Showing posts with label Don't Cry for me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Don't Cry for me. Show all posts

8/1/21

Don't Cry for Me, Juniata! Gentrification in Tower Grove South, St Louis

Five years ago, the 2 four unit apartment buildings to the east of us were redeveloped into 'townhouses'. A total of eight units which were 2 Section 8 buildings, became 4 condos. Seen below, the buildings are twins. The front bottom windows don't open.
My displaced neighbors were scattered.
Three years ago the two unit (two family) Section 8 building, also to the east of us, was rehabbed and went on the market for 415K. It sold in ten days for 410K.
It went back on the market this spring. The owner was asking 475K and it sold the same day for 525K. (The new owner has said to me, Look, I've raised your property value! Ah, I had replied, the mantra of the yuppie!)
We've lost many friends and neighbors and our block has become increasingly bright white. Many of them display their Black Lives Matter signs.
This summer, 3 other four unit apartment buildings which were also Section 8 housing, sold and are currently under rehab.
Our block used to have 80% black residents. Most were renters with three homes being black owned.
There's goes the neighborhood. Specifically 4200 Juniata.