Ditmas Park Perspective: On Gentrification In Flatbush

This week’s Ditmas Park Perspective comes to us from neighbor Cori Carl, who noticed the above sticker at the Church Avenue B/Q station recently and was moved to write about it.

One of the things I love about Flatbush is the neighborhood’s history of diversity. The unusual mix of housing – from tiny rental apartments to huge mansions on wide lawns – has always meant that a wide variety of people have lived here together. Our diversity of housing stock and rate of home ownership insulates us from rapid change, as seen in places like Crown Heights. Regardless, our neighborhood is changing as real estate prices rise, families form and divide, and people’s lives progress.

Seeing this sticker on the doors of the Church Avenue B/Q station was unsettling. The language of segregation and white supremacy have no place in our community. There’s no denying that many of our long-term residents are being pushed out by unemployment and housing costs. America’s history of racism has resulted in generations of inequality, impacting where we all live and work.

We can’t have an honest discussion about the changing city without acknowledging the role of racism in creating the current situation and the fact that racist policies continue today. However, it’s dangerous to draw lines and view the issue as black against white. The color of our skin does not dictate our political beliefs or our desire to live in a just world.

Our neighbors have the potential to be our allies. The former Town of Flatbush is a unique area and we are drawn to it – and choose to stay here for generations – because of shared values and a love of our community. Affordable housing and income inequality are issues that affect all of us. Flatbush has long been home to immigrant and minority groups and hopefully will remain a place that welcomes all people. Let’s stand our ground by standing together to strengthen our community.

How do we strengthen our community? I’m no expert. Please share your ideas for community building in the comments. Support the neighbors who are working to ensure housing laws are enforced and modify existing laws to better fit our needs. Get to know the neighborhood institutions that have taken care of our community for generations as well as those that have recently stepped in to fill an unmet need. The stronger our community is, the more we can be the ones who have the ability to define the changes.

Cori Carl is a communications strategist and ghost writer. Cori grew up on a flower farm on the Jersey Shore and moved to Brooklyn seven years ago. She loves to explore, both in the five boroughs and beyond. She blogs at lifeinflatbush.com.

If you’d like to share your Ditmas Park Perspective, including your response to today’s topic, don’t hesitate to contact editor@ditmasparkcorner.com.

Ditmas Park Perspective posts are meant to reflect the opinions of individuals in our community, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Ditmas Park Corner. We hope this series will facilitate conversation between neighbors, but as per our general policy, no personal attacks or abusive, inflammatory, or profane comments will be permitted.