W hat is gentrification? Gentrification is the upgrading of an urban and often economically challenged neighborhood. It usually results in the displacement of lower income families because they are not able to compete with the more affluent class that is trying to replace them.
We explored our local Downtown Brooklyn shopping area [Fulton Street], to find out what the owners, employees and a few bystanders thought about the effects of gentrification.
The first that we decided to enter was a Fulton street store called Game Expo. One thing that we did find out was that, an employee named Harry said, “Gentrification is good.” He also said, “the more expensive an area is, the more business it will generate.” Though Game Expo has only been on Fulton Street for a year he still feels that much success in the future will come from gentrification.
We stopped a couple on the street and decided to get their opinion. They pretty much said that in some aspects gentrification was actually a good thing. They felt this would create more safety because there are more police in neighborhoods wherever the money is. “It will decrease the likeliness of thuggery.” In a bad aspect of this one culture is being murdered while the other thrives. “The whole idea of gentrification is solely based on money and profit.” They thought that the whole idea of gentrification was created because “people are greedy for money.”
The General Manager of Cookies, Eli, gave us brief answers to almost all of our questions. Though he is not a native of Brooklyn, he did not seem to care much about the issue. His store has been on Fulton Street for seven years and he thinks that it will sustain despite the rising costs of rent in the surrounding area. Eli does not think gentrification is as economically challenging as people make it out to be.
The last shop that we entered was Mony. Though this is one of the few stores on Fulton Street that sells expensive clothing, the business there is not good. “I really don’t think that this store will last because I know that my boss would not dish out more money than he thinks he should,” said one employee. The owner of Mony stated, “If my store goes out of business, then so be it. I am not going to continue to pay persistent infaltion rates.”
Gentrification in Brooklyn can have a different effect on different people. The viewpoints of all of the individuals that we interviewed varied in content. Some view this issue as burdensome while others see it as beneficial. It all depends on the perspective of the person in this case. However, gentrification is a very serious topic and, should be taken very seriously. It affects all of us and we should all be aware of it.
