Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/gentrification/)
From the local scene to the international stage, SolArt’s Sali Heraldez and Carla Zárate-Suárez continue to make an impact on the Orange County arts landscape.
Traditional dress designers are being forced out by fast-paced redevelopment and the shifting demographics it brings.
Local real estate tycoon Mike Harrah wants to tear down a city-owned parking garage at Third and Broadway and build a mixed-use development anchored by a hotel and condominiums.
The contract for so-called wayfinding signs are intended to help new visitors navigate the downtown. While many business owners have long asked for the signage, some are objecting to the wording of the signs.
The district would affirm the downtown’s Latino character and promote well-being of its working-class residents in the face of gentrification. Critics say it smacks of reverse racism and would be unwelcoming to newcomers.
The district would affirm a Latino identity for the downtown and focus on “wellness” goods and services, such as groceries, meals, health and personal care products. It could also reignite a years-long gentrification debate.
A new economic district contemplated by city leaders would include micro-farms, businesses that sell Latino cultural and wellness goods, and the rebranding of downtown as “Calle Cuatro.”
City officials say they are increasingly being approached by investors seeking opportunities to cultivate new projects in the area.
Downtown Inc. officials said 2012 would be a year focused on helping the downtown area’s struggling retail stores. For some, it is already too late.
The City Council envisions the plaza on Fourth Street as a Latino cultural space.