gentrification Archives - Memos and Mirth

Redeveloping the Gayborhood

November 12, 2020

Dallas’ gayborhood is buzzing about two new residential towers planned along Cedar Springs Road.

The high-rises would be built in the surface parking lots behind the gay bars on that side of Cedar Springs — JRs, TMC, Sue Ellen’s, S4, and Woody’s. The developer said that it would replace the surface lot parking and provide the bars with a medium-term lease.

Proposed new highrises in Dallas’s gayborhood. (GDA Architects )

Of course many people are exercised about change – the two primary complaints being increased prices and parking.

Both concerns seem misplaced.

Architecture / Ivy City

Something looks familiar

August 22, 2020

New construction in the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington, DC.

The Ivy City neighborhood is rapidly gentrifying, so it is not unusual to see brand new developments abutting shells of former buildings. But this pair of buildings on Capitol Avenue NE looks mighty familiar.

Surely it is not a coincidence that they match perfectly? Perhaps this is what progress looks like.

Gentrification in the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington, DC.

There are a lot of random facades being propped up in this manner around the neighborhood. I am not sure why they are worth keeping, but at least they are providing inspiration for new buildings?

Chinatown

September 8, 2017

Washington D.C.’s Chinatown is a place that I will get to know well this semester — in addition to being the site of the closest subway stations to school, I am also externing at a law firm in the heart of Chinatown.

Oak Lawn

The Field & The Bar

May 26, 2016

Some mornings I venture to a Starbucks on the outskirts of Oak Lawn near the Medical District.

This is a unique Starbucks because you can’t go inside – it only has a walkup window and an extremely busy drive-thru.

The walkup Starbucks at the edge of Oak Lawn.

Ingrid the Labradoodle at the walkup Starbucks. She’s being patient.

My regular barista says that the walkup Starbucks has a reputation for making terrible drinks. I thought this was unnecessary shade until the walkup Starbucks botched my usual order of coffee with cream.