope to do, since I know a few people besides myself look at this site is talk about what is covered. My own feelings are mixed. I am part of the gentrification process simply based on my income (now and future), education and home improvement status. However I do have some sympathy for groups threatened by the changes. As an African-American I do feel bad about the fact that I moved into a predominately black neighborhood that is becoming more of a white neighborhood.
First, my favorite I'm the Enemy a Salon article where the author aknowleges that she's part of the San Francisco gentrification problem, but in away points out the problems of some of the people organizing against gentrification. Maybe I like it because I identify with the author. Although I am not a long term resident. For a while I was poor and (I am still) Black, the same type of folks who are being pushed out of gentrifying areas. The author works in the Arts field, where artists are known for being poor and starving. I work in the library/museum field, not known for being a high paying line of work. Like the author, I figured out how to cash in on my talents (okay a lot of it luck) and save up and buy a house before prices got insane. The author is describing and anti-gentrification meeting, one of several she has attended. The question become who is the "they" , the enemy, that is spoken of in the meetings? The "they" described seem a lot like her, despite the other attendee's assurances that no, she's different. Another problem the "poor people". She describes how some minorities, as the anti-yuppie argument can get race based, have cashed in. A Salvadoran who bought when the prices were rock bottom sold for a nice profit. This is something that is hinted at, but which I thought about after reading this was the tendency of white anti-gentrifiers to turn the minority population, who are typically hurt by this, into their 'noble savages'. Nobel savages are your Tontos, your Fridays, or other moral dark skinned character who is put down by white society but is good and uncorrupted by the bad white man's ways. The author points out that given the chance, the Salvadoran in this case, lusts and chases after the same thing the big bad yuppie does and the noble savages, in this case the Salvadorians, given a chance will gladly move into the yuppie middle class. It is the white bohemians who have chosen a more imporverished lifestyle and who are seemingly trying to impose it on their non-white neighbors.
Gentrification: Gen....What?
Kim Tate is the author and teenager in this article about the changes in her neighborhood. In this her family is selling the house in a gentrifying neighborhood. She seems to be trying to make sense of what is going on around her. Her view of the changes are slightly negative. I say slightly because it lack some of the very angry rhetoric I've seen on other sites. To be any angrier might condemn her parents for even daring to sell their house. There is sadness, but also the same sort of sadness you might find from any teen reflecting on leaving their home. A good thing is at the end of the article there are resources for folks in the Atlanta metro region who are threatened by gentrification.
Friday, October 03, 2003
This old house
Maybe it's shows like This Old House that give people the wrong idea. Or maybe it's preserved historical houses. I don't know but people believe that because my house is over 100 years old it's all neat and historical with architectural details that only need to be uncovered.
No. It is not neat, or quaint, nor does it have any of those quaint neat details. My house has been rental housing for the black working class for the past 100 years. Rental housing, landlords don't invest a lot in rental housing and it shows.
The floors. Might be hardwood. But for the time being are hidden under carpet. What I have seen so far under the carpet and on the other side of the floor is not a happy sight. Under the carpet there are shriveled up tiles of some sort (asbestos maybe?) and some dark gunk on top of dark colored wood. I know it is dark chocolate in color from looking at the underside in the basement. It is sawn rough. Even if it could get sanded smooth I don't think I would want the color. The house doesn't get enough light and it's small, dark colors are bad, last thing I want to do is spend good money on a floor that will make the place look smaller and darker.
Walls. I hate the walls on the upper floors. One runs right into the window frame. All except the bathroom they have textured paint. As I later discovered this was slapped on to hide all the cracks in the plaster underneath. The renovator Sunny (evil evil) said it was to prevent stains on the walls that kids (what kids?) make. My only hope was to skim the walls with joint compund because our friend 'asbestos' could be in the paint. Don't get me started on the lead paint.
The whole structure. My house, just my house is crooked in such an obvious way. Settling.
There is one good thing. Radiators. I love them. Now that it is getting cold, and hoping the boiler doesn't explode, I can enjoy warm things I can put my bottom on, or warm robes draped over. Heaven.
Maybe it's shows like This Old House that give people the wrong idea. Or maybe it's preserved historical houses. I don't know but people believe that because my house is over 100 years old it's all neat and historical with architectural details that only need to be uncovered.
