The government of Chicago is to interested in keeping it's poor as "victims."
If they bought houses and became educated how could the county and city justify taking the highest taxes in the country to take care of them?
As long as there are "victims" projects like Wilson Yard, Welfare, and all the other slew of government funded projects aim at not correcting behavior but condoning irresponsible living and enabling the next generation of liberal voters.
I know, I know, Im heartless..I can hear it now from the bloggers how we need these programs for "some" people.
When the life raft gets full the whole thing tips over and then everyone drowns.
"Though college-educated whites accounted for 20% of the total income gain in gentrifying neighborhoods, black householders with high school degrees contributed even more: 33% of the neighborhood's total rise."
Oh my.
So, in a nutshell, if a person attains at least a high school degree, and their neighborhood gentrifies instead of languishing in tax-assisted stagnation, they stand a good chance in seeing positive momentum in their own lives due to being in an upward environment?
Whodathunkit?
UD's right, of course. The entire political foundation of Helen and her ilk is to take habitual advantage of the less-advantaged.
That is to say: profit from their misfortune.
Ensuring continued stagnation, while tossing out the occasional bone, may not be good for the community as a whole, but it does tend to lead to winning elections.
Speaking of which - since there's no sign that Target, or anyone else, is coming to WY (other than more low-income) ..., let's take a second to consider the influx of soon-to-be-baptized Helen supporters that will be living a stone's throw from her office.
I am not sure how the numbers in this link were calculated, but they are per bedroom costs that EXCEED the median price of the same units that are for sale. That's a big problem.
This problem is comparable to consuming more calories as a means of losing weight.
The fact that gentrification doesn't generally displace people directly has been well known for years. What generally happens is that those who are leaving anyway are not replaced by others of a similar ethnic or economic background.
There are obviously exceptions to that.
What I did find surprising was the other economic data they found regarding the rise of income attributed to black high school educated folks. Although that makes sense among those who own their own properties or businesses and see the value going up greatly.
In many neighborhoods those most happy are often the long term homeowners of any racial background. They get safer neighborhoods and rising values.
I've been pushing this line of thinking about gentrification for years based on that older Duke study. The academic consensus is shifting toward this line of thinking.
I had a friend at Heartland Alliance who was completely shocked by these newer gentrification studies. If you've made fighting gentrification your life's idealistic mission, it will take more than a shifting academic consensus to change your mind. Who wants to realize that their life's mission has beena waste of time after donating so much time and energy?
I get a big kick out of comments like "if they bought houses and became educated," especially in light of the mass mortgage fraud that's taken place in the past several years, with many unqualified buyers receiving home loans with repayment schedules they simply cannot afford. And the loudest cheerleader for this: The Bush administration, in concert with former Fed Chief Alan Greenspan and Wall St. investment firms. (Oh, I forget . . . . investment firms "deserve" bail outs!)
In addition: " . . . and all the other slew of government funded projects aim at not correcting behavior but condoning irresponsible living and enabling the next generation of liberal* voters. . . "
*I'm assuming Uptown Dad is one of those Rush Limbaugh acolytes who has been brain-trained by constant Rush-listening to substitute "liberal" for "Democrat." But in reality, that exact sentence--especially the "irresponsible living" reference, could be equally applied to corpulent Republicans in their approach to energy use and conservation since the Reagan era, the current massive budget deficit, the needless Iraq war, Bush adm appointees (just donate $100,000), prisoner torture, needless pork-barrel projects, FEMA, and the hiring of politically motivated Justice Department employees, to name just a few examples.
In Uptown Dad's world view, things are messed up because Ronald Reagan's welfare queen is still tooling around in her Escalade, and buying filet mignon with her food stamps so she can go home and eat it in front of her wide-screen TV. Maybe he should turn off WLS for a few minutes to check out exactly how much (actually, "how little") of the government budget is dedicated to welfare and social programs.
Yet take a pole of UU and see who has the sane world view, you or me?
Maybe I should of said your "liberal" friends take advantage of the poor for profit the same way "my conservative" friends take advantage of the religious sector?
Yet it isn't Christians shooting up the neighborhood I live in now is it?
You want to read up on my political beliefs? Here you go..
http://www.lp.org/platform
Just an FYI, there are more that two parties. Hope all is well in Evanston. Tell your folks I said hello when you go upstairs.
