Gentried garbage or going grandeu

By Anthony Gigantino
Collegian Staff
April 12, 2006

Empire Falls is one of the better made-for-TV movies I've seen. In the fictional town of Empire Falls, Maine, various characters in the decrepit mill town struggle to find themselves amidst change. Such change (don’t read if you haven't seen the movie’s epilogue) is displayed by the emergence of big corporations — like Dell and Burger King — in the old factories and warehouses in the small town. This process, a driving force in American business, is known as gentrification.

Many advocates for gentrification defend the process of middle- and upper-class citizens buying properties in lower class communities with arguments such as more community jobs through more businesses, safer streets and beautified buildings; however, the fact that culture is being destroyed in these communities is a fact that has failed to have been acknowledged.

Any city has microcosmic examples. In Philadelphia, how many more Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Barnes and Nobles and Subways are necessary to enhance the well-being of this community? When can the line be drawn in places like North End Boston, where the culture of Italian immigrants is being replaced by lower quality restaurants owned by corporations? Or the historical downtown New York, which hosts an assortment of musical, literary and artistic works from the Harlem Renaissance?

Essentially, citizens of urban and rural communities must come to grips with whether or not more revenue for a municipality means sacrificing the identity of the people that made the community in the first place. In defense of gentrification, I will say that as of today, poorer residents have not been displaced as much as experts originally perceived. Also, the federal government has laws stating that tenants cannot be removed from housing unless there is an alternative housing available at equal price.

However, case studies in Harlem and Logan Square, Chicago are more recent gentrified neighborhoods. There is a possibility that these neighborhood residents may have to move out of their homes due to increased property taxes and skyrocketing rents. This would be similar to the 1,000-plus residents that had to move during the 1950s when the 1850-style imposter condominiums were built along such city blocks as Spruce and Lombard.

We need to listen to the complaints of the displaced residents. Why should they have to move from their homes and the communities they were raised in because property values skyrocket for more affluent citizens? Also, why should a delicious, family-owned pizzeria have to close because a corporation wants to build a Pizza Hut? Why did the delicatessen on my street, which has served my entire community for years, have to close because Quik Check wants to move a block away? You mean to tell me I should give up my delicious pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich for a Quik Check sub (not hoagie) consisting of meats that are as difficult to bite through as raw hide?

Before you draw conclusions about the process of gentrification, simply imagine a completely gentrified Philadelphia: all local soul food kitchens have been replaced by KFC; art centers have submitted to luxurious convention centers; City Hall has a sign with bank’s name larger than the William Penn statue; local thrift stores are annexed by Wal-Mart; the Italian Market is displaced by a gargantuan Stop and Shop. Think of the death of the culture our ancestors built. Now, tell me perky cafes, homogenous condominiums, college bars and grease-in-a-box fast food venues are more important than respecting the diverse ethnic communities of our country and maintaining the American Dream: that yesterday's apprentice is tomorrow's business owner.

giganta2@lasalle.edu