Gentrification Interview Questions
Neighborhood Resident
- Do you have any contacts with the new residents and businesses in your neighborhood?
No we rarely meet them. Unlike my previous neighbors, my new neighbors are ever busy.
- Have rents gone up in your neighborhood?
There have been increments in house rents in the last five years. Although it has been gradual, kt has continued over the years.
- Have you been worried about having to exit because the neighborhood is becoming increasingly expensive?
Yes. Despite the increases in the rent, we have had no major increases in salary to offset the rents and inflation. We are still being paid the same hourly rate as we were paid ten years ago.
- Are there any new stores that have moved into your neighborhood that you are uncomfortable with?
On this street there have been some new stores and hotels. A number of them are high end and very expensive. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
- Are businesses you frequent closing down because they are unable to afford the rent?
I know of about four retailers and grocers who have closed down. I used to frequent them in the past but they are no longer there.
Business Owner
- Have rents increased in your neighborhood making it difficult to maintain a business?
Yes. We have had increments in rents in the recent years, especially for store that are situated along the busy streets. Most businesses have closed down and new ones taken over the premises. Some of us are however, struggling to sustain our businesses and are forced to work hard.
- Do you have the feeling of like you are being pushed out?
Somehow, I feel that we are being pushed but also in business you must expect competition from all quarters. The new business are our new competitors now.
- Have there been new stores that moved in and that have hurt your business?
Yes. Several stores and multinational organizations have opened up shop in China Town in recent times.
- Does the changes brought about by new residents and businesses have any impact on your business and the way it is ran?
Yes. Most of them are competitors providing goods or services that we offer. However, their prices might be lower than ours given that they are big multinationals that enjoy discounts when they buy in large quantities. This has resulted in customers shifting to purchasing products from them.
- Has your business benefited from cross racial interactions?
China town was initially an ethnic enclave comprising of mainly Chinese and Asian Americans, However, over time, other races came to the area, and particularly African Americans and Hispanics. From that time onwards, businesses in the area have benefited from the cross racial interactions. However, given that the demographics are fast changing, there are presently more white business owners and tenants in the area and there are few who buy from Chinese shops. Nevertheless, we are still benefiting from the cross-racial interactions from different races.
- Have you observed a change in the community over the past 5 years?
Yes, there have been many changes in the demographics. Old buildings have been torn down and new one erected. There have also been new tenants and businesses. Moreover, there are currently fewer people in the area compared to before.
Community Leader
- What is your role in the community?
As a community leader, my role is to resolve issues affecting the community and assist in decision making.
- How many years have you been helping the community?
15 years now.
- What are the current issues that you are working on?
The current key issue we are facing as a community is increased displacement of our members who are moving to other parts of New York. Moreover, there have been increases in rents and costs of utilities in the recent times.
- What changes have you seen in the community in the past 5 years?
Yes. Our community has changed greatly in the last 5 years. There have been an increase in the number of middle-class Americans even as poor Americans have moved from the area. Moreover, new business have also opened shop in the area. A number of old buildings have been brought down and new one erected in their places.
- Do you work only in China Town or other regions too?
As a community leader, my work is limited to China Town only.
- Have you observed increased gentrification or displacement in the community?
Yes. Most of the poor household that could not meet the rent increases have been forced to shift. This is increasing by the day and more families are affected.
- What are your thoughts with regards to the issue housing in China Town?
China Town has always thrived on the residents who have lived here for over twenty years and on the Asian businesses that have operated here for several decades. However, due to economic boom witnessed after the recession and the increase in high paying employment opportunities, a number of middle class families have opted to move into China Town as it is affordable to them and its location in Manhattan is favorable too. This, however, has resulted in the increase in rents and poor families have been forced to exit the area.
- What strategies have you put in place for the low-income households that have the possibility of experiencing displacement?
Our strategies are limited since the rents and commodity prices are controlled by the forced of demand and supply. However, we are in contact with our political representative to seek means of ensuring that the housing needs of the poor household are met. Apart from that, we do not have any other strategy to prevent the displacement