[lbo-talk] Gentrification shock

[Chuck Munson]

I'm currently visiting Washington, DC for two weeks, where I used to
live from 1994-2003. I haven't seen parts of the city since 2003, so
the insane growth here just keeps astounding me. Tonight I took the
Metro over to Columbia Heights. That neighborhood has changed so much
that it is unrecognizable to me. If you are familiar with high density
areas in other parts of D.C. like Ballston and the Wilson Blvd
corridor, it's like they took that stuff and plopped it down over the
course of 7-8 years in a residential neighborhood. They have a Target
store there, tons of high end food shops and stores, a gastropub and
more. The La Casa homeless shelter is still there, but is sandwiched
between new and renovated buildings.

The first sign that things had changed struck me on the Metro
platform, when I saw all kind of young white people pulling luggage
around. You never saw that in that station ten years ago.

It also freaked me out to see so many people walking up and down
Irvine Street. This is the street that connects Columbia Heights with
the neighborhood to the north of Adams Morgan. The old Wilson Center
punk venue used to be on this block.

On the other hand, Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle felt the same, just
with some different restaurants.

What freaks me out more than the diversity of D.C., coming from Kansas
City, are all the well-off young people. I just wonder if they
understand that they are living in a bubble surrounded by a country
that doesn't enjoy their standard of living.

Chuck