- Are luxury housing complexes and high rises downtown pushing low-income residents to the outskirts of the city?
- Create an interactive map showing what areas of Athens are gentrified (where gentrification is/has occurred) and when.
- Interview longtime Athens residents to question how gentrification has changed the landscape of the city over the years.
- Profile a resident of Parkview Homes about their experience in Athens, particularly since building began downtown.
- Interview businesses that have been downtown for decades (The Caledonia Lounge, the 40 Watt Club) about how they have managed to stay relevant and interesting in a constantly changing area.
- Look at how gentrification downtown has changed what businesses are open in the area — do downtown shops change as the people living downtown change?
- How is the local government working to offset the effects of gentrification in the community?
- Is it provable that gentrification is a factor that leads to homelessness in Athens or could something else be contributing to this? Compare homelessness over the years.
- Has gentrification offered any benefits to the community — increased property values, reduced strain on local infrastructure, increased purchasing power in local businesses, etc?
- Compare Athens neighborhoods today to Athens neighborhoods 20 years ago — are different people living in different areas, if so, why and when did this occur?
Category: Downtown life and business
More Research
Hancock Community residents raise concerns about gentrification issues
This article expresses the concerns of residents in the Hancock Community who feel that gentrification is becoming a constant problem. They voice complaints about things related to the subject — the rising costs of rent pushing elderly residents from their homes, destroying historic community identities and higher rents being placed on buildings in the area, forcing them out.
‘Studentification’ of Athens to pause as mixed residential project moves in
This article is about a development project that would bring residential homes, a grocery store and a restaurant to downtown Athens. It lays parallel the effects of gentrification and the way the city is trying to combat it.
Athens rising: Luxury housing brings change to downtown
This article discusses the luxury housing options being built in downtown Athens and how those more high-rent options are forcing low-income residents further away from the downtown and university areas of Athens.
Students shape Athens housing market while poverty issues persist in the city
This article compares student life with the life of low-income Athenians, in light of Bolton Dining Commons being built so near to the Parkview Homes public housing community. It also delves deeper into what leads to poverty and some of the struggles that arise from a lack of resources.
Gentrification in a Brooklyn neighborhood forces residents to move on
This article is not about Athens specifically, however, I feel that it relates directly to my beat because it is a great example of the type of article that I would like to write. It tells the stories of displaced people, while also acknowledging and addressing the issues that led to their displacement. Written for The New York Times, this story about Crown Heights is very interesting and does a good job of showing how gentrification makes one feel.
More stories, re: homelessness
Articles below retrieved from NewsBank. Focused on local newspaper in order to get a feeling for local initiatives, sentiments; oldest (from 2015-2016) posted first.
Athens could see continuing downward trend in homelessness. Published in the Banner-Herald, February 1, 2015.
This article anticipated the homeless count of 2015, predicting reduction from previous two years. This turned out to be true, making it the third year of declining numbers. Worth noting: the count of 2016 showed continuing reduction in the number of affected individuals.
With common wealth, the ark seeks to end rule of predatory lenders. Published in the Banner-Herald, Feb 12, 2016.
People in poor households may be just one unexpected expense away from homelessness. ARK not only provides emergency funds when possible but also empowers individuals by offering guidance about financial management.
Obama, Biden: help end homelessness for veterans. Published in the Banner-Herald, April 23, 2015.
Michele Obama and Jill Biden advocated for help for homeless veterans, calling on communities and coalitions to take on this issue. As noted above, homeless figures had already been dropping in Athens (and Georgia overall) – however, the largest drop has been in the sector of homeless veterans.
After a decade, Athens resource center for hope takes first step. Published in the Banner-Herald, March 18, 2016.
This center opened just recently. It provides housing for families experiencing homelessness and a variety of services for the larger population of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Jackson EMC Foundation awards 47K to agencies serving local residents. Published in the Banner-Herald, July 31, 2016.
Jackson EMC awarded funds to be distributed to localities. In Athens, it went to ARK to help in providing emergency relief to those facing unexpected expenses that might ultimately lead to displacement.
More Research
Los Angeles Times: Starbucks Serving Up Less Healthcare
By David Lazarus
Starbucks offered US workers a raise that will boost compensation by 5-15 percent. However, they also announced giving out a health insurance plan that was more affordable but less comprehensive. This is a part of a greater trend of tiered healthcare in the US. Those who have the money get strong coverage, while everyone else ends up with high-deductibles and spotty coverage. Healthy workers and shareholders will fare just fine, but the sicker workers will pay the price. Throughout the country, costs rise for the sick as healthier people choose cheaper, high-deductible plans.
