SHOT BY KCET DEPARTURES
Once considered a normal neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, Highland Park has recently been declared as one of the trendiest and most hip places to be in LA. Trendy shops, hipsters, and bars have replaced the primarily Latino shops and families of the area, opening up a heated debate on gentrification and the future of Highland Park. Diving into the thoughts and experiences of locals and gentrifiers, change is coming to both the rejection and support of many.
Pictured: A row of shops on York Avenue SHOT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES
Highland Park, a neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, has a long and rich history. In the 1950s, the city experienced white flight and became majority Latino community, the most of which being Salvadoran and Mexican families. Highland Park began to create a legacy of local businesses based on Latino and Chicano culture, such as El Huarache Azteca, . The main streets, York Boulevard and Figueroa Street, are lined with family owned restaurants and shops, as well as the famed Highland Park Theater, which opened in 1925. Despite the changes in the community, residents are grateful that the theater remains the same; a classic, affordable place to watch movies.
Pictured: A photo of Highland Park Theaterr circa 1961 overlayed over Highland Park Theater today
SHOT BY HIP FILM FESTIVAL SHOT BY CINEMA TREASURES EDITED BY KARLA LEUNG
However, gentrification has begun to threaten the livelihoods of the residents of High-
land Park. Family owned and operated restaurants and shops have been forced to close down due to gentrification, the influx of affluent people onto a less affluent area. This has caused the development of the area and displacement those who live there. Although often framed as a positive act because it is “improving” the area, it is essentially an act of modern colonization. In Highland Park, shops long established by locals, such as Liquor Aztec de Oro and many more, have been forced to close down as newer, white shops look to move in, causing a raise in rent and attracting those outside of LA. Families are forced to move out as their apartment rent is raised higher and higher due to the mass influx of people. Many argue that this change is positive for the community, as gang violence has gone down, property value has gone up, and an increased nightlife; many argue that Highland Park residents should be grateful (LA Weekly). But many people who have grown up in the area, raised families, and have established their own businesses, and are being kicked out due to people looking to destroy decades of culture for whitewashed and “trendy” stores. Pictured Below: A photo of Shorthand and Crush, two new art supplies shops on York Avenue SHOT BY KARLA LEUNG
“In our neighborhood there are Costa Ricans and there are Mexicans. The family across the street is Korean. There’s always different music. I love talking to the neighbors who have been here for a long time” (NY Times). New York Times article “Highland Park: A Watchful Eye on Gentrification” focuses on the perspectives of gentrifiers, framing it in a way that supports the gentrification; the article is subheaded with “As real estate prices rise and crime drops, residents hope that the longtime diversity of the neighborhood will persevere”. They perceive themselves as not as bad people, not as gentrifiers, because they appreciate the culture and community. Yet that doesn’t change the effect that they are having om the community as a whole.
However, not all of the original and local stores have a negative opinion of the gentrification. Junior’s Discount, a party supplies store on York Boulevard, has been operating for years on the corner of York Boulevard and Avenue 50. The original shops around Junior’s Discount have been recently replaced by ones such as Cafe de Leche, a “latin-inspired” coffee shop, and Matters of Space, an interior design shop. Yet with my interview with Junior’s Discount’s owner, she seemed unbothered and even supportive of the recent changes:
“A mi no me afectado porque yo estoy bien en negocio con ellos, también porque ellos compran. Los pinatas, los globos, todo lo de party
“I was not affected because I am well in business with them, also because they buy. The pinatas, the balloons, everything from party supply.”
This sentiment expresses a lack of concern for the rest of the community, and an unawareness of what may become of their store. Although Junior’s Discount may believe they will always be able to stay in Highland Park, the owner lacks the realization that she too may be priced out of the area, lose business, and watch her store be closed like all the others around her. This apathetic attitude may only bite her back in the future. But only time will tell.
SHOT BY KARLA LEUNG
Pictured: The inside of Junior’s Discount SHOT BY KARLA LEUNG
Another critical point that many who argue for the gentrification is the recent crackdown on gangs and gang violence in Highland Park. Once the center of The Avenues, a highly active Mexican/Mexican American youth gang, are responsible for over one hundred murders in the past twenty years (United Gangs).
“I remember being 14 years old, waiting for my dad while he went inside a taco shop and seeing a bunch of Avenues roll in. Drama had apparently carried over from a party to the taco shop and guns were being waved around. My dad had to duck out the back” - LA Curbed This raises the question; are the police suddenly cracking down on this because of the new influx of white people? This raises questionable implications of the idea that the police were apathetic towards gang violence because the area’s past demographic: primarily minorities. The idea that the police were unconcerned and did not act until the area became gentrified implies a severe racial bias. However, Highland Park residents are grateful for this; the newfound feeling of safety is alleviating. But the insinuations of what this means by the police are controversial; there does not need to be white people in the area for the police to prevent this violence.
“I think the displacement of working-class immigrant families is wrong, but guns being waved around in my face isn’t cool either. I think the crackdown on gang violence and the financial crisis were the tipping points” - LA Curbed But some Highland Park residents believe that this decrease in gang violence is being misrepresented by the media. Natalie Encarnacino, a Franklin High School student, has seen no difference in the crime that has been occuring; her car was recently broken into and her friends have felt the same. Although anecdotal, residents believes that because gangs such as The Avenues primarily target black and Latino residents, not white residents, there is a false perception of safety because it is not experienced by white people. Regardless, many still believe in decrease in gang violence, becoming a point for the justification of gentrification.
