Neighborhood Gentrification

The Seattle Times had a feel good story on the rising number of POC in local schools. The rise is credited to immigration and rising minority birth rate in comparison to the white counterpart. The districts following the minority-is-now- the-majority trend are Seattle, Tukwila, Highline, Renton, Federal Way and Tacoma. The article makes no connection that all these districts are in suburban south Puget Sound.

My theory of the current rise of POC in the south end schools, with no statistics or documented observations, pegs it as a side affect of gentrification. During the housing boom of the early 2000’s POC were priced out of the wealthier neighborhoods. Whites dominated the north end and east side. POC with houses in the city were bought out. Young POC are unable to purchase within the greater city limits. Many sought the relatively affordable housing in southern Puget Sound. POC populations were displaced to the outer fringes of Seattle. Now this group is starting families and school population is showing the housing relocation pattern. I don’t think there’s a significant rise of immigration flow or higher POC birthrates. I see the rise formed by the relocation of POC populations to the slightly lower priced south Puget Sound housing market. That’s my two cents. Or my one cent, since I can’t afford north Seattle properties.