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With regard to suburban migration in DC, in particular, I don't believe that working-class people are moving out to PG County because it's a nicer place to be than Adams Morgan or Columbia Heights.

I know this seems inconceivable to the types of 20-something, suburban-raised, college-educated types who make the biggest noise about the evils of gentrification, but *most* working-class families with a couple of kids would certainly rather have a single family house in Upper Marlboro or Clinton than a 900' rowhouse or apartment in Adams Morgan or Columbia Heights (or Petworth, etc...)

You may not believe it, but when given the choice, it probably runs about 20:1. The 2 bedroom 1 bathroom rowhouse across the street from me used to have a family with six kids living in it. Those kids have since grown up, and 5 of them are living in big houses in PG County. I see them around occasionally, and the idea that they'd rather be living in the old hood in a tiny house is laughable.

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/62675/

The displacement thing is primarily a myth, but it's a useful cudgel that professional advocates (the NHI for instance!) use to beat folks with.

by oboe on Jan 4, 2011 2:35 pm • link • report

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