Central City Gentrification: A Perspective from "The Streets" of Skid Row, Los Angeles

Author: Rocco Pendola

Dissertation School: University of California, Irvine

Abstract:

The proposed research examines how gentrification is perceived on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles. Traditionally, gentrification has been viewed through an antagonistic, “us versus them” lens. This is the result of the perception that urban rejuvenation displaces the poor. Recent research suggests that displacement of poor residents in gentrifying neighborhoods may not occur to the extent once thought. One explanation for this is that poor residents make an effort to stay in gentrifying neighborhoods because they “appreciate” neighborhood changes as much as the more affluent (Freeman & Braconi, 2004). The qualitative research methodology that will be employed in this study is designed to test this hypothesis.

Located to the east of downtown Los Angeles, Skid Row is in the midst of a police-executed “cleanup” that is associated with intense loft and condominium development occurring in and around its official boundaries. During a 3-month pilot study, I discovered a diversity of people living in Skid Row, ranging from the “street” and “sheltered” homeless one would expect to find there to “SRO” homeless to the formerly homeless, now housed elsewhere, who return to Skid Row to perform informal work. My field methods of “informal interviewing” and “interviewing by comment” produced numerous general themes worthy of future research. The most salient involved how people in Skid Row perceive the gentrification that is happening right before their eyes. To my surprise, the poor and homeless that I interacted with did not present a wholly negative outlook of urban redevelopment; in fact, most reacted to the process with indifference, curiosity, and many positive comments. As this finding emerged from my data, I discovered the work of Freeman and Braconi (2004) and decided to test their speculative stance in unique territory – Skid Row.

Urban policymakers will use my empirically grounded view of gentrification from a poor community to develop new and innovative ways of presenting and executing inner-city redevelopment. Specifically, it provides a tool for understanding how the poor perceive redevelopment, getting past the stereotypical “us versus them” perspective. For example, if the poor positively view gentrification due to their appreciation of neighborhood changes, greater focus can be placed on the enhanced amenities development brings to a community, not on the lofts and condos themselves. To this end, communities can be made more livable (and gentrification more attractive and beneficial) by requiring developers to provide substantial public services and community facilities.

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