On latimes.com

Readers agreed with the premise of last week’s installment of Out There – that gentrification has divided Echo Park.

But that’s about all they agreed on:

“Definition of gentrification: ‘to transform a run-down or aging neighborhood into a more prosperous one, e.g. through investment in remodeling buildings or houses’ – why would anyone be against this? Better is a good thing. Housing costs go up regardless.”

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tired of the fuss

“I grew up near Logan, my next door neighbor was a white woman who was an artist. She showed me many things about art and spirituality. In exchange I taught her Spanish and showed her how to make Mexican food. This is back in the early 90s. I don’t think many of these newcomers would do what she did.”

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reyna

“It’s not just Latinos being pushed out as one comment pointed out, its also the artist community, which has played a major factor in what Echo Park has been and is. Echo Park is going to turn out just like Silver Lake: a bunch of ‘hip’ overpriced stores everywhere, with a population of Mid-Westerners and East Coasters with large sunglasses that came to L.A. looking for their 15 minutes of fame. LAME.”

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fela