We recently had an
email interview with the Chicago Journal in which we were asked a variety of questions. One of the questions we were asked was what do you see as the main issues that exist in the
neighborhood? Our response:
Parking, Gentrification and Real Estate seem to be the main issues we hear about and read about.
Then we were called out by some readers of the interview in the comments section about our explanation of
gentrification:
Gentrification is always a touchy subject. The South Loop has changed so much in the past 10-15 years with the real estate boom that many businesses and residents simply can’t afford to live in the area anymore. This seems to be a trend that will continue as it seems as if the city is committed to making the neighborhood increasingly desirable.
The people in the comments section had a gripe with our statement about gentrification. To be fair, it's a good point to clarify because we might have been overzealous with our statement that "many" businesses and residents simply can't afford to live and operate in the area anymore. However, we still contend that gentrification has happened and will continue to happen in the South Loop.
But let's take a step back...what is gentrification? According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, gentrification is:
the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents
To us (and people we've spoken with), this sounds very similar to what has happened and is happening in the Sloop. The first part of the definition is an absolute slam dunk, however the second part, "often displaces poorer residents" is a point of contention that can be debated.
The South Loop was a very desolate neighborhood in the past, so some people contend that gentrification didn't happen in the South Loop because people and businesses weren't displaced. They simply say that vacant property and buildings were taken over, converted and developed. This might be predominately true, but we still believe some people and businesses have been or will be displaced. Although we can't site hundreds of examples (and to be honest it's a good thing that the scale of displacement is relatively small) there are some recent things like the Harold Icke Homes potentially being demolished that wreak of displacement due to gentrification.
So with that said, please let us know your thoughts on this subject. Are we completely off base with our assessment of gentrification in the South Loop? Or do you think gentrification has happened in the Sloop, but maybe not in the 'typical' gentrification model? Or maybe you know of specific instances of people and/or businesses that have been displaced...
We're curious to hear your thoughts and thanks to 'Old Timer' for engaging with us (in a respectful manner) on the topic!
(South Loop Rising Image from
Chicago Magazine)
