Comment 113670

By seancb (registered) - website | Posted August 26, 2015 at 02:54:48 in reply to Comment 112545

Are people truly being displaced? This keeps being stated as fact (even by the so called gentrifiers themselves in their responses) but we have yet to see supporting data locally. Should we strive to maintain low value neighbourhoods forever out of fear that the current residents won't be able to afford to live there any more? Does anyone want to live in a neighbourhood with vacant buildings and no local services for the rest of their lives?

Check out this anti-g rebuttal piece that puts the displacement claims into perspective: http://cityobservatory.org/longer-govern...

Additionally, consider that the core used to be comprised of livable neighbourhoods with mixed residential populations and thriving local businesses. Should we not strive to bring this back, but at a higher density (and lower environmental footprint)? This might feel extreme right now but perhaps it's because the core was so depressed for so long, that just coming back to normal feels like extreme gentrification?

Many of the bigger developments are happening in buildings that were vacant or unlivable - or on empty lots. Who is being displaced from the connaught? lister? connolly? tivoli? the federal building on main? Are we losing low rent apartment buildings to high priced condo conversions? Perhaps the changing of ownership of some smaller buildings resulted in tenants being evicted... but how far did they have to move? How many of those were subject to inhumane conditions under an absentee landlord who doesn't supply the basic necessities expected from shelter? And what conditions are they living in since being displaced?

Way more questions than answers...

I vote down for offensiveness and up for humour. I cast no votes based on my level of agreement.

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