C-Heights, Home Sweet Home

Well, you can always count on the City Paper to pull the cover off of the simmering tensions of gentrification. The struggle between newcomers and old-timey residents is part of every neighborhood (just look at Tenleytown), but the problem is compounded in Columbia Heights by the vast divide of race and class. This dual pitfall really adds some spice to the neighborhood, as those who hope to raise their property values try to tip-toe through the mine-fields:

Side 1) Cultural Studies, Part 2: By August 2001, "boytwirl" had been living in
Columbia Heights for six months and had loved it—except for the creeping feeling
that "others" thought he was taking advantage of his poorer neighbors "because I
am a newcomer, white, well-educated, professional, etc. In particular, the term
of ‘re-gentrification' has been tossed out to me on numerous occasions and I
resent it vehemently." He added: "I may have had some advantages in life and may
be considered wealthy by some but that doesn't mean that I'm required to live in
Chevy Chase."

Side 2) In November 2002, Columbia Heights resident "zupancic3" offered a
lesson in how to gentrify the corner store—one bottle of Chimay at a time.
Offering this bit of unsolicited advice to "Arthur's Grocery," the neighbor
wrote: "I would start with selling a few microbrews, and some decent wine."
Zupancic3 conceded that the unsolicited inventory plan might shove Steel Reserve
off the shelves, but argued: "In business, if you don't adapt to changing times,
you may not be in business anymore."

Well, at least we will all soon have a Target to shop at and Starbucks Grande Mocha Lattes for $5 a pop. For all of that info, I suggest this here blog to see how quickly we are moving towards full-on gentrification.