The thread contains lots of comments by me. Far too often, we classify groups as desirable (wealthy, employer, skilled,) or undesirable, (weirdo, starving artist) when the lines are often a lot more blurred. How does someone like Swoon or Eric Singer fit in ?
More importantly, many of these people have shown that they love and desperately want to live in town in a way that's compatable with the city.
Me
This is what we saw in NYC, with area after area, hand rehabed by artists. It's also the source of a lot of anger as these people, who often were renting are kicked out.
The thing is that what a lot of these people want is customized spaces that are adapted to their work, not marble counter tops.
That's the thing. Pittsburgh has a very low number of real yuppies (or fake hipsters) and a growing number of (sincere) artist types, most of whom don't have a lot of money.
Isn't it wiser to build on the market we know exists for creative people rather than one that really isn't here yet.
Mike Madison
"Why does it need to be an either/or? Resources are scarce, choices need to be made, time is money, etc. etc. But why not set the table as inclusively as possible, be expansive with zoning and other regulation, support different communities with institutions designed to do that (real estate, law, finance, housing, neighborhood development), and see what emerges?"
This is the bottom line. We should just let it be and see what emerges while perhaps putting a lot more effort to make people more aware of all the assets here.
P.S. I would imagine this post is even more relevant in Cleveland. A place that seems to have a lot of awesome potential artist space.
Posts
