Keeping the Culture Despite Gentrification

Gentrification is something that not everyone believes is real thing, but it is in fact happening everywhere. Gentrification is the concept of buying cheap land to build more expensive and modern homes that in turn raise property values and taxes for homeowners that typically can’t afford it.

Keeping the culture

Gentrification is happening in Houston. Prodominately in historically black and poor areas. For example, Acres Homes, 5th ward, and even 3rd ward. A lot of people have their taxes raised and must leave because they can’t afford to live there anymore. Even with this being horrible for the poor communities Gentrification also happens in wealthier areas like the heights. It doesn’t show itself very blatantly considering that the houses that are being bought and turned into massive homes are not breaking down from the foundation. Unfortunately, homeowners are being pushed out of their homes and communities to make way for new ones.

In Acres Homes there is so much history and people in the community that have been there for years. Even the people who lived in Acres Homes but moved out still come back for traditions. Ravone Francis Gooden who used to live in Acres Homes says, “there’s always something to do,” while in Acres Homes even though he now resides in Green Wood Forest, a neighborhood in the Klein district area. He explains that two traditions in Acres Homes that is very common is “trail rides and bazards”. He describes a trail ride as a time where people together and ride to a location where they through a big part and a bazard is a get together at a catholic church where they listen to music and even drink. Ravone even describes how him as well as others ride 4 wheelers around the city in packs together and that that is something that is way more common in Acres Homes than it is in another place in Houston. Both of those get togethers are not common in any other part of Houston. With the gentrification pushing closer and into Acres Homes it is important to Ravone to keep traditions alive.

In 5th ward Gentrification is happening just as quickly and even more than Acres Homes. Auhmad Robinson, A Sprinter for Stephen F Austin University, says that the gentrification is “a good thing”. He describes that with the gentrification and people moving away from the area and having it look nicer will keep the crime rate down and make sure people aren’t getting into “trouble”. He describes that he understands that it hurts people that were there before and longer than him that they must see their community change and not look the same.

In these areas like Acres Homes and many others there is not only a change in housing but in surrounding businesses. Grocery stores like O Lan O, an original grocery store in Acres Homes, is still standing but only a few miles from it are a Whole Foods which is a completely different look. Whole foods is a grocery store that carries all natual and organic foods. They are typically expensive because it is catered to people that prefer organic over the regular type of food. O Lan O is known for their sausage links and just having your regular grocery necessities. Zachari English, who originally lived in Acres Homes and now lives in Spring Texas, says that even places like McDonalds and starting to look more “modern”, he describes this as trying to meet the “aesthetic” of the people and homes that are coming into the area. Not far from the gentrified homes in Acres Homes is a modernized Wendy’s, McDonalds, and Chick-fil-a. Though majority of people describe this a revamp they don’t notice what else is also going on in the area.

O Lan O grocery store that is known for the sausage links according to reviews on their Facebook and yelp is a long-standing grocery store on Montgomery Road in Acres Home TX that was taken on June 24th 2021.This grocery store according to Cortera.com was established in 2010 and is still serving customers in 2021. It is one of the only standing original Grocery stores in Acres homes. (left) Whole foods on Yale and 610 is new to the area and is only 9 minutes and 3.7 miles away from O-lan-O on June 24th 2021. This Whole Food’s location is described as a “chain with natural & organic grocery items.” This location opened in 2018 and is the brand new look of grocery stores in the area compared to the original O-Lan-O. (center) Tuskegee and Granville Street are home to low-income homes and the Greater Ward A.M.E Church that gives out free food from the Houston Food Bank to first comers who sit in line on June 24th 2021. This street has not only has homes that are worth lower than 90,000 dollars but 200,000 dollar homes as well. (right)

6828 and 6827 Tuskegee St are home to two diverse types of living on June 24th 2021. 6827 Tuskegee Street is a new construction that was built in 2021 and is currently pending on the market for a potential buyer. 6828 Tuskegee Street is lived in with a value of $99,400 according to Zillow. The home on the left is an original home in Acres Homes Tx that sits on stilts, have a window AC unit and rotting wood that is completely different look than the brand new and more expensive home on the right. (left) 203 W 31 Street is right next to a new construction that does not yet have a listed price but is different in size and quality than the tiny home on the left on June 24th 2021. (right)

223 W 32nd Street Houston, Tx is worth $2,290,500 and was finished being built on June 24th 2021. It is next door to 227 W 32nd Street Houston TX 77018 which was built in 2010 and is currently worth $789,000 and in 2000 the plot of land was only worth $95,800 according to Zillow. The property value has changed extremely in 21 years due to Gentrification and newer and bigger homes being built. (left) 215 W 33rd St Houston Tx 77018 is worth $597,000 on June 24 2021. It is sitting next to a two-story white home that is worth $1,143,200. This home is worth way more than its neighboring home and the other homes around it due to Gentrification. (right)

The Taxes

Zachari also describes those taxes for newer homes and preexisting homes should be different considering the people and neighborhoods. English says “people should not have to pay the taxes of their surroundings… and they should not be the same” English explains that taxes of a house that was there since the beginning of time should be the same as they were before newer homes got there.

Vanessa, and Asylum counselor for the government, describes that the heights area will get “more white”. Auhmad Robinson also describes gentrification as making the “the hood white”. This is interesting considering that Gentrification was never put to a specific color or race of people, but majority of people consider Gentrification a takeover of communities by white people. White wealthy people, buying homes, buying land, making expensive grocery store, and “revamping” fast food original grocery stores.

Gentrification is not only the dismantle of homes on preexisting lots and land but also of culture that cannot be moved. People have contrasting beliefs about how it affects areas and people in them but there are many people that are trying to keep their culture alive.