No. It is not neat, or quaint, nor does it have any of those quaint neat details. My house has been rental housing for the black working class for the past 100 years. Rental housing, landlords don't invest a lot in rental housing and it shows.
The floors. Might be hardwood. But for the time being are hidden under carpet. What I have seen so far under the carpet and on the other side of the floor is not a happy sight. Under the carpet there are shriveled up tiles of some sort (asbestos maybe?) and some dark gunk on top of dark colored wood. I know it is dark chocolate in color from looking at the underside in the basement. It is sawn rough. Even if it could get sanded smooth I don't think I would want the color. The house doesn't get enough light and it's small, dark colors are bad, last thing I want to do is spend good money on a floor that will make the place look smaller and darker.
Walls. I hate the walls on the upper floors. One runs right into the window frame. All except the bathroom they have textured paint. As I later discovered this was slapped on to hide all the cracks in the plaster underneath. The renovator Sunny (evil evil) said it was to prevent stains on the walls that kids (what kids?) make. My only hope was to skim the walls with joint compund because our friend 'asbestos' could be in the paint. Don't get me started on the lead paint.
The whole structure. My house, just my house is crooked in such an obvious way. Settling.
There is one good thing. Radiators. I love them. Now that it is getting cold, and hoping the boiler doesn't explode, I can enjoy warm things I can put my bottom on, or warm robes draped over. Heaven.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
The fan that will kill me
So I got a co-worker to install two fans in my house for the sum of $54. The fan in the first room is wonderful. The fan in my room, which I knew would be trouble, is still troubling. The problem with old houses is that you have old house hardware and quirks. The hardware the light, which was on the verge of killing me in my sleep, hung from what could have been an old gas lamp pipe. Heavens only knows.
The light was hanging loosely from the old fixture. I pulled the string to turn it off and on, the thing would wobble. It had a glass, a heavy glass piece that I took off once the whole piece started looking dodgy. Upon further inspection the lamp was hanging from some screws that had a minimal hold on the drywall in the ceiling.
I knew there would be trouble when the ceiling fan would replace the whole contraption. After 2 or so hours Mr. Grumpy Sunshine got it installed. He wasn't too happy with the wobbling. He said the hardware up in the ceiling was loose.
The one big problem is the only way for me to turn the light on and off is to pull the cord. Which in turn pulls the fan, which pulls whatever loose hardware there is in the ceiling.
I'm now thinking, remote controlled fan. Thats the only way. The only was without doing some heavy recontruction.
Until then, I'm in danger of a 30lb fan hitting my bed in my sleep.
So I got a co-worker to install two fans in my house for the sum of $54. The fan in the first room is wonderful. The fan in my room, which I knew would be trouble, is still troubling. The problem with old houses is that you have old house hardware and quirks. The hardware the light, which was on the verge of killing me in my sleep, hung from what could have been an old gas lamp pipe. Heavens only knows.
The light was hanging loosely from the old fixture. I pulled the string to turn it off and on, the thing would wobble. It had a glass, a heavy glass piece that I took off once the whole piece started looking dodgy. Upon further inspection the lamp was hanging from some screws that had a minimal hold on the drywall in the ceiling.
I knew there would be trouble when the ceiling fan would replace the whole contraption. After 2 or so hours Mr. Grumpy Sunshine got it installed. He wasn't too happy with the wobbling. He said the hardware up in the ceiling was loose.
The one big problem is the only way for me to turn the light on and off is to pull the cord. Which in turn pulls the fan, which pulls whatever loose hardware there is in the ceiling.
I'm now thinking, remote controlled fan. Thats the only way. The only was without doing some heavy recontruction.
Until then, I'm in danger of a 30lb fan hitting my bed in my sleep.
History, me complaining, history, stuff about the immediate hood (Truxton Circle) and the surrounding neighborhood (Shaw), gentrification, demographics, and some more history.
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Random announcements in the Shaw/Bloomingdale AreaPrevious Posts
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- Elements of Crackhead Design
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- And You Were Going To Do What?
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This Old Crappy House
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Local Links
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- Frozen Tropics Trinidad (not Tobago) neighborhood of DC
- Jimbo A handsome man in Shaw
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- Waltha Daniel Library Blog The blog for the Shaw library
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<---Hey shouldn't there be more to this article? Why yes, and if you are using Internet Explorer you need to hit F11 for a Full view.
