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FunLife64 t1_iwullm5 wrote

Reply to comment by downpat in Oak Bakeshop on east side has opened! (more details in comments) by n0m_chompsky

This is a bit extreme. This is a Jewish bakery in an area with a huge Jewish population and literally walking distance to a synagogue, Jewish school, Jewish community center, etc.

No race, religion or ethnicity has stake on neighborhoods.

This area has always butted up against a very expensive part of PVD and one of the cheapest East Side areas. And there’s been lots of expensive/nice houses within this neighborhood for years. This has had the writing on the wall for quite some time for development.

The push here should be around home ownership - I actually find RI to offer some pretty good programs with options. Of course, right now isn’t a great time for anyone. From 2008-2015ish the area had a lot of cheap condos, townhouses, houses. Those that own will make a lot of money off those progressives.

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downpat t1_iwuz2ut wrote

Again, not saying this is a bad thing, it’s just something that should be openly discussed. I do think you’re sort of contradicting yourself by simultaneously saying no identity can have a stake in a neighborhood but oh wait this is a Jewish bakery in a heavily-Jewish area. Many would say, okay, then you’re saying that this is a Jewish neighborhood. It’s a distinction without a difference. And many, including myself, would disagree with you that identities can’t have a “stake” in a neighborhood. That’s aspirational and ahistoric. Blacks have a stake in Harlem, the Irish have a stake in South Boston, Jews in Brooklyn - that’s just history.

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FunLife64 t1_iwwiene wrote

I’m simply saying there’s no need to call out why something should or shouldn’t be in a neighborhood. If a business opens in an area and can thrive (and the demographics point to a Jewish bakery doing well there), then good for them. If that b&w market was thriving, it probably would still be there.

Not every business relies on populations within 5 blocks to be its customers. It could be there’s actually vacant spaces to rent (which there aren’t many in, say, Hope Village).

Just labeling new business as gentrifiers and progressives contradicting themselves isn’t a helpful start to any conversation…..

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downpat t1_iwxv7xl wrote

This place, with an “executive pastry chef,” replacing an arguably-sketchy bodega across from a public park named for a prominent member of the Black community (https://www.billytaylorhouse.com/billy-taylor-bio), in a historically Black neighborhood of Providence, is a peak example of gentrification. Don’t be ridiculous!

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FunLife64 t1_iwzqgif wrote

Why did the bodega close?

Im not arguing about whether something is defined as “gentrification”, but my god the east side is known as the fanciest area of Providence. To be shocked that things like a bakery would open in that neighborhood is kinda absurd. You can throw a tennis ball to near $1M houses….that have been that expensive for years.

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