Livin’ Just Enough For the City

Photo by Erin White on Unsplash

My Personal Struggle with Understanding 
Gentrification

Gentrification is a term periodically used in news stories when the subjects of culture, housing and inequality collide. The landscapes of certain neighborhoods in the US are constantly changing as developers invest in an impoverished area, allowing those with cash-to-spare to move in, while those scratching for pennies are forced out. I, however, do not have a solid stance on whether gentrification is more beneficial or harmful to communities. And here is my personal story that details the source of my conflict.

I grew up in Prince George’s County, Md., a predominantly black suburb that borders Washington, DC. My family did not have lots of money, but I would say I grew up as comfortably as our means would allow. In December of 2008, my mother decided to pursue her dream of home ownership, and moved our little family to Baltimore, Md. When we moved to the block our house is located on, I noticed a couple condemned buildings right beside refurbished homes similar to ours. In the 6 years my mother has resided in Baltimore, approximately 50 homes within a 10 block radius have been renovated, skyrocketing the property values and attracting more investors into the area.

Let’s move 45 miles down I-95, back to Washington, DC where I moved (briefly) after finding work in the city. The neighborhood where I rented my first apartment, Deanwood, is one of the last remaining areas in DC that is untouched by the hands of developers, hipsters and investors. But not for long. New condominiums began leasing apartments starting at $2,000 a month at the cross section of two less-than-fancy streets. Soon, Deanwood will be too expensive for its current residents to live there.

Being involved on both sides of an issue has made it difficult for me to take a stand on the heavy issue of gentrification. On one side, my family is benefiting from the positive effects of gentrification and on the other side, I personally will be barred from my desired city of D.C. unless my salary doubles within the next 5 years. My mother’s investment in Baltimore will pay out tremendously given the neighborhood shift continuing as it has. However, I can’t help but think about how our presence and inevitable dominance over the neighborhood is viewed by the long term residents. I mean, does the person who lost the house we now live in ever drive by angrily, cursing us for profiting off of their misfortune? And given my family’s situation in Baltimore, how can I justify the disappointment that grew in me when I realized that I would never be able to afford to live in a nice area in D.C. without a roommate or two?

There are deeper issues that arise when discussing gentrification including the change in cultural dynamics that plague these affected areas. I may never be able to take a static position concerning gentrification. That, however, will not stop me from acknowledging and assessing both sides of this prevalent issue.