Colony Park Readings

Colony Park Readings, discuss terms: gentrification, low-income housing, Mueller Development, what are goals of Colony Park Neighbors? What are you beginning to understand about communities and your group projects?

After reading the Colony Parks readings I have noticed some similarities between Colony Park and Holly St. The current style of Austin's city management has caused problems and distrust in both communities. They feel that there is nobody to represent them and that the city does not care for them nor for their needs. Like in Colony Park there is a trash problem because they occur in area where residents do not claim as theirs and where the local government does nothing about it. In Holly St. the problem is not as bad because it mostly occurs in the alleys around the neighborhood. Finally a difference in Holly is that there is not much of a gang problem there compared to Colony Park, at least in the schools. I went to a Community School Alliance meeting in Martin MS and there were some APD officers who said that there is only one confirmed gang per school in the area; a number that is low compared to a few years back.

Gentrification is occurring at an increasingly faster pace in the communities east of I-35. Holly is very affected by this as houses and lots are being bought by developers and made into condos or nice, big houses. This in turn increases the prices of the land which drives away older residents.
The Mueller Development is complete remodeling of the neighborhood up north. New houses and businesses including a giant HEB are being built an expected to be complete in 2017. It is causing problems because it is supposed to serve a percentage of under-privileged residents but all the new building along with lack of affordable resources (food, housing) is making it hard for them to stay in this neighborhood.
Food desert is when there is no food options, no healthy food options, or no affordable healthy food options in a neighborhood. Holly St. is struggling with some of this problem. There are a lot of restaurants in this area but some of them are targeted mainly to wealthier residents from other areas of Austin. Also there are not alot of grocery stores that sell healthy food options except for the HEB that is unaffordable for alot of residents.