There are two types of people in the Bay Area: gentrifiers and the people who hate them. Just because you boycott establishments that serve beer in mason jars doesn’t mean you aren’t a gentrifier (i.e., most of San Francisco). In case you aren’t certain where you fall, you can consult a handy metric developed by Ingrid Gould Ellen, the Paulette Goddard Professor of Urban Policy and Planning at NYU Wagner. The way to calculate if you’re a cold-blooded, tradition-destroying gentrifier is if you meet both of the following conditions:
● Your neighborhood’s median income is lower than the median income of your city
● Your income is higher than your city’s median income
Are you surprised to find that you, too, are ruining San Francisco? We asked a few Bay Area residents where you’re most likely to find gentrifiers, so whatever your answer, now you know where to avoid (or join) your Bellini-slurping pack.
“The Temescal district in Oakland. It’s right next to North Oakland and West Oakland, so they can feel like they are in a real, authentic, diverse working-class neighborhood, but it’s also more affluent than these neighborhoods and has significantly less violent crime, so they feel safer. I grew up in a neighborhood once infamous for gangs and crime that is now known for its grilled-cheese restaurants.”
— Daniel, 25, North Oakland native
“TenderNob. I live in this area, so this could mean I’m a gentrifier, but I moved in six years ago when the area sucked, so I either have street cred or was just the first gentrifier. Mensho Ramen, Rye and Redford are populated by basic-ass Millennial wannabes.” — Drew, 38, years in SF: 9
“They probably never leave the office. Or if they’re making enough money, they’ve got to be working for a place with catered meals, a masseuse and 50 Ping-Pong tables. Or they hang out at an SF museum they’ve rented out for themselves.” — Nicole, 23, years in SF: 4
“Whatever lower-income neighborhood is set to be invaded next. So Excelsior or Bayview. There is a new brewery down in the Bayview — Seven Stills — where they make whiskey from beer. It’s not a thing yet, but the area where Candlestick Park was [is a place where] they are looking to build housing and shopping areas, so it’s just a matter of time.” — Margaret, 36, lifetime Bay Area resident, years in SF: 3
“For a long time, I think Elbo Room was regarded as the ‘safe place’ to go in the Mission. Before, that whole stretch of Valencia was super d-baggy. It was d-bag central.”
— Ivy, 34, years in SF: 10
“Blue Bottle Coffee, because they can afford the extra kick in their coffee — whatever it is that kick might be.” — Xzist, 32, years in SF: 6
“Everywhere. If you moved to the Bay Area during the past 10 years, you’re talking about yourself.” — Seamus, 28, lifelong SF resident