On that note I am pumped to meet with the Senator tonight!
First of all, UD, you need to get your BJ filter checked. Did you get a warantee from amazon.com? I hope so!!!
From everything that I've read "gentrification" equates to lacking diversity which equates to forcing out the poor. Does anyone else see this issue as somewhat racist?
If "gentrification" means cleaner neighborhoods, less crime, more business, more jobs, etc., I say hip-hip-hooray for gentrification! When can we hold GentriFest 2008?
LOL ... BJ, the best possible response to your post is this:
arugula!
Not to delve into the details and such, since that argument can last all night with no one able to take home the trophy; but, for as much as you consider UD's comments to be right-wing/neocon boiler plate, one could as easily dismiss your comments as left-wing/big "L" liberal boiler plate.
You two cancel each other out.
How 'bout UD turn off WLS, and you do the same with AM820, stop regurgitating irrational talking points and everyone leave party affiliations at the door?
Cuz ..., when it comes right down to it many of the important issues the folks on this site are upset about are the result of a democratic government at city/county level, and a nasty democratic government at the state level which replaced a nasty republican government.
Ain't no ones' hands clean in anything and the moral high ground is currently vacant.
lol..for real i was kicking myself for even responding. I was still pumped from work, all tense and such. I just did a bike ride to calm down. Not from BJ, but from the day.
On a side note, I was working around Garfield and Wentworth today, and joined a great conversation with four women about all the shootings. They didn't let me in the conversation until I mentioned I lived in Uptown. I love it when I tell people I live in Uptown and I get a "ooooh yeah."
billyjoe with many unqualified buyers receiving home loans with repayment schedules they simply cannot afford
It takes 2 to tango. My wife and I could have been accepted for a $500k to $750k mortgage easily. But we didn't take it because we understood that we can't afford that. We figured out our budget and didn't fall for an ARM or any sort of non-fixed rate mortgage. We know exactly how much we spend each month and spend within our means. I have no sympathy for people that bought out of their means and I don't feel that I should be the one on the hook for them.
This gentrification issue is a good topic for me to ask a question I've had for a long time. I'm just curious as to how many of the people here, either the regular contributors or the ones just passing through, knew about the conditions in the neighborhood when they moved in. Did you know about the crime situation when you moved in? About who the alderman was and what their reputation/story was? Were you completely mislead about it by someone? Were you told it was getting better? Did you move in with the intention of helping to clean it up? Did you move in because the deal on where you live was too good to pass up?
I'm not saying "you should just accept it" when it comes to the crime, etc. as if that is the fate of Uptown forever. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to make it better. I'm just curious. I mean, so many of the postings here as well as the responses, dwell on the negatives of Uptown (crime, lousy City Hall representation, etc.) that I'm just curious what people were thinking when they moved into the area.
I've been a little hesitant to ask this question for fear of coming off in the wrong manner. Again, not making a judgement call on anyone or saying you shouldn't complain and work to improvement it because it is was it is. Just wondering. Or maybe this is a whole different topic...
Oh, and I've lived in the area since '85 but actually started coming around here a few years before that for various reasons.
Oh, and by the way, in light of this study, should Webster change its definition of "gentrification"?
I knew exactly what I was getting into, but I live in Buena Park and don't actually have many issues with crime or any of the other Uptown nastiness. I knew all about Helen Shiller, but figured she was on the way out based on the changinge neighborhood demographics. I knew all about Wilson Yard, but it didn't scare me enough to avoid Buena Park--and I did leave a buffer of several blocks.
The only thing I didn't anticipate was the terrible voter apathy in Uptown. Shiller won, but very few people actually voted in that election considering the population of the ward.
Why did I move to Uptown? Well Buena Park is actually a pretty great place to live, and I've had fewer problems with crime and harassment than any other Chicago neighborhood I've lived in. If I lived near the Wilson "L" stop, I might feel differently.
In response to man on the street, I knew about the neighborhood when I moved in March 2007. I had a friend that lived in Uptown. He moved to Edgewater after Shiller won re-election. He tried to sway me away from moving here.
The big determining factor for me was that I could afford a brand new 2 BR/2 BA in Uptown. I couldn't come close to anything in Lakeview that I'd like and Edgewater seemed a bit pricey, too.
