The rezoning of 125th street has been a topic of controversy and has yet to be approved. The Department of City Planning believes rezoning of 125th street will bring positive economic changes. I personally believe that these changes would negatively affect the residents and business owners of Harlem. According to the New York City’s Planning Commission, the rezoning will bring new business and housing. Residents and business owners disagree because they believe this plays a bigger role in promoting further “gentrification.” I believe that Harlem should be able to keep its cultural heritage while still promoting and modifying economic growth.
Rezoning 125th street is frowned upon the people that have lived there and the people that have businesses because there would be an increased amount of residential developments and there are concerns about affordability. If the mail goal is to provide positive changes to Harlem, then there is no need for any party to be affected negatively. Modifying the existing plan, however, could alleviate these negative effects.
The resident of Harlem understand that these changes need to occur but now they live in fear of being removed from a place they knew as solid cultural ground. I propose that the following modifications to the proposal should be made so that local businesses, artist or resident are all positively affected.
Bullet points of the modification to the plan
I. Recapping 125th Rezoning Plan
The plan is to fortify 125th street. The rezoning would affect the corridor bordered by Broadway, Second Avenue and 124th and 126th streets. The changes would be done by developing luxurious units of housing, replacing local businesses and adding higher building.
The rezoning will enhan...
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...xample, in order to sustain and enhance 125th street as a Manhattan main street, modifications on the plan such as creating new incentives for new development, promoting affordable housing with strict terms and conditions and finally protecting existing scale and character, should be added in newer modification of the plan.
Another recommendation would be directed towards supporting the creation of premier arts, culture and entertainment destinations. The modifications would be, to strengthen the mass of venues, foster complementary uses and improve pedestrian experience. This would help keep 125th street’s character. Yes, Harlem does need a “makeover”, but that does not mean wiping out the culture it already has. New regulations should be imposed on street sellers. New Affordable housing qualifications should be enforced. Landmarks like the Apollo theater s
“Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district's character and culture.” (Grant) In layman’s terms, gentrification is when white people move to a black neighborhood for the sake of cheaper living, and in turn, raise up property values and force black neighbors to leave because of a higher price of living. Commonly, the government supports gentrification with the demolition of public housing in areas that are developing with more white neighbors. This is causing a decreasing amount of African Americans to be able to afford to live in the neighborhood as their homes are taken away from them, forcing them to relocate. Whilst gentrification normally has negative connotations, there are several people who believe gentrification brings about “an upward trend in property values in previously neglected neighborhoods.” (Jerzyk) On the other hand, this new trend in property value and business causes those...
Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing project is notorious in the United States for being the most impoverished and crime-ridden public housing development ever established. Originally established as inexpensive housing in the 1940’s, it soon became a vast complex of unsightly concrete low and high-rise apartment structures. Originally touted as a giant step forward in the development of public housing, it quickly changed from a racially and economically diverse housing complex to a predominantly black, extremely poor ghetto. As it was left to rot, so to speak, Cabrini-Green harbored drug dealers, gangs and prostitution. It continued its downward spiral of despair until the mid 1990’s when the Federal Government assumed control the Chicago Housing Authority, the organization responsible for this abomination. Cabrini-Green has slowly been recovering from its dismal state of affairs recently, with developers building mixed-income and subsidized housing. The Chicago Housing Authority has also been demolishing the monolithic concrete high-rise slums, replacing them with public housing aimed at not repeating the mistakes of the past. Fortunately, a new era of public housing has dawned from the mistakes that were made, and the lessons that were learned from the things that went on for half a century in Cabrini-Green.
This week’s assignment was to write an essay discussing the pros and cons of the Kelo decision as it pertains to local economic development. The city of New London, Connecticut, in 2000, agreed on a development plan that was proposed to increase taxes, jobs and invigorate a troubled city that had fallen on hard economic times. When the city heard that Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company had interest in opening a research facility on the outer limits of the Fort Trumbull neighborhood, they then set out and began deliberating on redevelopment plans for the neighborhood to promote new economic activities for the area. Included in the development plan was a resort hotel and conference center, new residences, retail space and even a state park. The
Furthermore, both articles “Gentrification: A Positive Good For Communities” and. “The Deeper Problems We Miss When We Attack ‘Gentrification’” exhibit their opinion on the positives of gentrification and the potential of “revitalization” in low-income urban communities. Badger argues that gentrification brings nothing more than further opportunities for urban communities while integrating citizens of different social classes. Furthermore, she continues to question if gentrification is in fact the monster that brings the prior expressions against gentrification where she says “If poor neighborhoods have historically suffered from dire disinvestment, how can the remedy to that evil — outside money finally flowing in — be the problem, too?”(Badger) Stating that the funds generated from sources external that are brought into these communities can’t be problematic.
"Building Partnerships to Revitalize America's Neighborhoods." HBCU Central (Winter 2002): 1-6. Winter 2002. Web. 2 May 2012.
Euclid Avenue, referred to as “Millionaire’s Row” from the late 1800s to the 1920s, is one of the oldest corridors in Cleveland, Ohio. This corridor has undergone a number of redevelopment projects in the past century, as the city itself transformed from a commercial town in the 1800s, to the industrial city it is today. Large areas of the Euclid Avenue corridor were demolished in the 1960s, as part of a series of urban renewal programs. These programs were established to revitalize office and housing markets in downtown Cleveland and to further encourage development of University Circle, a neighborhood of cultural, educational and medical institutions, located on the east side of Cleveland. The Euclid Avenue Corridor continues to experience various redevelopment projects, in order to secure its economic position in U.S. and international markets.
