Gentrification: A perspective from a long time resident

[Metro Jacksonville]

Gentrification: A perspective from a long time resident



This article by Dr. Tim Gilmore of jaxpsychogeo.com explores the redevelopment of Jacksonville's Brooklyn neighborhood from the perspective of long time resident Les Paul Garner.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2017-jan-gentrification-a-perspective-from-a-long-time-resident

[aubureck]

It's sad and depressing to see the last remnants of this historic neighborhood disappear in the name of "progress."  I understand that the majority were already long gone and the few that remained were primarily in a severe state of disrepair.  I would LOVE to see someone come in and rebuild the small house style community in an area of Brooklyn that has not yet been built up, hopefully incorporate the one or two historic tiny houses into the development as a reminder of the communities history.  We have apartments and commercial lining Riverside and hopefully the soon return of commercial along Park Street.  Most millennials want to live in urban environments but they also come to a stage of life where they want a yard and some place to call completely theirs.  It makes perfect sense to me to create modern shotgun style homes on small lots to recreate the feel of this type of neighborhood and market it to those who want that type of lifestyle.  Maybe, I'm a dreamer but if I had the right access to capital this is what I would be doing, Brooklyn Reborn.

[jaxlore]

Great article, theirs a lot of lost history there. When my knees were doing better I would bike through that neighborhood on the way home several times a week.

[Adam White]

First Lavilla, then Brooklyn. It's like we're committing cultural genocide.

[jcjohnpaint]

Wonderful story!  Now I'm going to be driving by Les Paul's house everyday to see if he is going to have this fish fry.  I'll be the first in line. 

[vicupstate]

First Lavilla, then Brooklyn. It's like we're committing cultural genocide.

Actually, the same city initiative, the 'River City Renaissance' of then Mayor Ed Austin, paid for the LaVilla demolition and the original intent was to include Brooklyn as well. They ran out of money, so Brooklyn got put in the back burner. Kim Scott did her share to fill the void later though. Now gentrification is finishing the job. 

[Adam White]

First Lavilla, then Brooklyn. It's like we're committing cultural genocide.

Actually, the same city initiative, the 'River City Renaissance' of then Mayor Ed Austin, paid for the LaVilla demolition and the original intent was to include Brooklyn as well. They ran out of money, so Brooklyn got put in the back burner. Kim Scott did her share to fill the void later though. Now gentrification is finishing the job.

It's really depressing. When I was in high school, Brooklyn was still a neighborhood, more or less. I know people still live there, but I find the area unrecognizable. Like LaVilla - we have the name, but have lost most of the actual neighborhood.

[e_jiminez]

Brooklyn was a dangerous neighborhood. Now it's not. No convenience store employees have been shot recently
Confederate Point was not dangerous. Now it is. Long time convenience store worker: shot..robberies up.
DE-gentrification. This will cause you to be apopleptic. 1,000,000 keks.