Community is a term that can be used to describe many things, like a town, a neighborhood, even specific groups of people. For example, I belong to several communities such as the UMBC community, the Farm Ridge community (the neighborhood I live in), and also the metal community.
However, no matter what meaning you look at community is defined by a few key aspects such as boundaries, engagement, a similar point of interest, and most important a group of people. Now when we look at the issue of gentrification it gets complicated due to the fact that gentrification can either affect communities in a positive way or a negative way. For instance, gentrification can strengthen and even revitalize communities or it can completely break up and drive out communities. This is the issue that can be seen taken place right now in the Station North Arts and Entertainment district of Baltimore. For instance, right now the Station North area of Baltimore is being gentrified with the creation of new businesses and art spaces like the Metro Gallery, and the influx of wealthier residents to the area. But the bad thing is, that potential development of the Station North area geared to the wealthier residents could drive out the poorer and long time members of that community. So for the project in this class i would like to try and find out if there is some sort of optimum middle ground where the area and neighborhood gets revitalized through gentrification but none of the former residents or other member of the community get displaced.
