I am fully aware of the complexities surrounding the issue of gentrification and this post was in no way meant to provide a full outline of this topic. My field of research was in urban/neighborhood revitalization, so yes, I know this issue from both angles.

Shaw is full of very nice, wonderful people, both long standing residents and the newer arrivals. There are, however, some residents who make a bad name for Shaw. This includes the O Street Gang, who have been responsible for a number of shootings and homicides literally up the street from my home. It also includes: the men who have attempted to grab me inappropriately as I walk to and from work; the VERY FEW teenagers who have stolen wallets, purses, bikes and patio furniture (among many other things) from the neighborhood; and the drug dealers who I have seen selling on a street corner literally three blocks from a school.

I have actively been involved in various groups in Shaw that are trying to bring together the old and new residents to help heal the strife caused by gentrification. Shaw is a wonderful neighborhood full of incredibly friendly, caring people (both longtime and new residents) who just want to make the neighborhood a safe and vibrant community for residents and children to live.

This post was about the options currently available to us as far as grocery stores (which are not good) and the options that will soon be available. It’s also about how some residents (and these are just SOME) who are resisting new options for the wrong reasons (i.e. racial issues). Being African-American, I really want to see these tensions especially eased.

I never professed to be providing an in depth review of gentrification through this blog. It was simply a look at the options currently in Shaw and how they fail to provide quality service to ALL of it’s residents.

if you feel you are ‘braving the gentrification of Shaw’ (a quote from ‘Hello Lovah’), why live there at all? your contempt/disdain for the neighborhood and its inhabitants is fairly obvious.

Homeimprovementninja – To say that the Shaw Giant leaves a lot to be desired is an understatement. Trust me, I’m counting down to the Urban Safeway’s grand opening!