My OperaIs this What "Gentrification" Really Means?
Sunday, May 10, 2009 8:16:05 PM
Over the many years the editor has been in the territory, he has come to judge the degree of "gentrification" by a number: the daily parking rate at the lot at Eleventh and M. He does recall $2.50. He considered it progress when the number went to $3.00. It's now $9.00. The downtown rates were $9.00 or $10.00 and up bacj when.
As the neighborhood improved, the rates went up....
Well, the District apparently thinks we just doubly gentrified from a few weeks ago. The hourly rate on the meters on Ninth Street has gone from a dollar an hour to two. He recalls that this was also tried three mayors ago, under Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly. (Some wag in the WaPo or Loose Lips remarked that "SPDK" surely stood for "she probably doesn't know".) She had the rate rescinded rather quickly after complaints from merchants.
It's nice to know that we now thought by the authorities to be in Georgetown's league. But we aren't. (We're down there with the Nationals, in whatever league they are in.) We also have struggling businesses, many of which depend on people parking at the meters. Perhaps someone will interview the owners and ask what this does to their businesses.
As the neighborhood improved, the rates went up....
Well, the District apparently thinks we just doubly gentrified from a few weeks ago. The hourly rate on the meters on Ninth Street has gone from a dollar an hour to two. He recalls that this was also tried three mayors ago, under Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly. (Some wag in the WaPo or Loose Lips remarked that "SPDK" surely stood for "she probably doesn't know".) She had the rate rescinded rather quickly after complaints from merchants.
It's nice to know that we now thought by the authorities to be in Georgetown's league. But we aren't. (We're down there with the Nationals, in whatever league they are in.) We also have struggling businesses, many of which depend on people parking at the meters. Perhaps someone will interview the owners and ask what this does to their businesses.
