The only reason college students in the Pioneer Valley take a trip to Holyoke is for the mall, not even located in the downtown core. This is the only economic activity as evident by even a simple stroll through the center square. With few name brand stores, coffee shops, and aesthetically pleasing buildings, Holyoke looks like it is on it’s way to becoming a ghost town since it has not yet recovered from the post-industrial crash. The economy has not diversified and looked attractive to new residents. This, in turn, has led to a population that is aging in place. The staggering amount of retirement communities and health professionals in the city speak to this stagnant economy and growing age demographic. The only way the city of Holyoke can
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As cities have become more knowledge based and densely packed, urban renewal movements have commenced since the early 20th century. Kesha Moore writes, “Gentrification is commonly used to describe a class-based process of neighborhood transition in which affluent residents move into and upgrade lower-income neighborhoods, primarily through improvements in a neighborhood’s housing stock.” The main ‘gentrifiers’ are typically the government, private businesses, or white middle to upper class young people, often college graduates. Often the government and businesses have similar motives to improve the economy, especially in prime downtown space. Hipsters, who The Economist argues are the main perpetrators of gentrification, often move to these areas out of necessity or an idealist …show more content…
Yuppification would be convenient given the plethora of schools in the valley including the prestigious Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, and flagship campus for the University of Massachusetts system. If recent graduates found incentive to stay close to where they went to school and build connections within the valley, Holyoke could very well increase its’ population of millenials. There are already avant-garde art museums in dilapidated warehouses, apartments that resemble the dorms of Mount Holyoke, and beautiful parks near the canals. The only issue is that there are few housing and economic options, so the government needs to intervene. If the government deemed Holyoke a Landmark Site then tourism could be boosted and recent grads would have economic incentive to move there. Although there may be backlash to the idea of gentrification, in Holyoke and some other cities, the pros outweigh the cons. For example, services in the area often improve, the would help the aging population have access to better food, health service, and have a better quality of life. Also gentrification can disperse poverty and decentralize certain neighborhoods. Also gentrifiers improve the community because they often have a greater influence on the local government. They push for new codes, historical status, school improvement, and more resources.
As cities have become more knowledge based and densely packed, urban renewal movements have commenced since the early 20th century. Kesha Moore writes, “Gentrification is commonly used to describe a class-based process of neighborhood transition in which affluent residents move into and upgrade lower-income neighborhoods, primarily through improvements in a neighborhood’s housing stock.” The main ‘gentrifiers’ are typically the government, private businesses, or white middle to upper class young people, often college graduates. Often the government and businesses have similar motives to improve the economy, especially in prime downtown space. Hipsters, who The Economist argues are the main perpetrators of gentrification, often move to these areas out of necessity or an idealist …show more content…
Yuppification would be convenient given the plethora of schools in the valley including the prestigious Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, and flagship campus for the University of Massachusetts system. If recent graduates found incentive to stay close to where they went to school and build connections within the valley, Holyoke could very well increase its’ population of millenials. There are already avant-garde art museums in dilapidated warehouses, apartments that resemble the dorms of Mount Holyoke, and beautiful parks near the canals. The only issue is that there are few housing and economic options, so the government needs to intervene. If the government deemed Holyoke a Landmark Site then tourism could be boosted and recent grads would have economic incentive to move there. Although there may be backlash to the idea of gentrification, in Holyoke and some other cities, the pros outweigh the cons. For example, services in the area often improve, the would help the aging population have access to better food, health service, and have a better quality of life. Also gentrification can disperse poverty and decentralize certain neighborhoods. Also gentrifiers improve the community because they often have a greater influence on the local government. They push for new codes, historical status, school improvement, and more resources.