(dis)placed

“This short zine collects two essays that seek to define gentrification and explore the displacement that come with it. While much of popular and even radical discourse focuses on simplistic definitions and formulas to determine what is and isn’t gentrification, this text tries to bring in insights from academic writing on the topic and present it in a way that is easy to understand. Moreover, it attempts to add a measure of nuance that is often missing in these discussions with the hope that a sharper analysis will result in stronger responses.”

Check out the zine here.

In collaboration with Central Ohio’s local NPR station, WCBE 90.5, Matter News is starting a podcast exploring gentrification in Columbus, Ohio, zeroing in on one story from Weinland Park. 

More from Matter News: 

“Cornering Stores is the story of Eden’s cornerstore and others like it that have been sued by the city for being “hubs of criminal activity,” an idea that goes to the heart of many changing neighborhoods....Matter News is launching an investigative podcast series that focuses on Eden’s small, now-demolished corner store in Weinland Park, formerly known as Natalia’s Carryout.”

Check out this conversation on housing affordability and gentrification in Columbus from All Sides with Ann Fisher from WOSU Public Media.

REACH works to end homelessness and housing insecurity in Ohio. These two issues are a direct result of gentrification. According to REACH’s website, to work towards housing security, we “must address the long-standing racial disparities in access to housing in our state.”

Furthermore, REACH shares: 

“That’s why COHHIO is pleased to announce the creation of the Racial Equity Action Committee on Homelessness in Ohio (REACH Ohio) to advance solutions to racial disparities in our state’s homeless system...

The mission of REACH Ohio is: “We are committed to achieving racial equity in Ohio homeless systems. We acknowledge that housing is a right and homelessness is unacceptable. We are focused on radical anti-racist change in pursuit of justice and equity. We are data-enlightened and person centered. We are courageous, inclusive and transparent in support of our mission.”

A painting by Columbus artist Morgan McDonald (@MorganMcDonaldArt on Instagram). Her artist statement:

Defining gentrification in Columbus Ohio

YOUR LUXURY IS OUR DISPLACEMENT

Imagine your city is the board. Now try living on Baltic Avenue.

Check this article out as it uses the game of Monopoly to explain the flip side of gentrification!

GENTRIFY THIS!!!

“Gentrify this! Flickr/Spacebahr. Some rights reserved.The marketing mantra of “love where you live” courses through the ongoing ‘redevelopment’ of the Heygate Estate in London’s Elephant and Castle into Trafalgar Place. The City Quays project in Greenwich offers “a private island in London to call your own”. Lillie Square, which will be built on the Earls Court site hawks “modern garden square living” where you can “dwell in luxury”. All these (and many more) are symptomatic of a language of disavowal. It denigrates existing residents and paints them as unworthy of their homes as they were. And it is, in essence, inhumane.”

“Gentrification Is a Five-Course Meal — And the Indigestion Is Horrible”

“Gentrification is a rat king of developers, city officials, community elitism, and police forces all tied at the tail; a gourmand 10 stories tall that devours platters of small businesses, devalued homes, and collateral lives, sopping up the gravy of surrounding culture and belching its dismissive approval. Every city it encounters becomes an ouroboros of vanishing institutions, willfully obtuse debates, and finally, a regurgitation of the very culture it destroyed to begin with.”

Redlining in Columbus, Ohio: A historical map 

"The Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) was created in June 1933 by the US Congress. The purpose was to refinance mortgages in default to prevent foreclosures. In 1935 Federal Home Loan Bank Board asked HOLC to look at 239 cities and create "residential security maps" to indicate the level of security for real-estate investments. On the maps, the newest areas — those considered desirable for lending purposes — were outlined in blue and known as Type A. These were typically affluent suburbs on the outskirts of cities. Type B neighborhoods were considered 'Still Desirable,' whereas older Type C neighborhoods were labeled 'Declining' and outlined in yellow. Type D neighborhoods were outlined in red and were considered the most risky for mortgage support." The outcome of the practice of "redlining" was to deny mortgages and business loans to minorities and lower income borrowers.” 

Check out the interactive map here: