This narration explores the revamping of New York City’s Lower East Side over the years . The author, however, seeks to lay out the inherent implications of the series of changes made. The narration seeks to challenge the conventional understanding of gentrification by presenting deeper accounts of the gentrification of New York City's Lower East Side. The thesis is that gentrification is not just the simple refurbishment of dilapidated areas, fuelled by demands of the middle-class. Rather, the author proposes that gentrification is part of a broader scheme towards cultural, political, social and economy polarization . This was particularly evident towards the close of the twentieth century (Smith, 1996). This thesis is explained through the infamous riot over occupancy of the Tompkins Square Park. Events before, during, and post the riot portray such issues as the failure of urban policy, the shift in city investments, homelessness and eviction. For instance, instead of resolving New York City's homelessness challenge, the city's administration instead criminalizes anti-gentrification efforts. Gentrification is therefore seen as a weapon that afflicts the vulnerable further. Gentrification led to the creation of the mythical ‘new frontier'. However, in essence, the ‘new frontier' favored the rich, middle- c lass and upper class, and resulted in more despair for the poor. The bid to make New York's Lower East Side chic as envisioned in the ‘new frontier' narrative also led to increased homelessness, a rise in unemployment, increased incidences of poverty and downsizing of public housing projects. These challenges were also the triggers of the racial violence that broke out in the 1980's.
The ‘new frontier’ narrative carries with it the promise of immense opportunities, especially for real estate investor. In reality, however, it symbolizes an opportunity for division of the city along political, cultural, economic and geographical lines. Subsequently, gentrification has been mainstreamed as an integral part of urban development far from its previous association with the real estate sector. The ‘frontier' myth, therefore, tends to rationalize such social ills as social exclusion and differentiation as being part of an inevitable natural process. This is supported by the fact that gentrification results in destabilization of working American's, displacement of low-income families, and conversion of neighborhoods into middle-class territories. On the other hand, gentrification brands the working and poor classes of people as being ‘uncivil', communists and savages, and therefore no longer fit. The imagery created by the ‘frontier’ myth is that of ‘taming’ certain ‘wildness’ in the city and make changes to foster safer social-political paradigms. In a nutshell, therefore, the frontier narrative justifies outrageous incivility right in the heart of New York City.
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The urban frontier ideology also resulted in class differences. Fueled by the real estate and culture industries, the ideology put a wall between the have and the have-nots. Though the wall was slightly broken with the explosion of the art scene, a rise in rent restored the status quo, with only those who could afford the exorbitant rent remaining. Ultimately, the two industries were part of the gentrification process and helped transform the Lower East Side into a unique and different place. The convergence of good art and locations meant the presence of money. Gentrification was followed by massive growth of the building and construction sector, often characterized by the conversion of communities and homes into the ‘new frontier'. Overall, these changes come with a rise in violence and crime, a feat that is expected with each upsurge of gentrification. Huffington Post (2013) through Michael Che, a New York Comic has mockingly captured these characteristics of gentrification.
References
Huffington Post (2013). Michael Che mocks the gentrification of New York City's Lower East Side. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/michael-che-is-bummed-over-gentrified-new-york-city_n_3580344.html
Smith, N. (1996). The New Urban Frontier. Gentrification and the Revanchist City. London, UK: Routledge.
