Commercialization Of Chinatown
Moreover, a substantiated argument can be made in favor of the commercializing process. In regards to Gallery Place/ Chinatown particularly, recent decades have shown economic growth and a reduction of poverty in that specific area, as well as a dramatic shift in the socio-economic class and diversity of the population. For example, two decades ago the majority of Chinatown’s population identified as Chinese or of Asian descent, while today “most of the neighborhood’s residents are young professionals with reasonably-sized disposable incomes” (Abrams). Though this socio-economic shift in the population represents an increase in racial diversity and wealth distribution, it at the same time signifies a dramatic reduction in the traditional socio-economic
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According to Alan Pyke, the Deputy Economic Policy Editor for ThinkProgress.org, the construction of the Verizon Center in 1996 have frayed the ethnic character and close-knit low-income community that once defined Chinatown. Chipotle and Starbucks, among other chain foods and entertainments, have replaced Chinese businesses and have devoid much of Chinatown of its culture. The ethnic enclave that consisted of mom-and-pop storefronts transformed “into a kitschy block where Chipotle is written in Chinese characters — and luxury condos and glittering nightspots now compete with the ornate Friendship Archway for the eye’s attention” (Wang). This transformation, in every aspect but name, has transitioned Chinatown into a chinacornner. As a result, the surviving landmarks of the old Chinatown have become a rare aspect of the new. However, though many of the traditional residents of Chinatown acknowledges that the area is almost completely different from the one they knew, the area still holds value to them--regardless of its commercialization. As expressed by Tang, a current resident fighting to remain in the area, “even though it’s not Chinatown anymore, we still want to stay here. Where we feel safe” (Wang). This desire to remain in the area, regardless of the increasing difficulty to do so, illustrates the importance of Chinatown to its native population. However, as the area becomes more and more commercialized and predominantly filled with a wealthy white population, Tang’s and even chinacornner’s chance of remaining in the area
According to Alan Pyke, the Deputy Economic Policy Editor for ThinkProgress.org, the construction of the Verizon Center in 1996 have frayed the ethnic character and close-knit low-income community that once defined Chinatown. Chipotle and Starbucks, among other chain foods and entertainments, have replaced Chinese businesses and have devoid much of Chinatown of its culture. The ethnic enclave that consisted of mom-and-pop storefronts transformed “into a kitschy block where Chipotle is written in Chinese characters — and luxury condos and glittering nightspots now compete with the ornate Friendship Archway for the eye’s attention” (Wang). This transformation, in every aspect but name, has transitioned Chinatown into a chinacornner. As a result, the surviving landmarks of the old Chinatown have become a rare aspect of the new. However, though many of the traditional residents of Chinatown acknowledges that the area is almost completely different from the one they knew, the area still holds value to them--regardless of its commercialization. As expressed by Tang, a current resident fighting to remain in the area, “even though it’s not Chinatown anymore, we still want to stay here. Where we feel safe” (Wang). This desire to remain in the area, regardless of the increasing difficulty to do so, illustrates the importance of Chinatown to its native population. However, as the area becomes more and more commercialized and predominantly filled with a wealthy white population, Tang’s and even chinacornner’s chance of remaining in the area