Gentrification in Barrio Logan, San Diego

How culture was turned into profit in Barrio Logan

11/13/2022

What is Gentrification ?

Gentrification is the process of reconstructing low income neighborhoods with, for example, single family homes, chain stores, and large venues to heighten quality levels of an area. Subsequently by enhancing the quality of the city, native residents are excluded from accessing the new qualities the city may offer. Gentrification targets a niche group of people, drawing in affluent residents to neighborhoods that were once racially overlooked by investors. The disproportionate investment in less affluent neighborhoods has caused the large scale involuntary displacement and social and economic inequality of minorities, which can be seen in Barrio Logan, San Diego.


Defining Gentrification In San Diego?

"Approximately 30 percent of San Diego City’s Census tracts have gentrified since 2000," according to Stacey Livingstone. Housing prices continue to increase (as seen to the left) pushing families to be homeless as they can no longer afford rent. Currently there is no long term solution. The lack of affordable housing in San Diego is evident and harmful.

Barrio Logan

The Birth of Gentrification

Chicano Park located in Barrio Logan is filled with Chicano culture and stunning art. Chicano Park was named a national historic landmark (Guerrero). For local businesses and artists, Barrio Logan's success grew to be “an economic engine” for the community (Yurrita). However, Barrio Logan presented numerous environmental hazards resulting in pollution and asthma, which didn't raise concern (Liberation News).

Chicano Park, Barrio Logan. Barrio Logan San Diego News 8

Chicano Park was built in April 1970 and throughout the city’s history, it has been a constant struggle to keep Chicano Park in the city. Initially, the park was intended to be a CHP office, but through protests, the people of Barrio Logan prevented the construction. Many shop owners, restaurant owners, etc. practice this idea called “gentefication.” This is a person based way of developing the neighborhood through expressing Latin culture. Today, the colorful murals of Barrio Logan not only depict beautiful Latin art, but represent a symbol of the importance of culture and the people in Barrio Logan community.

Barrio Logan attracted white and wealthy people to visit their community. Barrio Logan's property values began to increase by primarily white landlords, as well as rent increase. The people who built this community were consequently pushed out of it as prices became too expensive for afford. “The blue-collar Mexican American barrio has become a hub of tourism and investment,” although this wealth has not remained in the hands of the community (Guerrero).

Unfolding Gentrification

City of San Diego Official Website

With researched data of years from 2000-2008 by San Diego’s Regional Planning Agency, Barrio Logan has long been a hispanic community. There’s a total wide of 25% hispanic population in San Diego while Barrio Logan has a percentage of hispanic of 85%. By further predictions by researchers from San Diego’s Regional Planning Agency, it is believed that there will be approximately 87% of hispanic in total population of Barrio Logan in 2030. This community's interest are being overlooked space has been created for middle-class whites to move in (Guerrero).

City of San Diego Official Website

This map of Barrio Logan shows the five district neighborhoods: Community Village, Historic Core, Transition Area, Boston and Main Street Corridor Area, and Prime Industrial Area. The hispanic population from the five districts are mainly descendants from Mexico, about 83%, while descendants from Puerto Rico take about 6%.

Landlords, “ bought up properties then raised the rents, forcing closed the small businesses whose work made their purchase profitable,”(Chavez).  The hard work that gave Barrio Logan recognition is the very reason it has become no longer affordable, forcing the displacement of local families who lived there forever. Once seen as an area of racial neglect, with poor living conditions and low income families; however, a space of mesmerizing culture. Now is an area for Racialized investment, profiting of the Latino community’s success. 

What's Next for Barrio Logan?

There must be solutions to benefit the residing community of Barrio Logan, not to create a new one for incoming residents. There should be “economic development without leaving marginalized residents,” (Guerrero). Along with community resilience, Barrio Logan has strived for economic investment that won’t profitize outsiders but will create luxury for the community (Yurrita).

"what many see as intimidation as a result of community members defending their neighborhood and park." (Liberation News)

The melody of Mariachi music, the notes of a guitar drifting out of a bar, the rhythmic beat of Aztec dances, low riders rumbling by, the smell of chiles asando and sweet street corn, it will all just fade away (Chavez)

Works Cited

Livingstone, Stacey. “Family Homelessness and Gentrification in San Diego.” Scholars Strategy Network, https://scholars.org/contribution/family-homelessness-and-gentrification-san-diego. 

Lopez, Julie, and Justin Phan. “Redlining and Gentrification in San Diego.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, Esri, 22 Aug. 2021, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2f20ab25866d4947ac33e795bc2f0f98. 

Guerrero, Jean. “LA Times Today: 'Gentefication' Is Complicated. One Vibrant Barrio Shows a Way Forward (Column).” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com/california/barrio-logan-gentefication-latt-123. 

Yurrita, Regina. “Why Gentrification Has Been a Central Discussion in Barrio Logan.” cbs8.Com, 20 Sept. 2022, https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/gentrification-has-been-a-central-discussion-in-barrio-logan/509-ef9422e8-6b16-489b-93aa-af5b162df32b. 

Staff, Liberation. “Gentrification Prices out Chicano Art Gallery, Community Responds.” Liberation News, 6 Oct. 2019, https://www.liberationnews.org/gentrification-prices-out-chicano-art-gallery-community-responds/. 

Guerrero, Jean. “Column: 'Gentefication' Is Complicated. One Vibrant Barrio Shows a Way Forward.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2021, https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-12-02/barrio-logan-san-diego-chicano-park-gentrification. 

Chavez, Sonia Lopez. “Opinion: We've Seen Barrio Logan Blossom. Gentrification Is Stealing Our Magic.” Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2021, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2021-10-01/barrio-logan-gentrification-rent. 

SanDiegoNews8, director. Barrio Logan Then & Now: Revisiting 1980s Series on San Diego Neighborhoods. YouTube, YouTube, 8 Nov. 2021,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN8uyhAV2xs .  Accessed 9 Nov. 2022. 

“City of San Diego Official Website.” The City of San Diego, 14 Nov. 1970, https://www.sandiego.gov/.

City of San Diego Official Website. https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/planning/community/cpu/barriologan/pdf/barrio_logan_cpu_full_090313.pdf. 

Chicano Park, Barrio Logan. Barrio Logan San Diego News 8

City of San Diego Official Website

City of San Diego Official Website

"what many see as intimidation as a result of community members defending their neighborhood and park." (Liberation News)