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Please lose the game of gentrification…please By Brainy Byrd QuailBellMagazine.com Once upon a time there was a neighborhood in Washington, D.C. called Anacostia and many white, upper-middle class people who had never set foot there were terrified of it because black people called it home. Oh, wait. That neighborhood still exists and this same demographic is still scared of something they don’t know or understand. On October 23rd, <Urbane/> published a satirical map called, “Washington, D.C. Neighborhoods Revealed: Beyond Politics,” and labeled all of Southeast the “zone of perceived danger” as a jab at these uptight, ignorant ninnies. As you’ll note from the reader comments on the post, many people misinterpreted the map, thinking the joke was on Southeast. Really, the joke was on people who only perceived Southeast as being one way instead of actually making an effort to become familiar with the area. Online and offline, the joke is on anyone who casts judgments on Anacostia and sees it as a wasteland with no potential. I would be foolish to say that Anacostia is not without its problems (read City Data’s stats on the neighborhood), but I would be equally foolish to say it has no redeeming value. Back in January, I wrote a piece called, “Anacostia—the next H Street? Try Old Town,” which was later referenced by Vol. 1 Brooklyn, as a suggestion for how the city, community, and developers might consider changing Anacostia for the better while still maintaining its cultural and historical integrity. I never once said—and hope I never implied—that Anacostia needs a Starbucks or any of the other trappings of gentrification. Not anything against Starbucks per se, but putting one up isn’t necessarily going to improve a neighborhood’s socio-cultural identity and self-esteem. And since I’m on this note, why don’t talk about what else Anacostia doesn’t need? For starters, here are three things:
1. Fancy condos that lead to displacement: The healthiest communities are mixed income communities. I am fine with people of means moving to Anacostia if it means that the neighborhood’s current residents will still have a home. People should not be forced to move just because Mr. Deep Pockets decided he and all his friends wanted Victorians with wrap-around porches and river views. If Mr. Deep Pockets would like to buy one of the abandoned homes, treat his new neighbors with courtesy and respect, and also donate money to a nearby school, community center, or shelter, let’s throw down the doormat for his shiny shoes and maybe even a potluck in his honor. 2. Charter school after charter school: C’mon, D.C. Start by improving standard neighborhood schools before you even consider bringing in expensive models that only serve a small percentage of local students. Parents should not have to play the lottery to ensure their kids get a decent education. Not all children perform well on the kinds of standardized tests and interviews charter schools normally hold to determine who get a golden ticket. 3. Sparkly, luxury supermarkets: Right now, grocery options are limited in Anacostia. There’s not a true supermarket in all the neighborhood. But that doesn’t mean everyone’s hankering for a Whole Foods. How about a Safeway, Kroger, or Food Lion? Some place people can go to choose nutritious food at reasonable prices from a relatively varied selection. Let’s get this list rolling! What are other things Anacostia doesn’t need? CommentsComments are closed.
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