we dont want to be upscaled

the rebellion of survival of the suburb culture against the evils of commerce is on

I walk along an absolutely great neighbourhood. Cute cafés, restaurants from all around the world and independant clothing boutiques flank the read. It's cozy, familiar, cool. and not too high priced.
Prenzlauer Berg, "prenzelberg" is a berlin district that has experienced the first stages of gentrification. It has become a hip artsy neighbourhood.It has attracted atention and enough money for renovation, and most importantly it has attracted a mix of sors: od DDR remaining elderly, families, hip artsy students. All the old truely bohemian stores are of course all moved out it already is too expensive for that due to the second wav of gentrification. but the places of commercial exchange, more, of entertainment have an independant enough flair compete with the boring, unimaginative and expensive coffehouse milieu found "unter den Linden". but surely enough gentrification will not end here. estate prices are still nowhere near maximum, especailly so close to the center. the dilemma is born: an indepted city whith over 15% unemployment, a financial crisis, and more. In the middle of the city you nw found a vacant brown feld site. what to do? of course the government is going to take the most logical step: sell and get money.
A 700 people new upper class neighbourhood is now implanted into prenzelberg.
it is a great solution for you, who has the money to buy a flat, send you kids to the private school at the other end of town and boast at the next champagne ball about the flairfull independant district you live in. but mercedes and co. do not really fit in. more money means higher prices, not only in estate but also in cafés, restaurants ect. the living of the "indigenous population" is at threat for they cannot afford the 2 euro more for a starbucks that you can summon on a day to day basis. the original charme of the district is lost. upstriving artists get replacedby the everyday brands, students get pushed away, and once starbucks moves in everything is officially known to be lost to the well to do middle aged population with pseudo coolness and a porsche.
in gentrification a district only as a small speck of light in which it really is cool: when a artist scene has been established, the money starts to flow and themiddle class starts coming. gentrification on the one hand means a better living: better apartments, a nightlife and coffeeculture. on the other hand it contains an inbuilt mechanism of self destruction. so why dont the people just live with it and get out when the prices get too high or when the luxury apartments make them feel like animals in a zoo? well, its their life and culture these people have made for themselves. of course they will defend what they love! (the theme of the other half of the world literature). if not its just a mask to cover up that gentrification has eaten itself long ago.