I knew there was crime and homelessness in Uptown, but I accepted it as a con. There's a long list of pros - the theaters, nightlife, restaurants, etc. I honestly only see the articles and news about the gangs/crime/violence, but I have never witnessed anything outside of some graffiti. I honestly have never felt unsafe in Uptown, but I think that's partly to having a dog with me everytime I go walking.
I actually hope that Uptown changes in the way Lakeview and Edgewater have changed. It feels like since we're in the middle of those two neighborhoods, it's only a matter of time before the gays all move here and fix it up (me being one of them :)
I don't think citizens should stand for rising crime and violence, but I'm wondering what we can do to help find a solution. That's part of the reason why I'm on here...I think awareness is a start, right?
Okay, let the hypercritical tear me apart for my opinions and stupid decisions now...and go! :)
I moved to Uptown in 2000. I had friends who live here and I sort of heard about their frustration with Shiller but didn't pay much attention, not realizing that aldermen take on special powers here in Chicago that they don't get in other cities.
Btw, I am a renter. I have rented here for 8 years because I can afford it. Someday I hope to be able to purchase in this area. In the meantime, I have spent 8 years calling 911 (daily), getting to know my neighbors, working around the alderman's office to get things done, and doing everything else I can to make my neighborhood a safe place for everyone with less crime (and that mean's ALL crime...even the ones who like to expose themselves, pee outside wherever they like, stand on the corners with open containers and get drunk, etc... but mostly I call on the the gangbangers, drug dealers/users and prostitutes that hang out and in the buildings around the corner of Malden and Leland (4650 N. Malden, 4654-56 N. Malden, 4655-57 N. Malden, & the Miriam Apts.).
I stay here because I do love it here. I have great neighbors. I like the diversity. There are great people in the problem buildings I mentioned, which is a real shame because some of them have to live in fear and frustration.
I have quicky discovered that the problems here in Uptown are largely political and there are groups that feed on and distribute fear and hate to keep their alderwoman in power. I am a believer that the good guy finishes last and I'm in it til the end!
Proximity to the L and buses. Wonderfully close to the lake. Nice residential streets. Many of the classic three-story center-entrance rental and condo buildings are in great shape, mine included. Large size units in most buildings. Could see the progress starting at Broadway and Lawrence. All of the above would have cost a fortune in other neighborhoods. I knew most of the things about the social services in the area. It was included in my decision. I don't regret it at all. I regret not seeing the housing market crash. I regret not knowing who the heck Helen Shiller was. Minor details. We're none of us perfect.
I want to thank the people that answered my question. Like I said, I wasn't trying to be a wiseass and say, "Well if you knew, why are you compalining?!?" Again, thanks.
And in the issue of full disclosure (and I have stated this before), I now live in Edgewater but have spent so much time between the two areas that it's all a blur to me. And to the person who said they hope Uptown changes like Edgwater, I actually think Edgewater gotten a little worse. Sure there are new shops, condos, restaurant, etc. (just like Uptown), but the crime/quality of life situation has gotten a little worse. For instance there are alwasy people hanging out in front of the grocery story on Bryn Mawr... which also happens to sell liquor. And they also loiter in front of That Little Mexican Restaurant (where there was an incident recently). I wrote both of them a letter suggesting they cut this loitering off at the bud, lest someone in the community get the bright idea to vote the area dry, a la Granville.
An interesting read at Time Magazine here.
Interesting. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThe government of Chicago is to interested in keeping it's poor as "victims."
ReplyDeleteIf they bought houses and became educated how could the county and city justify taking the highest taxes in the country to take care of them?
As long as there are "victims" projects like Wilson Yard, Welfare, and all the other slew of government funded projects aim at not correcting behavior but condoning irresponsible living and enabling the next generation of liberal voters.
I know, I know, Im heartless..I can hear it now from the bloggers how we need these programs for "some" people.
When the life raft gets full the whole thing tips over and then everyone drowns.
"Though college-educated whites accounted for 20% of the total income gain in gentrifying neighborhoods, black householders with high school degrees contributed even more: 33% of the neighborhood's total rise."
ReplyDeleteOh my.
So, in a nutshell, if a person attains at least a high school degree, and their neighborhood gentrifies instead of languishing in tax-assisted stagnation, they stand a good chance in seeing positive momentum in their own lives due to being in an upward environment?
Whodathunkit?
UD's right, of course. The entire political foundation of Helen and her ilk is to take habitual advantage of the less-advantaged.
That is to say: profit from their misfortune.
Ensuring continued stagnation, while tossing out the occasional bone, may not be good for the community as a whole, but it does tend to lead to winning elections.
Speaking of which - since there's no sign that Target, or anyone else, is coming to WY (other than more low-income) ..., let's take a second to consider the influx of soon-to-be-baptized Helen supporters that will be living a stone's throw from her office.
It's enough to make ya' cry.
I am not sure how the numbers in this link were calculated, but they are per bedroom costs that EXCEED the median price of the same units that are for sale. That's a big problem.
ReplyDeleteThis problem is comparable to consuming more calories as a means of losing weight.
The fact that gentrification doesn't generally displace people directly has been well known for years. What generally happens is that those who are leaving anyway are not replaced by others of a similar ethnic or economic background.
ReplyDeleteThere are obviously exceptions to that.
What I did find surprising was the other economic data they found regarding the rise of income attributed to black high school educated folks. Although that makes sense among those who own their own properties or businesses and see the value going up greatly.
In many neighborhoods those most happy are often the long term homeowners of any racial background. They get safer neighborhoods and rising values.
I've been pushing this line of thinking about gentrification for years based on that older Duke study. The academic consensus is shifting toward this line of thinking.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend at Heartland Alliance who was completely shocked by these newer gentrification studies. If you've made fighting gentrification your life's idealistic mission, it will take more than a shifting academic consensus to change your mind. Who wants to realize that their life's mission has beena waste of time after donating so much time and energy?
"Who wants to realize that their life's mission has beena waste of time after donating so much time and energy?"
ReplyDeleteHow many of us root for the Chicago Cubs?
It's like this 'Old Style' thing has a purpose.
Buy your life wasting gentrification opponents a beer and in exchange ask them for 10 minutes to talk.
I get a big kick out of comments like "if they bought houses and became educated," especially in light of the mass mortgage fraud that's taken place in the past several years, with many unqualified buyers receiving home loans with repayment schedules they simply cannot afford. And the loudest cheerleader for this: The Bush administration, in concert with former Fed Chief Alan Greenspan and Wall St. investment firms. (Oh, I forget . . . . investment firms "deserve" bail outs!)
ReplyDeleteIn addition: " . . . and all the other slew of government funded projects aim at not correcting behavior but condoning irresponsible living and enabling the next generation of liberal* voters. . . "
*I'm assuming Uptown Dad is one of those Rush Limbaugh acolytes who has been brain-trained by constant Rush-listening to substitute "liberal" for "Democrat." But in reality, that exact sentence--especially the "irresponsible living" reference, could be equally applied to corpulent Republicans in their approach to energy use and conservation since the Reagan era, the current massive budget deficit, the needless Iraq war, Bush adm appointees (just donate $100,000), prisoner torture, needless pork-barrel projects, FEMA, and the hiring of politically motivated Justice Department employees, to name just a few examples.
In Uptown Dad's world view, things are messed up because Ronald Reagan's welfare queen is still tooling around in her Escalade, and buying filet mignon with her food stamps so she can go home and eat it in front of her wide-screen TV. Maybe he should turn off WLS for a few minutes to check out exactly how much (actually, "how little") of the government budget is dedicated to welfare and social programs.
BJ...
ReplyDeleteYet take a pole of UU and see who has the sane world view, you or me?
Maybe I should of said your "liberal" friends take advantage of the poor for profit the same way "my conservative" friends take advantage of the religious sector?
Yet it isn't Christians shooting up the neighborhood I live in now is it?
You want to read up on my political beliefs? Here you go..
http://www.lp.org/platform
Just an FYI, there are more that two parties. Hope all is well in Evanston. Tell your folks I said hello when you go upstairs.
On that note I am pumped to meet with the Senator tonight!
Boys, boys, boys... let's keep to the issues and stop making it personal. I don't want to have to separate you. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, UD, you need to get your BJ filter checked. Did you get a warantee from amazon.com? I hope so!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom everything that I've read "gentrification" equates to lacking diversity which equates to forcing out the poor. Does anyone else see this issue as somewhat racist?
If "gentrification" means cleaner neighborhoods, less crime, more business, more jobs, etc., I say hip-hip-hooray for gentrification! When can we hold GentriFest 2008?
xxxooo
An evil condo owner
LOL ... BJ, the best possible response to your post is this:
ReplyDeletearugula!
Not to delve into the details and such, since that argument can last all night with no one able to take home the trophy; but, for as much as you consider UD's comments to be right-wing/neocon boiler plate, one could as easily dismiss your comments as left-wing/big "L" liberal boiler plate.
You two cancel each other out.
How 'bout UD turn off WLS, and you do the same with AM820, stop regurgitating irrational talking points and everyone leave party affiliations at the door?
Cuz ..., when it comes right down to it many of the important issues the folks on this site are upset about are the result of a democratic government at city/county level, and a nasty democratic government at the state level which replaced a nasty republican government.
Ain't no ones' hands clean in anything and the moral high ground is currently vacant.
lol..for real i was kicking myself for even responding. I was still pumped from work, all tense and such. I just did a bike ride to calm down. Not from BJ, but from the day.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I was working around Garfield and Wentworth today, and joined a great conversation with four women about all the shootings. They didn't let me in the conversation until I mentioned I lived in Uptown. I love it when I tell people I live in Uptown and I get a "ooooh yeah."
billyjoe
ReplyDeletewith many unqualified buyers receiving home loans with repayment schedules they simply cannot afford
It takes 2 to tango. My wife and I could have been accepted for a $500k to $750k mortgage easily. But we didn't take it because we understood that we can't afford that. We figured out our budget and didn't fall for an ARM or any sort of non-fixed rate mortgage. We know exactly how much we spend each month and spend within our means. I have no sympathy for people that bought out of their means and I don't feel that I should be the one on the hook for them.
This gentrification issue is a good topic for me to ask a question I've had for a long time. I'm just curious as to how many of the people here, either the regular contributors or the ones just passing through, knew about the conditions in the neighborhood when they moved in. Did you know about the crime situation when you moved in? About who the alderman was and what their reputation/story was? Were you completely mislead about it by someone? Were you told it was getting better? Did you move in with the intention of helping to clean it up? Did you move in because the deal on where you live was too good to pass up?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying "you should just accept it" when it comes to the crime, etc. as if that is the fate of Uptown forever. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to make it better. I'm just curious. I mean, so many of the postings here as well as the responses, dwell on the negatives of Uptown (crime, lousy City Hall representation, etc.) that I'm just curious what people were thinking when they moved into the area.
I've been a little hesitant to ask this question for fear of coming off in the wrong manner. Again, not making a judgement call on anyone or saying you shouldn't complain and work to improvement it because it is was it is. Just wondering. Or maybe this is a whole different topic...
Oh, and I've lived in the area since '85 but actually started coming around here a few years before that for various reasons.
Oh, and by the way, in light of this study, should Webster change its definition of "gentrification"?
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification
BTW, here's a story from 2005 that says the same thing...
ReplyDeleteI knew exactly what I was getting into, but I live in Buena Park and don't actually have many issues with crime or any of the other Uptown nastiness. I knew all about Helen Shiller, but figured she was on the way out based on the changinge neighborhood demographics. I knew all about Wilson Yard, but it didn't scare me enough to avoid Buena Park--and I did leave a buffer of several blocks.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I didn't anticipate was the terrible voter apathy in Uptown. Shiller won, but very few people actually voted in that election considering the population of the ward.
Why did I move to Uptown? Well Buena Park is actually a pretty great place to live, and I've had fewer problems with crime and harassment than any other Chicago neighborhood I've lived in. If I lived near the Wilson "L" stop, I might feel differently.
In response to man on the street, I knew about the neighborhood when I moved in March 2007. I had a friend that lived in Uptown. He moved to Edgewater after Shiller won re-election. He tried to sway me away from moving here.
ReplyDeleteThe big determining factor for me was that I could afford a brand new 2 BR/2 BA in Uptown. I couldn't come close to anything in Lakeview that I'd like and Edgewater seemed a bit pricey, too.
I knew there was crime and homelessness in Uptown, but I accepted it as a con. There's a long list of pros - the theaters, nightlife, restaurants, etc. I honestly only see the articles and news about the gangs/crime/violence, but I have never witnessed anything outside of some graffiti. I honestly have never felt unsafe in Uptown, but I think that's partly to having a dog with me everytime I go walking.
I actually hope that Uptown changes in the way Lakeview and Edgewater have changed. It feels like since we're in the middle of those two neighborhoods, it's only a matter of time before the gays all move here and fix it up (me being one of them :)
I don't think citizens should stand for rising crime and violence, but I'm wondering what we can do to help find a solution. That's part of the reason why I'm on here...I think awareness is a start, right?
Okay, let the hypercritical tear me apart for my opinions and stupid decisions now...and go! :)
Survey answer..
ReplyDeleteI moved to Uptown 4 years ago because my sperm merged with her egg creating the equal and opposite reaction of my furniture merging with her condo.
Now do I have permission to not like Shiller and her vision and to comment on it when I see fit? Please?
I moved to Uptown in 2000. I had friends who live here and I sort of heard about their frustration with Shiller but didn't pay much attention, not realizing that aldermen take on special powers here in Chicago that they don't get in other cities.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I am a renter. I have rented here for 8 years because I can afford it. Someday I hope to be able to purchase in this area. In the meantime, I have spent 8 years calling 911 (daily), getting to know my neighbors, working around the alderman's office to get things done, and doing everything else I can to make my neighborhood a safe place for everyone with less crime (and that mean's ALL crime...even the ones who like to expose themselves, pee outside wherever they like, stand on the corners with open containers and get drunk, etc... but mostly I call on the the gangbangers, drug dealers/users and prostitutes that hang out and in the buildings around the corner of Malden and Leland (4650 N. Malden, 4654-56 N. Malden, 4655-57 N. Malden, & the Miriam Apts.).
I stay here because I do love it here. I have great neighbors. I like the diversity. There are great people in the problem buildings I mentioned, which is a real shame because some of them have to live in fear and frustration.
I have quicky discovered that the problems here in Uptown are largely political and there are groups that feed on and distribute fear and hate to keep their alderwoman in power. I am a believer that the good guy finishes last and I'm in it til the end!
here's a link to a draft of the study Time mag is reporting on:
ReplyDeleteWho Gentrifies Low-Income Neighborhoods?
Terra McKinnish
Randall Walsh
Kirk White
November 2007
hey update, how bout some credit for this tip??!!!!
ReplyDeleteConsider it done "Mr Holmes on Clarendon." We do apologize. Please see the updated post.
ReplyDeleteWhy did I move here?
ReplyDeleteProximity to the L and buses. Wonderfully close to the lake. Nice residential streets. Many of the classic three-story center-entrance rental and condo buildings are in great shape, mine included. Large size units in most buildings. Could see the progress starting at Broadway and Lawrence. All of the above would have cost a fortune in other neighborhoods. I knew most of the things about the social services in the area. It was included in my decision. I don't regret it at all. I regret not seeing the housing market crash. I regret not knowing who the heck Helen Shiller was. Minor details. We're none of us perfect.
I want to thank the people that answered my question. Like I said, I wasn't trying to be a wiseass and say, "Well if you knew, why are you compalining?!?" Again, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the issue of full disclosure (and I have stated this before), I now live in Edgewater but have spent so much time between the two areas that it's all a blur to me. And to the person who said they hope Uptown changes like Edgwater, I actually think Edgewater gotten a little worse. Sure there are new shops, condos, restaurant, etc. (just like Uptown), but the crime/quality of life situation has gotten a little worse. For instance there are alwasy people hanging out in front of the grocery story on Bryn Mawr... which also happens to sell liquor. And they also loiter in front of That Little Mexican Restaurant (where there was an incident recently). I wrote both of them a letter suggesting they cut this loitering off at the bud, lest someone in the community get the bright idea to vote the area dry, a la Granville.
1) Did you know about the crime situation when you moved in?
ReplyDeleteYes, but its exceeded my expectations.
2) About who the alderman was and what their reputation/story was?
No. Knew nothing about the political story.
3) Did you move in with the intention of helping to clean it up?
No. Just moved to live here. Turns out I like it a lot and want to stay here. Now I want to really alter its current course.
I now view Uptown as the protypical neighborhood that will be the repaired pothole that robs the machine of its fuel.