Sad to hear this is happening in the UK as well.
Overnight Gentrification is a valid concern for long-time residents in many communities.
I've seen more than my fair share of major cities undergo the process, and it's always the long time locals, artisans, elderly and disabled who seem
to get shoved out onto the streets or forced to move when a Yuppie decides to buy their apartment complex and "make improvements" which causes the
rental rates to rise above the means of the folks who have lived there for decades - or in some cases - their entire lives.
Seattle and Austin were the hardest hit recently from personal experience....and the newcomers to the area who could afford the renovated high cost of
living - well, some of them....not all...but a large majority...brought an influx of all sorts of problems ranging from increased traffic congestion
and in some cases high priced designer drugs which attracted some really nefarious types of dealers, which brought in a new brand of violent crime and
gang activity in some areas.
Terrible mess for those who aren't in the higher income brackets.
Apartments which once cost $450 skyrocketed to rates exceeding $1200 - for a one bedroom apartment, or even in some cases, Efficiency and Studio
apartments. It's not a joke. Also, Historical buildings were being demolished to make way for bland and cookie cutter boxes with nothing really
interesting about them visually aside from a paint job.
Once again, gentrification takes it's toll on not only history and traditional architecture, but also becomes an affront to humanitarian issues with
the swatch of displacement of human beings.
As one of the protest signs in a threatened area in Seattle read years ago:
"When a city cleans up...it dies."
I'm sad to admit I understand the motives behind this cafe Demonstration.
I do hope more people take notice of how their beautiful but overpriced lavish lifestyles and consumer habits are disaffecting people who are just
trying to make ends meet and hopefully take some proactive measures to insure that integration with considerations to the original long term populace
is balanced out.
I've been trying to warn my current town of how devastating these types of "new investors" can be....I really hope they listen and are wise about who
they allow to buy and sell properties in our Historical areas.
Certain strains of Newcomers can completely destroy a traditional community in a matter of ten years or less depending on who it is buying and
flipping properties and ownership of various buildings.
edit on 9/28/15 by GENERAL EYES because: formatting, grammar edits