Bedford Stuyvesant rentals may seem like a total contradiction in terms given the notorious history of this part of Brooklyn. There was a time when to rent in "Bed-Stuy" meant entering an uncharted and unknown ghetto with high crime rate and huge poverty level. The entire population was black and few others were comfortable there. Two waves of gentrification have occurred since the turn of the century. One was in 2000 and one was in 2010. Both waves have brought in hipsters, artists, architects, planners, club owners, restauranteurs, higher rents and greater police patrolling of the neighborhood. The fabric of the space is dramatically changing.
Bed-Stuy has long been, since 1930 when it joined the Brooklyn political community, a place for African-Americans, mostly lower income and many spilling over to Brooklyn from Harlem. Several public schools near by including a high school named after the entertainer and political activist Paul Robeson, are near by. Located in the northwest part of Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy is also known for lovely brownstone buildings which are fun to renovate. Social problems have long kept gentrification out.
As more and more young, upwardly mobile whites and blacks mingle in the surge towards neighborhood improvement through property ownership, rental opportunities and new business, Bed-Stuy is losing some of its older, disabled, ill and poor residents forced out by new pricing and few laws to protect them. The proximity of Bed-Stuy to the island of Manhattan makes it an especially good place to live and commute to work without paying Manhattan prices. However, older long time residents do not have that option.
many notable African-Americans have been born, grown up and lived in Bed-Stuy. Among them are the politician Shirley Chisholm, singer Lena Horne, musician Richie havens, and actress Vanessa Williams. Rap music has been highly popular and numerous well known rappers have emerged from Bed-Stuy streets. The most noteworthy white person to have grown up there was comedian Jackie Gleason.
What makes this area attractive to the gentrifying class now is the lower prices for property, the transport, schools and overall affordability. It's location near to but outside of Manhattan and history of crime tend to keep it less expensive than other parts of New York. But, for gentrifying elements, it also seems a "frontier." People so want to live in New York that they will move to Brooklyn to start up, fix up, and put up.
The issue with gentrifying any neighborhood is that it tends to drive rents up, units off the market, reduce the number of rental properties available, thus making impossible, lower income people to remain there or go there. It almost always forces out long term residents which is does not sustain community, but causes displacement.
Bed-Stuy has a history of African and Caribbean immigration. New families moving in are upwardly mobile middle income blacks and the immigration continues. Notable landmarks such as Pratt Institute, a school of higher learning in the arts and architecture also make the potential for investment and profit much higher
generally, some change in poor neighborhoods can produce effective changes in crime and poverty. New opportunities can become open to the children of older residents. But generally, gentrification waves in Bedford Stuyvesant rentals make for precarious relations between the new people and those who built an effective community for years.
Bed-Stuy has long been, since 1930 when it joined the Brooklyn political community, a place for African-Americans, mostly lower income and many spilling over to Brooklyn from Harlem. Several public schools near by including a high school named after the entertainer and political activist Paul Robeson, are near by. Located in the northwest part of Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy is also known for lovely brownstone buildings which are fun to renovate. Social problems have long kept gentrification out.
As more and more young, upwardly mobile whites and blacks mingle in the surge towards neighborhood improvement through property ownership, rental opportunities and new business, Bed-Stuy is losing some of its older, disabled, ill and poor residents forced out by new pricing and few laws to protect them. The proximity of Bed-Stuy to the island of Manhattan makes it an especially good place to live and commute to work without paying Manhattan prices. However, older long time residents do not have that option.
many notable African-Americans have been born, grown up and lived in Bed-Stuy. Among them are the politician Shirley Chisholm, singer Lena Horne, musician Richie havens, and actress Vanessa Williams. Rap music has been highly popular and numerous well known rappers have emerged from Bed-Stuy streets. The most noteworthy white person to have grown up there was comedian Jackie Gleason.
What makes this area attractive to the gentrifying class now is the lower prices for property, the transport, schools and overall affordability. It's location near to but outside of Manhattan and history of crime tend to keep it less expensive than other parts of New York. But, for gentrifying elements, it also seems a "frontier." People so want to live in New York that they will move to Brooklyn to start up, fix up, and put up.
The issue with gentrifying any neighborhood is that it tends to drive rents up, units off the market, reduce the number of rental properties available, thus making impossible, lower income people to remain there or go there. It almost always forces out long term residents which is does not sustain community, but causes displacement.
Bed-Stuy has a history of African and Caribbean immigration. New families moving in are upwardly mobile middle income blacks and the immigration continues. Notable landmarks such as Pratt Institute, a school of higher learning in the arts and architecture also make the potential for investment and profit much higher
generally, some change in poor neighborhoods can produce effective changes in crime and poverty. New opportunities can become open to the children of older residents. But generally, gentrification waves in Bedford Stuyvesant rentals make for precarious relations between the new people and those who built an effective community for years.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.stayinbrooklynny.com for more helpful information about The Changing Neighborhood For Bedford Stuyvesant Rentals
No comments:
Post a Comment