In doing some reading and research about 14th street and its history, I find myself interested in thinking about what some neighborhoods and pockets of cities used to be, compared to what they are now and what plans for them may be in the future. It’s almost like fashion, how some looks, when popular, are considered the best thing going, and then times change, customers change, finances change, and that look which was so popular is no longer in demand, looks dated, and gets tossed away. The thought that this could happen to a neighborhood is very frustrating, as people and their livelihoods and certainly not disposable, but I understand how times change, people change, demands change, and financial matters get in the way. It’s sad, but a necessary part of growth and development in an urban area I suppose.
Another thing I find interesting is, whom exactly are “we” (the collective we) trying to draw in when we revitalize a neighborhood? Are we looking to bring things in for the locals – the people who live there and spend time and money there? Or are we trying to bring in people from the outside who can bring in their dollars and contribute to the growth and outreach of the neighborhood? Or is it both? I have a feeling some locals in small, urban pockets who don’t know that their neighborhood needs help and development, don’t necessarily want people from the outside coming in to overtake their spaces. Maybe some of them don’t mind, depending on who’s coming in, and why. But I would guess that sometimes the people who live in an area that is being developed to make it “better” and grow, aren’t necessarily the people who are being targeted when new things pop up around them. Who knows? Just something to ponder…
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