I may have another title: Harbinger
If you all are following the House Hunt Thread, I already took ownership of a 3 story townhouse. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. The townhouse is part of a devlelopment that have working street lights and have kids playing at night. Typical suburban scene anywhere else. Only this development is part of affordable housing initiative. !0 years ago, D.C was the homicide capital of the nation. Part of the solution to bring down the problem was to allow the residents of blighted neighborhoods an opportunity to purchase a home costing up to 250k on just an income of 40k a year n 2008. That same home would now cost 275-300k, The influx of people had started a wave gentrification in southeast and southwest D.C.
Right now I'm the only Asian in a black majority community. That point was driven when I went to a Chinese takeout place. The place was a hole in a wall with video cameras and a bullet proof glass plate across the counter. The plate was line with cans and sighs all across the counter so that you can see. And talk to someone across the turnstile. And they only take cash, I would bet the owner has a gun somewhere. Ordinance or no ordinance (pardon the pun).
They were curious about me and I told them I was an Hispanic Asian and my father had Chinese blood. I lowered my darkened eye glasses to show my eyes. I also told them I just moved in the neighborhood. They were so happy they gave me free tea.
The setup reminds me uncomfortably of the situation in Compton before the Rodney King riots. Two racial groups in close proximity to each other and neither trusting the other.
Which is probably the reason for the mixed reception when I introduced myself to the neighbors. One scowled at me told me point blank I'm not his neighbor before he drove off and the old coot across the street told me that the guy I was blocking the driveway from with my car was going to back in 10 minutes. But that guy told me he was going to be at work all day when I introduced myself before he drove off. Thank God, the rest of them are more welcoming.
And I am to these folks the personification of gentrification. You have housing developments going up around the metro stations which is going to raise the real estate values and is causing the original inhabitants to sell their homes to cash in on it, get those homes torn down and new housing built on it for much more higher prices. People agree that in my neghborhood, the situation will look like San Franciso now in 5-10 years. Which is kinda apt because the townhouse I'm in resembles some of the S.F townhouses built up on the hills.
So the next decade promises to be interesting. Ugh. Ancient Chinese curse.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell
If you all are following the House Hunt Thread, I already took ownership of a 3 story townhouse. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. The townhouse is part of a devlelopment that have working street lights and have kids playing at night. Typical suburban scene anywhere else. Only this development is part of affordable housing initiative. !0 years ago, D.C was the homicide capital of the nation. Part of the solution to bring down the problem was to allow the residents of blighted neighborhoods an opportunity to purchase a home costing up to 250k on just an income of 40k a year n 2008. That same home would now cost 275-300k, The influx of people had started a wave gentrification in southeast and southwest D.C.
Right now I'm the only Asian in a black majority community. That point was driven when I went to a Chinese takeout place. The place was a hole in a wall with video cameras and a bullet proof glass plate across the counter. The plate was line with cans and sighs all across the counter so that you can see. And talk to someone across the turnstile. And they only take cash, I would bet the owner has a gun somewhere. Ordinance or no ordinance (pardon the pun).
They were curious about me and I told them I was an Hispanic Asian and my father had Chinese blood. I lowered my darkened eye glasses to show my eyes. I also told them I just moved in the neighborhood. They were so happy they gave me free tea.
The setup reminds me uncomfortably of the situation in Compton before the Rodney King riots. Two racial groups in close proximity to each other and neither trusting the other.
Which is probably the reason for the mixed reception when I introduced myself to the neighbors. One scowled at me told me point blank I'm not his neighbor before he drove off and the old coot across the street told me that the guy I was blocking the driveway from with my car was going to back in 10 minutes. But that guy told me he was going to be at work all day when I introduced myself before he drove off. Thank God, the rest of them are more welcoming.
And I am to these folks the personification of gentrification. You have housing developments going up around the metro stations which is going to raise the real estate values and is causing the original inhabitants to sell their homes to cash in on it, get those homes torn down and new housing built on it for much more higher prices. People agree that in my neghborhood, the situation will look like San Franciso now in 5-10 years. Which is kinda apt because the townhouse I'm in resembles some of the S.F townhouses built up on the hills.
So the next decade promises to be interesting. Ugh. Ancient Chinese curse.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell