Thursday, September 18, 2014
Blog Discussion #1
At this point in the semester, it is worthwhile to share your reactions to what you
are learning about OTR. What issues in OTR do you find most intriguing to
explore and why? As a class, what do we have to gain through our future
inquiries into OTR? Who might directly benefit from our work in the
neighborhood? Keep in mind that any of your responses to these questions are
bound to be tentative and open to revision. Indeed, there remains a lot of
learning to do. However, as a class, it is still good to do an inventory of our
various perspectives in preparation for any class projects we decide to initiate
in the future. Please post a 50-100 word comment. In addition to posting your
own 50-100 word comment, we encourage you to post any additional comments you
might have to what others in class might say.
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Over-the-Rhine has a sense of home. This place is growing every day and people here are taking pride in their streets, neighborhood, and city as the days roll on. Since living here a month I’ve seen the changes going on. And yes, some changes may not be entirely welcomed by the neighborhood. The people that are bringing the wrong changes may seem like bad people or intruding but in reality all they want to do is help out the community. Everyone has a perfect image of OTR and really we don’t know the answer and probably never will know the answer to a perfect OTR. But we all can agree we want this to be a better place for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Taylor that "everyone has a perfect image of OTR..." The development and changes happening in OTR right now are exciting and great for the city as a whole. Through this class I have learned more about gentrification and that it's an issue at hand right now here in our city. I have also learned about the great community organizations that are doing amazing things for the residents of OTR that can no longer afford to live, work, or play in the neighborhood. However exciting the changes in OTR are, new community members need to be made aware of the issues at hand and they need to know the importance of creating affordable housing in OTR. I think the key to moving forward with development in OTR is for people to listen and learn, to reach out to their neighbors of all color, of all income level, and to embrace diversity and work to keep that diversity local and proud. I'm really excited to be diving a little deeper into some of these issues because it's really challenging my thoughts on urban development.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the issue of gentrification in our city. It is intriguing to witness the people that go out of their way to help the people that are less fortunate than them. Particularly because of gentrification, more and more people are becoming homeless. OTR's current and former residents can certainly benefit from our work in the neighborhood. It is important that we let people know what is going on the neighborhood. From an unknowing point of view, it just seems like a bad place is becoming good; it is our job to let people know that the neighborhood's residents matter and their voices must be heard. If their voices are heard, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am learning about OTR is that while it is an uprising neighborhood there have been many things that have been pushed aside and forgotten about. OTR is very nice and a fun place to be in and watch develop, I just wish that there was more compromise between the people who currently have lived in OTR and the development companies.I have also learned that there is no simple solution and that these issues are really complex. It can be overwhelming. I enjoy that we are taking a class about OTR because the more we learn the more we can spread the messages about what we learned and pass them on hopefully engaging more people to be involved.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult for me to collect my thoughts about OTR. I've only been here for a month now but there's so much we've learned and seen, it's hard to keep it all together. I like exploring the issue of homelessness and displacement, mainly because it seems to me like these are the biggest problems coming out of the gentrification going on right now and I feel like it's all we talk about. And that's not bad, its certainly something that should be talked about. I'm glad we're learning about it because after living here I feel safe assuming that a lot of people moving into the neighborhood probably don't talk about these problems, or even care about them, enough. Every time I think about 3CDC I get angry and think of them as the "bad guys." I guess that's not necessarily the case because like Taylor said, they're trying to help the community. But I can't help but think there's so much more they could actually do for the community. I feel like too many people don't realize what's actually going on around them. More people need to be aware of situations like the one here in Over the Rhine, especially when they live in these places. I wonder how many of the new people moving into condos and high end apartments know anything about the neighborhood other than "It's really becoming a nicer area now." I think educating people about this place and getting people to talk to their neighbors is vital. If any problem is going to be solved it needs to start with everyone understanding the issue.
ReplyDeleteYes! Too many people DON'T realize what's actually going on. Not saying the development is bad, but you are so right in saying that 3CDC could be doing so much more for the WHOLE community. Well said.
DeleteFrom a suburban perspective, OTR is viewed as a death trap. That is the only view I ever had before taking this class. Before this class, I didn't even know about the issues regarding the redevelopment and gentrification; OTR was a whole new world to me, and still kind of is. However, I'm learning new things each time we're at Buddy's Place. The most intriguing issue to me so far is the positive rhetoric surrounding the redevelopment while the issue of displacement is swept under the rug. Ashley is correct in saying there is no simple solution; in fact, it is very hard for me personally to develop a solid opinion on the issues. The redevelopment is amazing but at the same time, so much pain is caused because of it. So what side of the fence should we be on? It is a very complex issue with more than one answer. Being from the greater Cincinnati area, I have taken a great interest in these issues and I'm excited to learn more. I think our class can be an outlet for small progressive change; through the upcoming interviews for example. We get the chance to provide a voice for the voiceless and let people in the community be heard.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the fact that we have taken a multifaceted look at the issues that face OTR. We have not singled out or labeled anyone as being "right" or "wrong" for their work in the neighborhood. Changes include, for example, the reduction of crime, at the cost of being policed more, and increased property value and desirability to move into the neighborhood, at the cost of gentrifying some of the long-time residents. There are many push and pull factors obviously at work here. There is a balance, that I believe many people want to achieve, between attracting hip, young, bussiness-minded, people and serving those who already live in the community and call it home. There is a necessity for grassroots groups to continue their fight so that balance can be achieved and maintained. I can step back and see that some of the great improvements have come at the cost of gentrification, but I feel that the people investing money into OTR also have come to really care about the area and it's residents, old and new. I think OTR's long history should not be ignored, cut up, or marginalized, but celebrated and incorporated into future endeavors.
ReplyDeleteThe issues concerning Over-the-Rhine, gentrification, and the displacement of the poor and homeless are much bigger than an organization called 3CDC or the city of Cincinnati. We are seeing the results of a political philosophy that treats the poor and homeless as "others" in order to maximize profits. Gentrification is one aspect of this political reality, but a very important one, as it is tied to so many other social crises: hunger, homelessness, and institutionalized racism.
ReplyDeleteThe development of Over-the-Rhine, while encouraging, masks the reality that a great many citizens were all but forced to abandoned their homes and enter a new reality of transitional living or homelessness. Because so many citizens have been conditioned to view poor and homeless people as wholly to blame for their circumstances, there is a great challenge in presenting the other side of that argument. It's easier to blame people for their circumstances rather than explore the complex reasons that those circumstances developed.
Over the Rhine is beautiful, dense, diverse, and a Battle ground. Before I did this program, I was all for the 3CDC model of urban renewal and development. I find it funny that when I was doing research before coming, none of the articles I came across mentioned any negative things about the development. I have to say the curriculum in the program has definitely been a wakeup call, and I feel that a lot of people from Cincinnati would benefit from knowing the stories of neighborhood people
ReplyDeleteWhat i am learning while not only taking this Writing for Social Change course but also living here in the heart of this historic neighborhood is very powerful and impacting. What I was first hit with in a way that made me take a few steps back and research and think about this new knowledge is just the overall injustices occurring every day with residents within the OTR neighborhood. The other day, we were learning about the United WorkForce center right across the street from Buddy's place and how they deal with the injustices occurring within jobs that the poor and the immigrants are experiencing. The personal stories that we heard from people who experienced these injustices were incredible and the efforts that the staff at this corporation do is incredible. Everyday there is a new group that pops up to discuss with us the efforts they are king in order to improve OTR and everyday it breaks my heart that this neighborhood needs so many groups to hold on.
ReplyDeleteAs an outsider looking in I see a few big problems with the Over the Rhine area. The first problem I see is that no one listens to the stories of those who are oppressed living in the OTR area. If we could lend an ear to some of these stories the area would be much better off than it is now. People want to be heard, if we can somehow show people that we are there for them it will be great. The positive effects of care are tremendous. When looking at the OTR area through my eyes I just see an area that is hurt and needs love.
ReplyDeleteEducation is another issue I see. If we could somehow pave the way for those in the area who want to pursue further education it would be beautiful. The right role models can make a huge difference. I would much rather see youth looking up to the college student than to the guy who is selling drugs on the corner. Hopefully we can all help in making education a sought after priority.