To me, someone who has lived in Bellingham my entire life, downtown Bellingham is iconic. It is within walking distance of Western Washington University, a school filled with unique and progressive students. Every Saturday there is a Farmer's market where every item is organic and "hemp" can be seen on many labels. The streets are filled with colorful people and it is pretty clear that when your on Railroad Street, anything goes. A short drive away from downtown is Boulevard park, where dogs running, frisbees flying and beautiful sunsets are constant presence. Boulevard is beautiful no matter what the weather or season and as a result has become a popular real-estate location. Just a few years ago, apartments with huge class windows were built along the road to the park. Those apartments sold for just around a million dollars. In this small, square-mile area that is downtown Bellingham and Boulevard park, gentrification is very obvious. Most of the people that fill the streets of downtown could not afford a million dollar apartment and even if they could, they wouldn't want to live in a place like that. The gentrification that is occurring in Bellingham is very similar to that of Seattle, but on a smaller scale. I would even say that Bellingham is more progressive than Seattle, so the increasing urbanization is very impactful.
There is a common theme apparent in the gentrification of Berlin and Seattle. With new urban development and growth comes the displacement of history and people's that have relied on neighbors hoods that are affordable and accepting. In both cities it is getting hard for the middle class to survive in a place that they have always called home. This shift plays significantly into identity. As capital hill transforms, the gay population, which has found comfort and safety there for many years, feels isolated and scared again. Downtown Bellingham, where you don't need a lot of money to enjoy a nice meal is now in the shadow of high-end apartments. As other parts of Germany grow to become more progressive, Berlin is losing its "cool" factor. Areas of the city known for art and relaxed living are being replaced with large, high-end and expensive apartment complexes. People are losing the ability to express themselves in a way they have for decades. Gentrification seems to completely cover the identity of a location and the people there and replace it with one that is both foreign and unwelcome.
There is a common theme apparent in the gentrification of Berlin and Seattle. With new urban development and growth comes the displacement of history and people's that have relied on neighbors hoods that are affordable and accepting. In both cities it is getting hard for the middle class to survive in a place that they have always called home. This shift plays significantly into identity. As capital hill transforms, the gay population, which has found comfort and safety there for many years, feels isolated and scared again. Downtown Bellingham, where you don't need a lot of money to enjoy a nice meal is now in the shadow of high-end apartments. As other parts of Germany grow to become more progressive, Berlin is losing its "cool" factor. Areas of the city known for art and relaxed living are being replaced with large, high-end and expensive apartment complexes. People are losing the ability to express themselves in a way they have for decades. Gentrification seems to completely cover the identity of a location and the people there and replace it with one that is both foreign and unwelcome.