Central District
Observations
As we entered the Central District, there was construction occurring on a new tall multi-story residential building. These developments are gentrification projects for this neighborhood. Once money from developers started flowing into the Central, it made it difficult for African Americans to afford living in the area because of the disparity of income. However, you can still see that there are still remnants of Black culture in the Central District through the art and the food scene. Walking through the various neighborhoods in this district, there were many houses that seemed newly built. Some of these houses stood next to run-down older houses. The contrast demonstrated the remainders of the old Central District demographic versus the new one after gentrification. Gentrification is a huge barrier because it restricts lower income people from being able to afford housing in this area, especially minority groups.
Information & History
The Central District of Seattle has faced a massive wave of gentrification within the past few decades. Central District previously had a population consisting mainly of African Americans; almost 75% black in the 1970's. Now it is only 15% black. Redlining policies back in the early 1900's enforced neighborhood segregation, limiting the choices of property for African Americans. Because of these policies, Black Americans congregated to Central District. This neighborhood became a cultural hub for Seattle's Black community. However, developers in the 2000's turned the local institutions into tall, modern buildings. Once money was fueled into the Central District, Black Americans became displaced and moved to Southern neighborhoods, like Kent and Renton. The Black cultural hub dissipated. Now, many local businesses are owned by white Americans after Black businesses shut down. The Central District was transformed from Seattle's Black community to another gentrified neighborhood.