The doctors are in–the homeless encampments (Contra Costa Times)
By Mark Emmons
A program in which doctors go out to treat the homeless is a smart use of resources since the homeless tend to be a “drain on social services such as emergency room visits and ambulance calls. One doctor said the chronicaly homeless have an average life expectancy of just 47. Even simple illnesses and infections become serious quickly. Many have diabetes without knowing it, which complicates infections.
They demand action-stat! Flushing nurses march for better hours & more money
By Lisa L. Colangelo
Claiming to be overworked and underpaid, Flushing Hospital Medical Center nurses protested on the streets. This is the lowest paying hospital in Brooklyn and Queens, paying them a salary of $63,000. The union wants to increase staffing and offer more 12 hour shifts rather than 7.5 hour shifts which would allow nurses to work fewer days. Some are also concerned about health plans as they receive $750 a year for health insurance when it costs more like $3,000 a year.
7% jump in healthcare costs
By Jay Greene
While single coverage through healthcare has dropped in price by 4%, from $116 to $95, health costs for family have increased. In addition, fewer companies are now offering wellness programs. To gain company healthcare benefits, employees must also now meet criteria: body weight, smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol, for lower copayments.
Few with insurance grasp medical care’s costs
By Bobby Caina Calvan, McClatchy Newspapers
Healthcare spending is estimated to hit $2.5 trillion this year, but those who have good insurance often care little. Though policy makers argue what plan will lower healthcare costs, studies show that this carelessness and ignorance to cost by the consumer are the real drivers of extreme prices. There are more and more Americans uninsured–$46 billion currently, and to cover costs, healthcare providers have shifted to bill to the insured. At the same time, doctors order more tests just to make sure they won’t be sued.
Brainstorming
- Comparing cost of medication with and without insurance for students
- How do the homeless get healthcare treatment?
- Rising cost of pharmaceuticals on the market
- Medical bills are the biggest cause of US bankruptcy (according to CNBC)
- Nutritional health among the poor
- The cost of becoming a doctor
- Nurses are underpaid and overworked, according to survey
- Depression treatment depends on socioeconomic class and race (according to study)
- Seeking help for opioid abuse, what are the societal costs?
- Getting off your parents’ healthcare plan is a difficult and complicated process, that leaves some, uninsured
Organizations – homelessness
Regional and local organizations:
The Northeast Georgia Homeless and Poverty Coalition provides resources and assistance to groups that work with homeless individuals and families. Athens-Clarke County community development sends representation to meetings of the coalition.
Athens Resource Center for Hope provides many services for homeless individuals, including dental and medical care, advocacy, day care, and transitional housing.
Athens Area Homeless Shelter offers a variety of services as well as accommodations for homeless families.
The Sparrow’s Nest is run by a Christian ministry and offers day services on a walk-in basis to homeless individuals.
Action Ministries has a prominent presence in downtown Athens, serving breakfast and lunch every weekday and providing bagged lunches on Saturdays and Sundays! This is a lifeline for many individuals living on the street. Action Ministries also offers a variety of other supports and services.
Sources – social media
National experts:
Keri Buscaglia is Director Communications for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She is responsible for all press inquiries. Organization’s website, which contains a lot of information, can be accessed here.
Rosanne Haggerty is President and CEO of Community Solutions, a group that works with communities to develop plans to end homelessness. You tube video of Haggerty is linked here.
Donald Burnes is a scholar and expert on homelessness. He is currently scholar-in-residence at the University of Denver, researching and publishing in the area of solutions to homelessness. He is also working with the city of Denver to implement workable solutions.
Barbara Poppe founded the consulting firm, Barbara Poppe and Associates, to help communities plan coordinated approaches to reduce/end homelessness. She previously worked with U.S. Intra-agency Council for Homelessness and is a nationally recognized expert.
Local individuals/experts/possible sources:
Rob Trevena is Director’s of Athens’ Housing and Community Development and as such is involved with funding for homeless assistance grants. Applications for the coming year are currently being collected. As an additional note, it was reported in the Banner-Herald just today that Mr. Trevena has announced his retirement.