The downgrading of African Americans to certain neighborhoods continues today. The phrase of a not interested neighborhood followed by a shift in the urban community and disturbance of the minority has made it hard for African Americans to launch themselves, have fairness, and try to break out into a housing neighborhood. If they have a reason to relocate, Caucasians who support open housing laws, but become uncomfortable and relocate if they are contact with a rise of the African American population in their own neighborhood most likely, settle the neighborhoods they have transfer. This motion creates a tremendously increase of an African American neighborhood, and then shift in the urban community begins an alternative. All of these slight prejudiced procedures leave a metropolitan African American population with few options. It forces them to remain in non-advanced neighborhoods with rising crime, gang activity, and...
Gentrification is the keystone for the progression of the basic standards of living in urban environments. A prerequisite for the advancement of urban areas is an improvement of housing, dining, and general social services. One of the most revered and illustrious examples of gentrification in an urban setting is New York City. New York City’s gentrification projects are seen as a model for gentrification for not only America, but also the rest of the world. Gentrification in an urban setting is much more complex and has deeper ramifications than seen at face value. With changes in housing, modifications to the quality of life in the surrounding area must be considered as well. Constant lifestyle changes in a community can push out life-time
Gentrification is a highly important topic that has not only been occurring all over the United States, but especially closer than we may have thought. San Francisco is home to hundreds of thousands of people who have been a part of how amazing this city has become. San Francisco is one of the most visited places in the world with many of its famous landmarks, endless opportunities not only for daytime fun but also has an amazing nightlife that people cannot get enough of. People come for a great time and could not be done without the help of the people who have grown up to experience and love this city for what it truly is. The cost of living in such an important city has definitely had its affect of lower income San Francisco residents. For decades we have seen changes occurring in parts of San Francisco where minorities live. We have seen this in Chinatown, SOMA, Fillmore district, and especially the Mission district.
Revitalization efforts in downtown areas have gained momentum over the past few decades, this paper is focused on revitalization strategies, recognizing the process of decline, while identifying key strategies used in downtown revitalization efforts over the past fifty years (Faulk 2006). Downtowns, unlike suburban shopping malls or office complexes, evolved slowly over time, responding to changing technologies, social and economic patterns. A city’s identity relies heavily on the image of its downtown, so inevitably cities of all sizes commit themselves to achieving successful downtown redevelopment (Robertson 1995). As I have been reading literature on downtown revitalization a number of strategies and principles have surfaced. Many of the principles overlap in order to create a successful redevelopment strategy and there is no template for success. The strategies that I have identified and will explore are categorized in groups: 1) Pedestrian mall; 2) Indoor shopping centers; 3) Historic preservation; 4) Waterfront development; 5) Office Development; 6) Special Activity Generators; 7) Transportation enhancements; and, 8) Niche Strategies.
It lies within Manhattan’s Community District 11. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 Census states the population as 120,511,with 49.2% of the total being of Hispanic origin. Among the population, 77.6% are 18 years and over. Upon further analysis, about 45.3% of the population rely solely on government assistance as a source of income. Through fieldwork observations, the area of 121st - 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, in East Harlem, is a major transportation hub for the MTA subway system, Metro-North, and Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. This area houses many fast food chain restaurants, bodegas, and local delicatessens. It is an area plagued with many social and health issues including, poverty, crime, drug addiction and the emergence of chronic diseases, such as urban
This issue is also impacted by city officials, who wield considerable power in urban development, and live in fear of “capital flight” (Robinson 484, 506). Consequently, San Francisco’s officials are catering to the business community. This expansion can be viewed as advancing the economic structure of the city, or as a detriment to the most marginalized of its inhabitants. Such a dilemma is evident in the film, Boom! The Sound of Eviction, where one sees Mayor Ed Lee celebrating San Francisco’s tech boom and gentrification, but basically ignoring the effects of gentrification on low income families displaced from their homes. These injustices are also evident in Nancy Raquel Mirabal’s histories of the San Francisco Latino communities, which gives first-hand accounts of the gentrification and its effects on their lives. While these examples of economically advantaged hipsters displacing lower income minorities are extremely troubling, this trend could possibly be mitigated by San Francisco’s long history of social activism, coupled with economic commitments from the city and industries. For example, “six companies have signed community benefit agreements, or CBAs, outlining their planned volunteers, investing and philanthropic activities. [These projects] include housing advocacy, education for kids, working with groups such as the Boys and Girls Club and SF Food Bank and $3 million in grants to nonprofits over the next four years” (Levy). This begets the question, will the gentrification of the Tenderloin be able to attract businesses and hipsters, while being able to help the disadvantaged residents of the area? University of San Francisco Professor John Stehlin, believes that gentrification can indeed
Urban renewal in New York City is typically considered a time of growth and, as the name implies, revitalization. Individuals like Robert Moses are remembered as giants of the time, creating beauty from blight. All too often though, the role that African Americans played in urban renewal was silenced. The policies and public works projects undertaken during this time led to African Americans being forced to move from blighted area to blighted area, perpetuating the problem rather than solving it. Additionally, when they chose to speak up, their voices were silenced by government officials who thought they should not have a voice due to racial biases of the time. By utilizing primary sources such as newspapers, advertisements, and government
One obvious thing that I know about the neighborhood when I am walking down the street or walking into businesses is the environmental condition which is poverty. This is Soundview, the South Bronx and while some areas are taken care of in comparison to others you cannot deny the need this neighborhood is experiencing. Passing housing buildings that are not taken care of, have a high rate of drugs, and no stranger to multiple crimes a day offers insight into what needs to be changed. According to
An article that was published the same day in The Daily Collegian, explains the problems with infill housing. Five years ago, the Borough Council voted to allow infill housing to create an urban village filled with shops, cafes, and art galleries that maintained the suburban look and kept historic buildings in place.