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Gowanus Canal: A Future Venice?

In class, we briefly discussed about the gentrification that is occurring in the Gowanus Canal area. I found an article on CurbedNY that discusses the possibility of Gowanus Canal becoming a “Venice” in Brooklyn while maintaining housing prices low through rezoning.

I thought this article was significant because of the high hopes that this area has even though it’s one of the most contaminated bodies of water in the country. Bridging Gowanus, a nonprofit organization, has a blueprint for manufacturing and commercial areas, as well as affordable housing. After checking out Bridging Gowanus’s website, they seem to have a good plan for what is necessary to create a sustainable neighborhood in which all types of people can afford to live there, such as strengthening the manufacturing sector within the neighborhood, so the people can live and work in the same area. But as waterfront areas become more and more popular, I think it is more likely that it will become an area for tourists and young hipsters, as Williamsburg did. I have generally noticed this trend of neighborhood near a body of water being places of high interest for luxury and tourist development, such as Williamsburg and Hudson Yards.

The biggest problem with this area developing is that the slow cleanup is hindering the growth of the area. The EPA might run out of funds to clean up the area due to proposed budget cuts. Also, organizations who were responsible for polluting the area has not yet paid the requisite funds. The environment of Gowanus Canal was really neglected, and now it’s paying a price for it. This really highlights the necessity of putting environmental factors and effects into consideration when projects are being proposed.

 

Sugar, Rachel. “Gowanus Has Potential to Become the ‘Venice’ of Brooklyn, Experts Say.”Curbed NY. Curbed NY, 29 Dec. 2016. Web. 10 May 2017.

Warerkar, Tanay. “EPA’s Gowanus Canal Cleanup Will Move Forward despite Budget Cuts.” Curbed NY. Curbed NY, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. May 2017.

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Community Action in Bensonhurst

Though not directly related, the reading “From Protest to Community Plan” by Tom Angotti reminds me of the residents of Bensonhurst taking action against a garbage station that was going to be built in Southwest Brooklyn, near Shore Parkway and Bay 41st Street. Here is the petition on Change.org that calls for the NYC Department of Sanitation to “Dump the Dump” (this phrase was popularly used during community rallies).

Although residents aren’t being displaced if this garbage station was to be installed, my mind immediately went to rallies condemning the garbage station as I pored over Angotti’s work. This was an issue that affected my community (Bensonhurst), as well as other surrounding neighborhoods (Bath Beach, Gravesend, Seagate, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Mill Basin, Gerritsen Beach, Canarsie, Manhattan Beach). It shows the kind of issue that can bring a whole community together to stand up against. And perhaps like much of community action that voices disapproval against city planning, the rallies in Bensonhurst fell on deaf ears. Construction of the Southwest Brooklyn Marine Transfer Station began in 2014 and unsurprisingly, was stalled after asbestos were found at the transfer station. In the original petition that argued against the construction of the dump, it stated:

“If built, this garbage station will cause serious public health, environmental, and safety concerns for neighborhoods throughout southern Brooklyn and all along the waterways of New York City and adjacent states.”

How ironic that something involving environmental and safety concerns would be the thing that stalled the transfer station’s construction?

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“There’s No Place Like Home”

This Buzzfeed video features Kai, a local native of the Mission District in San Francisco, California, who speaks about the change in his neighborhood as a result of a wave of gentrification. Although this video does focus heavily on the idea of displacement and native residents being priced out, what I liked about this video was the discussion of space, and who has a right to it. The end of this video specifically references a video taken earlier that features Kai.

This video entitled “Mission Playground is Not For Sale”, shows the conflict between native residents and gentrifiers over a public, local soccer field that was “rented out” for an hour. Outraged by the idea of “booking” a field that for his whole life was always open to the public, Kai confronts the gentrifiers, standing his ground in his right (and the children’s right) to enjoy their field.

This reminded me of Filip Stabrowski’s idea of “everyday displacement”. Although residents were forced out of their neighborhood, those who did stay felt a disconnect with their community as a result of the battles over space. The conflict over who could play in the soccer field was just an example how “place is security, space is freedom”.

