Little Village Gentrification Process Risks Community Legacy
By Margarita Torres and Marci Ponce
“Full of potential, vibrant, rich with culture” were the words used to describe the community of Little Village by Yesenia Barrera, 27, an ESL teacher at a not-for-profit organization who has lived in Little Village her whole life.
Little Village is also known as La Villita; a tight-knit neighborhood located on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Encompassing an abundant culture and considered a home away from home.
The neighborhood mirrors the nostalgic upbringing of Mexico. It is estimated that 47% of the population in Little Village are immigrants of foreign descent.
The portrayal of cultural pride is expressed through countless avenues. Anywhere from walking down the street greeted by local vendors to admiring the beautiful and intricate murals depicting cultural significance to its residents.
La Villita was built to be a resilient community despite its adversities; however, the process of gentrification is a growing concern for residents as it has the potential to displace inhabitants and erase decades of preserved culture.
Gentrification is argued as a significant step in urban revitalization; however, the invasion of newcomers ignoring the current inhabitants will lead to consequences like higher taxes or rent, resident displacements, and demographic change. Gentrifying Little Village could risk the loss of rich culture and unity within the community.
Edith Portales, 25, Public Policy Graduate from the University of Chicago discusses the issue of gentrification in low-income communities.
“I’m working on a project where we’re trying to give people money. People who are homeowners to like, fix their windows,” she said… One of the problems with that is that if the owner is actually renting the house after they do those changes, the rent is going to go up. So, I mean, like inevitably there is this idea of gentrification, their prices are gonna go up, but I think urban revitalization kind of implies that you’re pouring money into physical structures and not into the community itself. So I would say like, I would flip the question around and say, why do we need urban revitalization? Why can’t we talk about community revitalization?”
Little Village has already begun to be introduced to gentrification by the influx of developers investing in various community properties.
Despite the numerous protests by Little Village residents, Hilco moved in to purchase the Crawford site, a 95-year-old coal plant.
The efforts of grassroot organizations persisting the shutdown of the plant were not enough.
Last spring as the pandemic was raging, Hilco ignored the residents’ efforts and demolished the plant. The demolition caused a blanket of smoke and ash all throughout the neighborhood.
The debris was unexpected, especially when many residents failed to receive notice until after the demolition. This raised health concerns for residents. Asthma and obesity rates in Little Village are among the highest in the city of Chicago.
“The demolition of a smokestack caused so much smoke to come, as far as 25th Street,” Barrera said. “A lot of residents complained about toxins going in their homes or not even being able to go outside.
“The development hasn’t even started and it’s already causing an issue for the community. I feel like at the end of the day, it’s just going to be for [the developer’s] own benefit. And we’re not taken into consideration just because we’re a low-income community.”
Although Little Village is underfunded and a low-income community with 34% of its residents living below the poverty level, it is the second-highest tax-generating district in the city due to its local business revenue.
Similar to Hilco, Novak Construction purchased a plaza with historical significance. Novak developers bought out the discount mall, a Walgreens, restaurants, and even a laundromat, which caused quite the uproar in the community.
Edgar Gonzalez, District 21 State Representative, lives a block away from the discount mall, which is on 26th Street.
“My dad got his first job when he came to the states at the discount mall,” he said. “There were some talks about it being sold. I had actually spoken with some of the vendors; there’s one vendor, Kocoy Malagon, one of the things that she says that I think is very important, is very timely, she said that ’we’re not against progress, we just want to be included in that progress.’ ”
Gentrification is a process that can compromise residents’ priorities rooted in the instinct to survive.
Many residents can not afford it when developers come into their community and poach properties to fix up and consequently raise the taxes or rent. In 2016, Smith’s group reported a 48% increase in home prices 3 years after the building of the 606 trail.
These increases in the economy are strenuous on the residents who already reside there. The past year has disrupted many lives with the pandemic.
Within the city of Chicago, the unemployment rate started at 12.2% in September 2020 and has now gone back down to 9.1% as of January 2021. The fluctuating employment rates leave residents concern with securing their employment and managing their finances for essentials, like rent.
“People still have called and reached out to our office, asking if there are any grants still available for rent relief,” Gonzalez said. “Gentrifiers come in, and property taxes go up, then the rent goes up, and then imagine what that means for renters. A lot of people in our communities, especially people that work for middle class, are renters. It’s the Domino effect.”
Ald. Gorge Cardenas (12th Ward) gives his community peace of mind by reassuring his community that no changes will be made to the community.
“If the agreement is not coupled with a comprehensive affordable housing plan that supports the people that live in La Villita in case property taxes were to go up,” he told the Chicago Tribune.
Portales reiterates the importance of keeping an open line of communication with residents in the community.
“I think there should be policies or certification at every step of the way. Before you build something, you have a community benefits agreement and then rent control. Or you have that building moratorium,” Portales said.
There is a process of gentrification already taking place in Little Village. There is a risk of higher property rates, displacement, foreigners moving in, fewer local businesses, and the potential for losing cultural identity.
Portales remains optimistic.
“Little Village is labeled as poor, but they do leverage. It is the highest-grossing Economic Corridor,” Portales said. “It contributes a lot of money to Chicago with tax base and sales tax … The city should be replicating Little Village in other communities rather than trying to destroy it. There is a lot of power, you just have to use it.”