“I’m probably part of the problem.”
Who are Yuppies?
“Yuppie” stands for ‘young urban professional.’ The term is used to describe young, successful middle-class Americans who work in the city and are able to live a rather luxurious lifestyle. Yuppies have recently begun to move in to Cobble Hill, causing changes in the neighborhood that can be seen on many levels.
Why do Yuppies come?
It seems as though purchasing brownstone houses is a new fad for yuppies these days 
(Goldshein)! These houses are very old and are worth
millions of dollars–and that’s before renovations. Cobble Hill is filled with these types of houses and so yuppies are particularly interested in this neighborhood. Not only is Cobble Hill home to these brownstone homes, but it is also where several train stations are located. Often on the run, most New Yorkers travel by train. Therefore, living near these stations is considered very time-efficient, not only to yuppies but to basically every New Yorker who believes that time is always of the essence.
What do Yuppies do?
Yuppies often go to local shops to experience cultural diversity, but many also shop at large corporate companies like Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, or J. Crew. These items may be pricey but, for yuppies, they are affordable. Yuppies also tend to promote increased policing and recycling where they live.
How do Yuppies gentrify the neighborhood?
Gentrification was a term first coined in 1964, used to describe unique patterns of urban change in a particular area (Lees, 4). The definition has since expanded to describe the replacement of an existing population by a gentry, or people of a higher class position.
Effect of Gentrification on Economy:
Stores have been affected greatly by the movement of Yuppies to Cobble Hill. Large companies like Starbucks and J. Crew are now established in the area, and their main customers, the yuppies, are able to afford their prices. A chain reaction ensues, one which often causes local businesses to suffer, losing more of a profit each day, as bigger corporations are able to get most of the business from the new population.
The Gothamist reports an incident where a major corporation, J. Crew, attempted to purchase land from under a local grocery store. When the owner of the grocery store realized that his landlord was trying to break his lease so J. Crew could move in, he fought back (Del Signore). Although local businesses often suffer as a result of these new, larger companies moving in, some local storeowners only see a minor decrease in profits; others are actually able to make a greater profit by adapting to the desires of the new population. Even so, gentrification has placed pressure on the stability of the local economy.
Effect of Gentrification on Society:
As Yuppies have been moving into Cobble Hill, many other residents have discovered a change in the neighborhood. As a result of their purchasing, renovating, and moving in to local brownstones, Yuppies have also increase the housing and apartment prices for all the locals. Since the locals are often not able to pay extra for continuing to live in Cobble Hill, many are forced to move away. The New York Times wrote an article about a woman who has seen the effects of gentrification in Cobble Hill. She explains how real estate agents and others wishing to purchase brownstone houses actually posts fliers encouraging locals to sell their homes. The local’s home is now under threat due to Yuppies moving in to Cobble Hill (Rosenblum).
The South Brooklyn Savings Institution, built in 1923, has been replaced by a Trader Joe’s.
The locals, threatened by the increase of Yuppies and the increase in changes that threaten their way of life, are often at odds with the yuppies. The locals sometimes feel as though the Yuppies have no right to move in and take away their ability to survive and make a living. They often feel as though Yuppies have no right to change their way of life since they were the first to be in the neighborhood. On the other hands, Yuppies frequently feel as though some things should change since this is now their neighborhood. Although the changes caused by Yuppies also allow for more money to be fed into the neighborhood and for the neighborhood itself to be kept tidy (increase of sanitation trucks, recycling bins, etc.), some believe these benefits do not outweigh the negative effects. The movement of Yuppies into Cobble Hill is frequently deemed controversial due to the enormous effects these people have on the neighborhood.
Interviews:
Press play to watch interviews.
Sources:
Eric Goldshein. “Take A Look At How Gentrification Has Changed Cobble Hill.” Business Insider. Life, March 2, 2012. <http://www.businessinsider.com/cobble-hill-brooklyn-gentrification-photos-2012-3?op=1>
Lees, Loretta. Gentrification. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2008.
Del Signore, John. “Cobble Hill Grocer Fights To Stop J Crew Takeover.” The Gothamist. Food, July 22, 2013. <http://gothamist.com/2013/07/22/j_crew_cobble_hill.php>
Rosenblum, Constance. “A Witness to Gentrification in Cobble Hill.” The New York Times. Real Estate, September 6, 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/realestate/a-witness-to-gentrification-in-cobble-hill.html>
Picture links:
Brooklyn Historical Society Blog, <http://s14.therealdeal.com/trd/up/2012/07/Park-slope.jpg>
The Brooklyn Paper, <http://www.brooklynpaper.com/assets/photos/36/30/dtg_jcrewvsgrocerystore_2013_07_26_bk01_i.jpg>
Racked NY, <http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/500d977c85216d404d00a80e/JCrew_Harkin_01.JPG>