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“The End of Black Harlem”

In class we often discuss the implications of gentrification on neighborhoods of color. However, I realized that many of the readings had a distant, third person perspective of gentrification. Thus far, we have not read any personal accounts of lived experiences of gentrification and displacement. In “The End of Black Harlem,” Michael Henry Adams discusses gentrification in Harlem from a more personal point of view. Adam has lived in Harlem for 30 years and has seen the neighborhood serve as a safe haven for Black immigrants searching for better opportunities.

Over the past decade, Harlem has been attracted many more middle class white residents and tourists. While the neighborhood has received more public funding to build parks and other amenities, it is also beginning to lose its original identity. Historical buildings such as the Renaissance Theater, a significant landmark for Harlem natives has been replaced by newer upscale buildings. The Renaissance was especially important because it was built for the African community in the 1920s, just 60 years post slavery. In many ways, this theatre celebrated black culture and music and simply blackness in general. Moreover, the Renaissance has been an important landmark for the black community because it many notable figures in the community have performed there (Malcom X’s funeral also took place in this hall). When such landmarks that preserve the identity of the neighborhood, are replaced to build new apartments (Note: the rent for such buildings are beyond what many Harlem natives can afford) it is hard for the community to believe that these changes are made for them. Adams discusses that many African Americans believe (rightfully so) that their community is being exploited for wealthier, whiter class.

The African American community has long been victims to displacement and institutionalized racism (i.e. redlining). Adams even explains a personal experience, where a young boy looks over to this friend and remarks “You see, I told you they didn’t plant those trees for us.” So much more can be said about the racial politics of gentrification in Harlem. Harlem is more than just a neighborhood that was once inhabited by the African American community- it served as a safe haven. A space where the post slavery generation could celebrate their identity. Unfortunately, Adams and many other Harlem natives believe the end of Black Harlem is coming too soon.

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The Gentrification of Hip Hop

The image on the left is of a very common street art design/label found all over Williamsburg as well as Brooklyn’s other “creative spaces” like DUMBO and Park Slope. I see this specific form of street art all over social media, especially from people posting about their trip to “hipster” Brooklyn. These stencilled letters have a meaning much deeper than “Protect Yo Heart;” they reflect the manipulation and colonization of hip hop, specifically graffiti, and its use as a weapon for gentrification .

The rise of hip hop culture, which includes rapping, DJing, b-boying, and graffiti, provided African-American youth with an artistic avenue to express their frustrations. It created solidarity within an underserved and oppressed group and communicated their unheard voices. However, the culture that started as an innovative street art and form of resistance in the South Bronx has transformed into an instrument for corporate gain and now permeates as a one-dimensional yet moderately artistic genre of music. In his essay, “When the People Cheer: How Hip-Hop Failed Black America,” Questlove suggests that “Once hip-hop culture is ubiquitous, it is also invisible. Once it’s everywhere, it is nowhere (2014).” The culture of a marginalized and neglected community rose to prominence, but as it gained recognition it’s original purpose quickly faded and became exploited for material gain.

In the chapter “How Brooklyn Became Cool,” Zukin suggested that Black Brooklyn neighborhoods never benefitted from the rise in the cultural production and appropriation of hip hop. “Protect Yo Heart” and other forms of street art are typical and ubiquitous in gentrified communities such as Williamsburg and Bushwick. It represents the whitening of Brooklyn and the simultaneous loss of hip hop’s influence as an art form and as a medium for resistance.

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Strategic Marketing of The Hamilton at Brooklyn

Some time in 2015, an abandoned factory located in between Sunset Park and Borough Hall was demolished. The construction went on for about year, and the site is now known as The Hamilton, a five-story luxury apartment building. The Hamilton’s official website showcases the various units available, the apartment amenities, and the perks of living in such a location. Given that I live a few blocks away from The Hamilton, I had to reevaluate my surroundings because it is the first luxury apartment building in my area, and seems like it does not fit in with surrounding businesses. Since some of the readings from this week touch upon the gentrification that occurs due to the development of old factories, I wanted to share my thoughts on the impact The Hamilton could have on my neighborhood.

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