Description
Though Barrio Logan has been an artistic core of Chicano muralism since 1970, it is in a stage of artistic transformation as the neighborhood undergoes rapid gentrification. In this research, I focus on gentefication to analyze how redevelopment is being led and influenced by Latin@/Chicano@ people. The word “gentefication” is a play on la gente (‘the people’ in Spanish) and suggests a grassroots, Spanish-speaking redevelopment of the community. While gentefiers may aim to maintain and protect the cultural expression of the community, this higher classed influx of new residents continues the process of displacement so often found in gentrification. By aestheticizing the neighborhood, which attracts higher classes, artists and so-called “creatives,” the cost of living rises in the neighborhood. In this research, I analyze the roots of this disparity by focusing on uneven development of the barrio. Using census data, I map demographic patterns in San Diego from 1970-2010. I also depend on participant observations and interviews with local residents, artists, business owners, developers, and a city planner to understand the consequences of displacement in redevelopment. I question the beneficial outcomes of gentefication/gentrification in Barrio Logan, focusing particularly on historical, cultural, and economic conflicts. I explore the way aesthetic improvements and cultural appropriation influence public opinion in both positive and negative ways. This thesis is a call to unite residents, artists, and business owners to find ways to protect the established community that has been historically marginalized.
