As a progressive, I’ve felt uncomfortable by gentrification. It’s cool seeing neighborhoods become vibrant and fun. But it’s gross and cruel seeing long time residents priced out.

Last year we bought a house in an 80% latino, working class neighborhood in #Denver—one of the last spots within 15 min of downtown to not experience some level of gentrification.

Today I feel like a hypocrite as I cheer for a 3-mile green way that will pass our house + a new $56M rec center.

https://www.westword.com/news/new-bike-trail-major-rec-center-coming-westwood-neighborhood-24534373

New Bike Trail, Major Rec Center Coming to Westwood Neighborhood

The $56 million facility will open in 2027, and a $3 million bike trail is coming before that.

Westword
@chopaganda gentrification is largely a symptom of the disease of unaffordable housing. Like many of the ills we face, we talk a lot about how to deal with the symptoms, when the real solution involves something much more systemic. I’m guessing you and Allie bought where you did because Denver single family homes are fucking expensive! You were priced out elsewhere, which leads to pricing others out. It’s a vicious cycle that won’t get broken until the housing crisis gets addressed.
@NatePHedi @chopaganda The other side of the gentrification coin is keeping depressed neighborhoods depressed, which is also not good. You just can’t fight the markets. If you hadn’t moved in there, someone else would have, and nothing would be different. Best we can do is promote policies which incentivize density, affordability, and increased housing supply.

@NatePHedi For us, we’ve been lifetime renters. Denver housing is expensive as fuck. After an unemployment scare combined a reality check that we are buying our first home at nearly 50yo, we opted to buy something we can pay off easily in a short time.

So yeah, Denver’s housing market blows.

@chopaganda don’t beat yourself up too much. I know you guys went through hell trying to find a place. And I think as long as you guys are patronizing the local (established) restaurants/shops in your neighborhood, you’re putting money back into the community.
@NatePHedi @chopaganda And boycotting all third wave coffee roasters and craft beer breweries! :)
@Nolasox @NatePHedi No good coffee or breweries in our hood. But the Mexican food, Vietnamese food, and Mexican hot chocolate are lit. https://www.culturachocolate.com/
CULTURA CRAFT CHOCOLATE

Denver based small batch chocolate company. Ethically sourced & community focused.

CULTURA CRAFT CHOCOLATE