Gentrification

    
Gentrification is the key to understanding why cycling is booming in western cities, and even more so in Montreal. Volit nolit, like it or not.

I found this *WONDERFUL* documentary on youtube. It says and explains it all. 

"Montréal, tales of gentrification" in a bohemian city is about the effect of condo development and gentrification in Montréal. Many former working class and low-income communities across the city are being transformed by large-scale urban development, which affects many residents. Distinct neighbourhoods such as Shaughnessy Village, Saint-Henri, Griffintown, Pointe Saint-Charles, Parc-Extension and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve are being targeted to become more like Montreal's most well known district, Plateau Mont-Royal.

They forgot, Centre-Sud, my neighbourhood. Some of the infos are old news and things have gentrified even further, with the Main (Red light district) currently under attack.

The better part of our urban cycling network overlaps gentrified and gentrifying areas to the perfection. Those areas are where the cycling community lives and thrives. Most of the new urban cyclists are part of the ever growing crowd of white middle class bobos, bohos, chic hippies, yuppies, trustafarians, faux-punks, faux-grunges, high income humanitarians/NGO/fair-trade/organic business managers, hipsters, artist wannabes, academic guerilleros, all of which are mostly young professional urban dwellers, me included. Yep, I plead guilty!

Enjoy a good look at Montreal and notice how, every time they show a gentrified area, there is a bike somewhere, somehow on the image.

Caveat: it is not always true that people in gentrifying neighbourhoods are being displaced or pushed out. In some cases, the neighbourhoods had been abandoned by its previous inhabitants who moved to the suburbs, are in ruins, in complete decay, and new folks are moving in next to and not in the place of its remaining original inhabitants. Of course, the effect on rent is the same, granted. But this whole "old rental apartments buildings get torn down to give room to new condos" is overplayed. It is simply not true. Abandoned gas stations, old garages, falling warehouses and (thank God!) surface parking do get destroyed, that's true and it is a goddamn good thing!!!

What's even more funny, is that the ultimate gentrifiers are those very ones who complain about it.

The girl from the Touski café is the ultimate hipster even though she might not realise it! Her café is awesome, super "in", up and coming, full packed with other hipsters, bobos and yuppies. Up to last year, they were a drop point for Jardins de Tessa, an organic farm I am a member of as well, they hosted Projet Montréal meetings, all kinds of alt/underground art events and festivals... Come on already!

Same with the other girl from the Centre Social Autogéré in Pointe St Charles. That centre is a very cool place, full packed with artists, alternative lifestyles projects, among which guess what: a bike project (Duh, what else?). I am lucky enough to know some folks involved in and hanging around this: a circus artist and a fashion designer... Enough said.

They are totally part of those in the first wave of gentrification, turning around and criticizing those in the second wave!! Seriously, whatever...

So, in your own communities, are you part of the gentrifiers or are you being gentrified at? What is your take on the issue?