It's been fun watching #BoyleHeights rally around the most tone-deaf gentri-flyer in the history of man today. pic.twitter.com/w3qfZQsIO2
— sahra (@sahrasulaiman) May 28, 2014
Now that Downtown's fully out of range for many people looking to buy (or even rent), some real estate types are getting all worked up to sell them on Boyle Heights as the next hot spot. Local firm Adaptive Realty made the situation all too clear recently with a flyer advertising perhaps the yuppiest thing in the world: a bike tour to be followed by "artisanal treats" around this "walkable and bikeable neighborhood," which it framed as an alternative to pricey Downtown, says KPCC. ("Put down as little as $40k"? Who is reading this ad?!)
The flyer, which was being handed out in the Arts District according to the person who posted this image (and penned her own piece on it for Streetsblog), made the rounds in the Twittersphere, upsetting BH residents to such an extent that their response (some of it pretty vitriolic and threatening, apparently) succeeded in getting the event canceled. Adaptive's president, Moses Kagan, also apologized on his blog.
It's a sensitive time for Boyle Heights. The first wave of plans for the gamechanging remodel of the historic Sears Tower don't include any affordable housing, stoking growing fears that long-time residents will soon be priced out of the area. The neighborhood's charming Queen Annes and older houses are being flipped (and selling for asking price). And, uh oh, there's a dreaded Starbucks on the way.
· Boyle Heights real estate flier stokes gentrification fears [SCPR]
· Gentri-flyer Sets Off Social Media Storm in Boyle Heights [Streetsblog]
· First Look at Makeover Plans For Boyle Heights Sears Building [Curbed LA]
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