Pictured Left: A memorial on Figuroa of Alejandro Garcia, 16 and Carlos Hernandez, 15, who were shot and killed on their way home from Franklin High School PHOTO SHOT BY LA EASTSIDE
Yet many Highland Park shopowners and residents do not share Junior’s Discount’s sentiment. The wave of gentification and new people moving in has forced dozens of shops to close down or relocate due to the rise in rent and the changing culture. Walking down York or Figeuroa, seeing closed down and empty local shops are now a common sight.
“Is Highland Park gentrifying? Absolutely. Rent hikes, property flipping (you can tell a place is being flipped by its distinct horizontal fence style), the arrival of a $10 juice shop, and the protests that have occurred (there have been a few gentrification protests on York, calling out the shops that are especially catering to the white hipster community) prove it” - LA Curbed
These shops are the livelihoods of many local residents that have been running for upwards of twenty years, unable to compete with the trendy chains and high-end products of the other shops that are moving in. Mom and pop stores where residents have been the spot for Franklin High Schoolers to grab food after school, conveinece stores to buy snacks at, Mexican bakeries to get pan de leche, as well as many, many more, are all being lost. The gentrification is destroying not only the businesses of Highland Park, but its community and homes of thousands.
Pictured Right: Elmer’s Jewelry, a jewelry and jewelry repair shop that was recently forced to relocate after their rent was increased. Their new location is still double the rent they orignially paid. PHOTO SHOT @HIGHLAND_PARK_NELA
EL HURACHE AZTECA 5225 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042 A local favorite, this restaurant is constantly packed with Mexican families enjoying dinner as local Franklin High School students wait the tables. Known for their authentic and affordable Mexican food, this is a restaurant my friend says her family “eats here at least once a week”. SHOT BY KCET DEPARTURES
THRIFT SHOP MARLEN 5903 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042 Thrift Shop Marlen, a thriftshop owned by the grandmother of one of my friends Emron Ali, is actually closing down. Having been open in Highland Park for over twenty years, rent was raised this month to a whopping $4,000 a month, forcing her store out of business.
SHOT BY MATT GATLIN
CHRISTY’S DONUTS 5546 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042 A favorite of FranklingHigh Schoolers, Christy’s Donuts is a family run donut shop. Run by Christy and her family, Asian immigrants, you can often see her children working the register or grabbing donuts. They sell donuts, boba, and sandwiches, with many loving their affordable prices and friendly service.
SHOT BY NICK BYLSMA
CAFE BIRDIE 5631 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042 Cafe Birdie, a bistro known for their seasonal salads, pasta, brunch, and cocktails, they seem like any other boujee restaurant in Los Angeles. Called “the casual dinnertime charmer hitting LA’s hippest block” by Eater Los Angeles, their opening in 2016 paved way for other high end restraunts to open in Highland Park. SHOT BY CAFE BIRDIE
BIG BUD PRESS 1829 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Boasting over 200k followers of Instagram, Big Bud Press is a size inclusive and unisex clothing store. With their shirts running up to $150, totes for upwrads of $60, and the storefront making up of rainbow neon signs, they are clearly not a local’s company. Their second location is in Silverlake, is another city that is considered gentrified. SHOT BY KARLA LEUNG
DONUT FRIEND 5107 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065 Donut Friend, also with a large following of 119k on Instagram, is a trendy donut shop down the street of Christy’s Donuts. With rows of vegan, gluten free, and quirky flavored donuts, people are seen lining up outside every night. Their upscale atmosphere and health-consiousness bring in hipsters from across the LA area.
SHOT BY DONUT FRIEND
Highland Park locals have been fighting back in any way they can to protect their community. Their Christmas parade, as seen below, had a sign saying “OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT FOR SALE” as the forefront to the sight of all of Highland Park. Teenagers have graffitied the new shops with sentiments such as “FUCK OFF GENTRIFIERS”, “FUCK HIPSTERS”, or “NORTHEAST AINT FOR SALE”. Any way to make this problem visible to the public and to stand up against gentrification charges on with full force. Although the fight is difficult due to the power held by landlords and large corporations, there is still a fight to be done.
Pictured Below: Highland Park’s annaul Christmas parade featured protesters at the forefront with a message to gentrifiers; “OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT FOR SALE” SHOT BY @HIGHLAND_PARK_NELA
To support Highland Park yourself, stop by and see the gentrification yourself. Visit the local and original shops and purchase something to support these struggling stores with your business. Support the drives locals are hosting to help homeless and struggling residents. And become aware of not only of the gentrification in Highland Park, but across Los Angeles and your community around USC. To stay up to date with the issues of Highland Park, follow @highland_park_nela on Instagram, where they constnatly update on what shops are being closed down or close to be shutting down. Get involved with their conversations and events to support local businesses. And become aware of what struggles people are facing all around your community. Fithing against gentrification is a fight to keep alive communities that are being displaced and rejecting a culture of capitalism and inequality.
Pictured: “HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT” projected with light on a storefront on Figueroa Street. The shop is now closed down (2014) SHOT BY MICHAEL CHAVEZ