Before and After Withintrification: College Park

[thelakelander]

Modern Cities and The Jaxson take a look at a revitalized pedestrian friendly commercial district featuring a cluster of Black-owned local businesses: College Park

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/before-and-after-withintrification-college-park/

[Adam White]

That kinda looks like gentrification to me.

[thelakelander]

The businesses cater to the demographic makeup of the community, as opposed to displacing the existing community. What's your definition of gentrification?

[Adam White]

The businesses cater to the demographic makeup of the community, as opposed to displacing the existing community. What's your definition of gentrification?

When the character of the neighbourhood is changed by the influx of wealthier people. It has nothing particularly to do with race - though when it *is* a racial issue, it's far more obvious (and I'd argue far worse). But working class white neighbourhoods frequently suffer gentrification too - my sister's old neighbourhood of Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn always springs to mind. It was a working class white ('Italian American') neighbourhood before it slowly got taken over by middle class white professional types.

I don't know anything about College Park, but it looks like gentrification. Yes, maybe the money and businesses stayed in the hands of black people, but black society is just as stratified as white society. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that many long-term black residents got priced out of that neighbourhood over time.

[thelakelander]

Much of the city was taken out by the airport. The business strip was largely abandoned. There was a deliberate move for Black owned restaurants to cluster together by restoring vacant spaces. They sort of serve as the anchors to attract a larger group of patrons to the strip. As a result, the other business owners have visibility to succeed. While the buildings have been restored (Main Street Program), I wouldn't call it a place for the high income Black population. That's Atlanta as a whole, which has been a Black "mecca" in the US my entire lifetime.

[Adam White]

Much of the city was taken out by the airport. The business strip was largely abandoned. There was a deliberate move for Black owned restaurants to cluster together by restoring vacant spaces. They sort of serve as the anchors to attract a larger group of patrons to the strip. As a result, the other business owners have visibility to succeed. While the buildings have been restored (Main Street Program), I wouldn't call it a place for the high income Black population. That's Atlanta as a whole, which has been a Black "mecca" in the US my entire lifetime.

But surely these businesses cater to a more professional or middle class demographic? I dunno - maybe those were the kinds of people living there before.

I always heard Atlanta referred to as the 'black capital of the USA' or something like that when I was growing up. I'd imagine Atlanta probably has one of the highest concentrations of wealthy black people in the USA - maybe PG county comes close?

In any event, the pics are pretty cool and it's always great to see a town come back from the brink. Seems like you've been doing a bit of travel lately? Lots of photos of cool stuff.

[thelakelander]

Unfortunately up here to help my cousin clean up my uncle's house. He passed unexpectedly last week. He lived in College Park not too far away. For the time I've been here, the crowd has appeared to be a pretty diverse mix economically.  Really no different from what you'll find at Soul Food Bistro or Jazzy's in Jax. The major difference is that they are clustered together to create a distinctive and attractive neighborhood commercial district.

[Adam White]

Unfortunately up here to help my cousin clean up my uncle's house. He passed unexpectedly last week. He lived in College Park not too far away. For the time I've been here, the crowd has appeared to be a pretty diverse mix economically.  Really no different from what you'll find at Soul Food Bistro or Jazzy's in Jax. The major difference is that they are clustered together to create a distinctive and attractive neighborhood commercial district.

Sorry for your loss, Lake.

I love Atlanta (or at least I have loved it the handful of times I've been able to visit). I hope to get back there soon, but with COVID19, you never know. I will try to check out College Park if I ever get the chance.