The Death of Wicker Park
Rule #1: Don't mistake shopping for culture.
It seems only fitting to address this on the weekend of the famed Around the Coyote festival, which may be one of the last few remnants of what used to be a thriving neighborhood of artists and creatives. Well that and perhaps a trip down the claustrophobic aisles of Myopic Books, or an afternoon looking through the racks @ Reckless. But as you may have noticed elsewhere in the neighborhood, Wicker Park is offically dead. Swap out your storefront workspace for an overpriced boutique. Trade your latte at Filter for some mediocrity @ Starbucks. Tear down the vintage for a sleek and lifeless condo, and there you've got it...Real World Chicago, all wrapped up in a nice $150 pair of jeans rolling down Milwaukee Ave in a Hummer.
But don't mistake shopping for culture. It's just more soulless commerce, more lysol, more graphic T's, more hair gel.
Now the only signs of life are the scribbled grafitti messages of kids that can no longer afford to live there.
And coming soon to a neighborhood near you....
The Death of Uki Village
The Death of Logan Square
and gasp! Humbolt Park?
posted by Daniel G at 10:11 AM
3 Comments:
YAY PILSEN!
gentrification.
starts with artists.
and ends with yuppies.
artists will undoubtedly find cheap rent elsewhere and their hipness will attract others wishing to be hip as well and then all the black and brown people will not be able to afford the steadily increasing property values which will eventually push out even the artists and the neighborhood will be left looking much like the crotch.
this has been happening for generations. today it is accelerated by a more well defined and streamlined consumer culture.
my $0.02.
Sorry is right. Assholes like you are a huge part of the problem. You're largely responsible for the death of places like Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and some day Pilsen and Bridgeport.
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