Samantha Carralho works for Athens’ Housing and Community Development and is responsible for coordinating the yearly counts of homeless individuals
R. Scott Freeman is Chief of Police of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. It may be helpful at some point to get information or perspectives from the police department about a matter related to panhandling or the homeless.
Pamela Thompson (on Athens Area Chamber of Commerce website) is Executive Director of Athens Downtown Development Authority Board. Ways to reducing panhandling, particularly aggressive panhandling, have recently been discussed (with little progress made).
Zack Leitz is a UGA student (Terry College of Business) who founded the Backpack Project, a group that puts items useful to those living on the street into new backpacks and delivers them to homeless individuals on the streets of Athens. Tony, the homeless man I interviewed, spoke about how much this meant to him.
Rachel Deese is one of three individuals (the others being Erik Olsen and Michael Russo) who founded PBJ’s, a group that brings bagged lunches to homeless individuals on the streets of Athens every Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. An important part of their mission is also to socialize with people on the street. This group and their fellowship was also mentioned by the individual I talked to.
5 Organization Sources
The University of Illinois at Chicago hosts the Urban Forum, a national event designed to advance the dialogue about the future of urban communities. It is run by Howard Wial who is an expert on gentrification and a professor at UIC.
The MacArthur Foundation does lots of different kinds of work to “make the world better,” but they have lots of great information available about gentrification.
The Urban Democracy Lab promotes sustainable forms of urbanism.
Athens for Everyone is a grassroots organization that promotes equality and social justice, and that works toward reducing poverty in Athens. They have hosted several panels about gentrification in Athens.
The Athens Land Trust helps stop gentrification into culturally significant areas in Athens-Clarke County, such as the Hancock Neighborhood in East Athens.
Old Stories — Downtown Life & Business
Link: Art districts help secure small business dreams in Arizona
Date Published: September 12, 2008
Summary: This is a story about how urban redevelopment in downtown Phoenix’s art district helped local artists explore business ventures that, eventually, sort of re-built that area. I think it’s particularly relevant in today’s Athens because it deals with gentrification and how development in low-income areas can affect a community. With all the redevelopment happening in Athens, I think it’s fitting.
Date Published: February 22, 2003
Summary: This is a story about how Redwood City government is forcing local small business owners to sell property or relocate so as to have a bigger, incoming cinema bring big business to the area. This is especially relevant to Athens’ downtown because businesses like Urban Outfitters, Zaxby’s and (soon) American Eagle are moving in and displacing small businesses.
Link: YUPPIES IN THE ‘HOOD: Proposed gentrification of poorer areas of city sparks clash of values and cultures
Date Published: June 24, 1995
Summary: This article is about gentrification and the clash of cultures (middle class and low-income) that come along with it. It is written about Vancouver. I think it’s particularly interesting and relevant, again, because gentrification is such a huge issue in Athens. I think this article does a good job of showing both sides of the equation — those who see gentrification as a problem, as well as the possible benefits of gentrification.
Old News on Startups
Jump-Start Job Creation through Startup Businesses
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) October 3, 2010 Sunday
While most believe that small businesses drive the economy, a recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research showed that the biggest contributor to net job growth isn’t small businesses but new businesses, more specifically, startup firms. Business startups accounted for all of the net new jobs created in the U.S. between 1980 and 2005. Older and larger firms create jobs, but they also eliminate jobs through layoffs, plant closing, and bankruptcies. Pittsburgh has gone from one of the most entrepreneurial places to one of the least. It has one of the lowest rates of startup businesses compared to other regions.
Silicon Valley economy more diversified
Contra Costa Times
Silicon Valley’s startup culture is much more diversified than it was before, spread out across a broader range of high tech. This makes it less vulnerable to a bubble burst, according to the BLS. Only 1 in 6 high tech firms from 2000 still exist. But those that did survive, doubled in size. The companies now are a lot more stable and profitable.
Helping Small Businesses Survive, Succeed
The Maryland Gazette
Hollis Minor is a business counselor for the Maryland Small Business Development Center. After owning four businesses of her own, she offers advice on loan packaging, business and marketing-plan development, strategic planning, and earning certifications. Of the businesses she consults, 40 percent are startups and 20 percent have been hard hit by the economy and struggling. The other 40 percent are looking to get to the “next level.” She attributes the number of startups to layoffs that forced workers to become entrepreneurial.
I feel like these local stories on startups mirror the kinds of stories that might work in Athens. Downtown Athens is filled with local businesses and is also home to the tech incubator, FourAthens.