Oak Bakeshop on east side has opened! (more details in comments)Submitted by n0m_chompsky t3_yy0tli in providence
downpat t1_iwt62d9 wrote
Reply to comment by downpat in Oak Bakeshop on east side has opened! (more details in comments) by n0m_chompsky
Also can’t help but notice the serious gentrification happening on Camp St. One of the city’s few largely Black neighborhoods getting filled up with “progressive” businesses and entities, like the bakery, the poke restaurant, the socialist bookstore—all of whom I’m sure will tell you how terrible gentrification is, and how important it is for that area to maintain its historical identity as a Black enclave.
themaskedewok t1_iwt8zw1 wrote
I work right in that area and have obviously noticed the gentrification over the last ~5 years. Rebel was a corner store, black and white was and is now this, there was a convenience store at the bottom.of Pleasant by Providence bagel that is gone. The multi-family homes are being renovated and sold as apartments or condos.
I also have witnessed less fights in the streets, less what appears to be drug traffic and there have been less shootings. People where being killed less than half a mile from million dollar homes. Do you think they'd buy a house for that much and not pressure for change in the area?
Also, is it really one of the city's only largely black neighborhoods? This is not a combative question, but an honest one.
downpat t1_iwtaczt wrote
Pretty sure the “Black” neighborhoods of Providence consist only of South Providence and this part of Mt. Hope, what used to be called Lippitt Hill. Basing that only on my own experience and no demographic studies or anything, though. Either way - I’m certainly not saying the gentrification is a bad thing. I too have noticed its improvements. But this conversation should be happening. And my point was more that the kinds of businesses popping up in the area now would very likely tell you that gentrification is racist and wrong.
themaskedewok t1_iwtbxkv wrote
It's funny because when you said "black" neighborhoods in your original comment, I thought of south prov after the east side area. The area between eddy, broad and south of the hospital. Which, let's be honest, is rough.
I agree this conversation needs to happen. I want to understand why you say it is racist. Is it because these new businesses charge more and that prices generational locals out of the area? And by doing that you are forcing people out of the area without explicitly making them leave? And if that is the assertion isn't that more classist than racist? Or is it racist because there neighborhoods are specifically targeted for this kind of thing?
JoeFortune1 t1_iww1awn wrote
Class and race are tied together. This is how gentrification works. Businesses open without racist intentions but there are racial implications. The way our economy works, property values based on your neighbors value etc, when a neighborhood “improves” it becomes unlivable for people who can’t afford it and that tends to be a certain ethnicity being forced to relocate. From what I am told, Benefit street used to be a largely black neighborhood as well
FunLife64 t1_iwullm5 wrote
This is a bit extreme. This is a Jewish bakery in an area with a huge Jewish population and literally walking distance to a synagogue, Jewish school, Jewish community center, etc.
No race, religion or ethnicity has stake on neighborhoods.
This area has always butted up against a very expensive part of PVD and one of the cheapest East Side areas. And there’s been lots of expensive/nice houses within this neighborhood for years. This has had the writing on the wall for quite some time for development.
The push here should be around home ownership - I actually find RI to offer some pretty good programs with options. Of course, right now isn’t a great time for anyone. From 2008-2015ish the area had a lot of cheap condos, townhouses, houses. Those that own will make a lot of money off those progressives.
downpat t1_iwuz2ut wrote
Again, not saying this is a bad thing, it’s just something that should be openly discussed. I do think you’re sort of contradicting yourself by simultaneously saying no identity can have a stake in a neighborhood but oh wait this is a Jewish bakery in a heavily-Jewish area. Many would say, okay, then you’re saying that this is a Jewish neighborhood. It’s a distinction without a difference. And many, including myself, would disagree with you that identities can’t have a “stake” in a neighborhood. That’s aspirational and ahistoric. Blacks have a stake in Harlem, the Irish have a stake in South Boston, Jews in Brooklyn - that’s just history.
FunLife64 t1_iwwiene wrote
I’m simply saying there’s no need to call out why something should or shouldn’t be in a neighborhood. If a business opens in an area and can thrive (and the demographics point to a Jewish bakery doing well there), then good for them. If that b&w market was thriving, it probably would still be there.
Not every business relies on populations within 5 blocks to be its customers. It could be there’s actually vacant spaces to rent (which there aren’t many in, say, Hope Village).
Just labeling new business as gentrifiers and progressives contradicting themselves isn’t a helpful start to any conversation…..
downpat t1_iwxv7xl wrote
This place, with an “executive pastry chef,” replacing an arguably-sketchy bodega across from a public park named for a prominent member of the Black community (https://www.billytaylorhouse.com/billy-taylor-bio), in a historically Black neighborhood of Providence, is a peak example of gentrification. Don’t be ridiculous!
FunLife64 t1_iwzqgif wrote
Why did the bodega close?
Im not arguing about whether something is defined as “gentrification”, but my god the east side is known as the fanciest area of Providence. To be shocked that things like a bakery would open in that neighborhood is kinda absurd. You can throw a tennis ball to near $1M houses….that have been that expensive for years.
close102 t1_iwvuoqe wrote
Referring to Red Ink Community Library as “the socialist bookstore” really undercuts any hint of valid criticism you have in commenting on gentrification.
The poke shop is owned by an Asian woman. The library team has an Indian man on it and has many cross cultural and community events. The bakeshop is partly owned by a Jewish woman.
Is the area being gentrified? Yes. Is it white “progressive” capitalists? Not entirely, and in none of the examples you provided.
wafflesandgin t1_iww0cv9 wrote
It's a valid description. Red Ink openly markets as a political, socialist leaning space. It's not a library you take your kids to to borrow children's books.
close102 t1_iwzlzem wrote
It’s an oversimplification used to polarize it as “bad” rather than understanding the context in which the space exists and operates.
wafflesandgin t1_ix0avkp wrote
I think the only one here viewing the word socialist as "bad" is yourself.
For someone talking about needing to understand context, I think you should do the same.
downpat t1_iwwdlua wrote
Where in my comment did I refer to any of these new groups as “white”?
close102 t1_iwzmbxv wrote
“One of the city’s few largely Black neighborhoods getting filled up with “progressive” businesses and entities”
Your intention in this is clear.
downpat t1_iwzvqug wrote
Typical far-left thought policing; you’re also just wrong. I guess I’ll just rest with the community that’s chosen to downvote you so we don’t hear more of this nonsense.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments