Urban Renewal

[Steve Boykin]

Houston, like a lot of American Sunbelt Cities has suddenly discovered you can only go so far out until people can no longer reasonably commute to work. This of course has led to frenzy of "urban" loft/condo construction. Photos on my way to the park this AM. The white houses are a historically black neighborhood that has been scheduled for "renewal" because they sit astride the very expensive new light rail system put in to run from downtown to University of Houston where I work. I'm not sure where the people who live here go, but I find it troubling. When I moved here 4 weeks ago people were living in these houses, now....... Anyway, this about 10 minutes from where I live/work. The phone booths are across the street from the houses/closed grocery. Sorry for the quality. I had to take these rather quickly because I had the dogs in the car and it's already hotter than Hades here.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Quite a depressed and depressing area, but somehow that makes for good photos.

 

[Steve Boykin]

Quite a depressed and depressin area, but somehow that makes for good photos.

If you go two blocks the other direction, it's all sparkling new "urban lofts." Actually my understanding is these houses are scheduled to be remodeled for "urban professionals." The new train line is right across the street. Everyone in my neighborhood is really worried about getting priced out. I'm the only gringo. They are nice family people, but when the property taxes go up it usually forces a migration. Right now I'm to the east in a hipster/hispanic neighborhood. I give it two years and the bankers/oil company professionals will be moving in.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

A very interesting story Steve with very interesting images. Sadly the world is steadily changing, not always to the better, but sometimes. I really like your documentary here which may prove very valuable in the future, documentary wise.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Excellent Steve, the order of the telephones struck me and stood out as an image. That divide is everywhere and sadly growing.

 

[Brian Moore]

Those first two images are quite shocking Steve. And in the first one, the semi with the great big teeth and open mouth grille rolling down the road is somehow appropriate to the image.

 

[Steve Boykin]

Those first two images are quite shocking Steve. And in the first one, the semi with the great big teeth and open mouth grille rolling down the road is somehow appropriate to the image.

Got lucky on the semi.

This whole area is just one big recycling project. In the 30's it was middle class, 40's/50's it became light industrial and poor, now it's going into the urban hipster phase. Eventually the current pioneer coffee shops, art spaces, et al will get priced out after all the "less desirable" residents move out. I went through this "urban renewal" cycle on Miami Beach in the 80's and Boston in the 90's. The high end condo's are springing up like mushrooms not far away. Given that we aren't mass transit friendly here in Texas, the fact that the city ran all three of it's light rails lines through this area tells me they have plans for the area that do not include it's current residents. They also have installed multiple lit biking trails that run downtown. I feel reasonably certain those aren't for the current and soon to be ex-residents either.

 

[Steve Boykin]

Excellent Steve, the order of the telephones struck me and stood out as an image. That divide is everywhere and sadly growing.

I guess I am just a bleeding heart liberal, but I do worry about where some of these people will end up. Unfortunately for them, the real estate they are sitting on is now considered valuable since it's 1-2 hour commute to downtown from the suburbs.

 

[Steve Boykin]

A very interesting story Steve with very interesting images. Sadly the world is steadily changing, not always to the better, but sometimes. I really like your documentary here which may prove very valuable in the future, documentary wise.

Thanks Ivar. I am really thinking about doing something to show the changes in the area I am living in. I like it the way it is now, but it won't stay that way. It's very diverse but racially, ethnically, and generationally. Unfortunately it's doubtful it will stay that way. Even though I am old, I like being around young people and people who have different backgrounds than mine. I find it intellectually stimulating.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

I couldn't agree more Steve to all you've said here. Do document your environment there, for generations to come. It is important I think and interesting while you also do it.