Gentrification
After reading the assigned articles on gentrification, I was
intrigued to research the gentrification in my hometown of Houston, TX. Houston has always been an expansive city
that’s undergoing much development and design in the inner-city and in the
suburbs. For this reason, many
neighborhoods (lower income and middle income neighborhoods) have been pushed
due to construction, especially the construction on the freeways. In my research, I found an article titled Houston
Gentrification & The METRO Rail. The
article explains how the continual development of the METRO Rail transportation
system has negatively affected minority communities in the wards. As the transportation system improves, more white
collar workers move into neighborhoods closer to downtown, like the University
of Houston and BBVA Compass stadium areas, where a majority of minorities reside. There is a fear that a lot of the
culture, infrastructure, and history will be lost in these due to the increase
in rent and property taxes in these areas.
It seems like gentrification is the same all around the world, whether it’s in Johannesburg, London, or Austin. I do agree with the PBS article that gentrification is more complex than it appears. “But the effects of gentrification are complex and contradictory, and its real impact varies.” I don’t think that Austin’s gentrification is that unique. Higher income individuals are moving in and lower income individuals are moving out. There are some efforts to maintain the rapid changes in the area, but I think the rate of change is just too fast at this point. Every city’s gentrification is different compared to other cities based on the cultural, economic, and historical make up. However, I believe that all the impacts of gentrification are fundamentally the same. During the East Austin Van Tour, I learned about the architectural changes happening in East Austin. Each house and structure was very indicative of the income level of the owners. I found it interesting that more expensive houses looked very similar to each other. Most of the expensive houses had the same modern and tall look.
It seems like gentrification is the same all around the world, whether it’s in Johannesburg, London, or Austin. I do agree with the PBS article that gentrification is more complex than it appears. “But the effects of gentrification are complex and contradictory, and its real impact varies.” I don’t think that Austin’s gentrification is that unique. Higher income individuals are moving in and lower income individuals are moving out. There are some efforts to maintain the rapid changes in the area, but I think the rate of change is just too fast at this point. Every city’s gentrification is different compared to other cities based on the cultural, economic, and historical make up. However, I believe that all the impacts of gentrification are fundamentally the same. During the East Austin Van Tour, I learned about the architectural changes happening in East Austin. Each house and structure was very indicative of the income level of the owners. I found it interesting that more expensive houses looked very similar to each other. Most of the expensive houses had the same modern and tall look.
"Welcome to H-Town!"
Houston & Metro Rail Article:
http://www.academia.edu/4594523/Houston_Gentrification_and_The_METRO_Rail_Case_Study_of_EaDo_and_Third_Ward_Houston
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