Londonist: “Why Gentrification Isn’t Always Bad for London”

Gentrification is GREAT

I don’t agree with everything in here, but this is an interesting article that distinguishes the “good kind” of gentrification from the rapid phenomenon we’re current seeing:

http://www.citymetric.com/politics/words-gentrification-and-regeneration-are-no-longer-fit-purpose-we-should-stop-using-them

Jobcentre becomes hotel:

Posterchild gentrification! #MorePlease

I prefer to see it as the success of people championing the area, people taking a chance on opening a business, and making it more interesting for people to visit.
For some reason the word gentrification drives me nuts.

The suggestion of a planned re-purposing of a building by a chain of hotels, to increase their hold on the market place. Penge has a Travelodge, not exactly a thriving redevelopment. That was an old office building too.

To me it signals that Forest Hill is becoming more of a destination. We don’t know what chain of hotels will take the lease, but whoever it is, this broadens the range of services available to the area, and it will increase our profile, and hopefully the footfall on the high street too.

Footfall to the high street for sure, raise the profile of the area? Less sure about that one. I don’t think the Trip Advisor ratings for SE23 will sky rocket for having a branch of a chain of economy hotels in it.

Travelodge will take anywhere they can to put people visiting London, preferably not needing to construct a building but instead convert existing, as they do regularly.
Penge is named “Crystal Palace” on their website. Near enough and probably cheap enough to make it worthwhile.

I guess we disagree what having such a company means.
Either way, if it is good for local business, I am all for it.

Ideal destination as far as the hotel companies are concerned, direct and quick link to London Bridge means a more premium room charge. 5 mins from the train station, buses etc. As locations go, its brilliant. But I will bet most coming to stay there will be heading into town, not directly choosing it to visit Forest Hill.

I suppose many (like me) would consider Travelodge and Premier a low budget (though good value) brand with homogenized interiors. Perhaps not quite the standard we’d hope for FH when we also praise the high quality independents and hope for an Everyman takeover of the Capitol.

I agree with you, the position in the market of the companies is very clear, but I enjoy my stay each time. Nothing wrong with them at all, and they serve huge purpose in the market.
I doubt very much it will be anything grander than either of these two, or a bright orange EasyBed lol or whatever it would be called.

Forest Hill is indeed rising slowly but surely, and the bulk of the credit goes to those investing their time and ideas in local businesses.

Either way, I don’t quite see this as a massive boost to the area as such. Few jobs maybe, that would be good.

Now if the development were to include a Nando’s, THEN I would consider the area taking a huge step forwards. If we can’t have a Domino’s, can we have a Nando’s?

Isn’t Nando’s a bit chavvy? A Carluccio’s would be better!

Oooh are we starting to judge people now!
I love a good Nando’s, whatever that makes me.

Nandos on a “Gentrification” topic? Talk about off topic! (only kidding, I love Nandos)

I thought it was spot on. Surely its about what we see as the development of an area. If a Waitrose can signal the up and coming status of an area, why not a Nando’s?

(I’m kidding)
And yes, Nando’s rocks.

Yours truly
43 year old chav.

On a lighter note, it made a pretty quiet topic quite busy. Feel free to split off to its own topic at will. Or merge it with the original post by Pauline.

I blame the person that duplicated a thread on here to make their point

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a Nando’s just as much as the next guy. But on the topic of gentrification I do think Nando’s is quite low end for what is ideally want SE23 to be!

I used to love The Orchard (now Thai Orchard which I like too) when ainsley & her husband owned it.

A restaurant similar to this (I used to love when they had escargot on the menu & so did my daughter who was 3 upwards at the time) along with a funky or very different type of bar on the ground floor of the building as a hotel would be amazing!

Probably wishful thinking on my part on this thou, but you never know stranger things have happened

If you’re a chav Michael then I certainly am

Hands up & I give in

But I’m not Pauline, you are on your own there lol

Haha Michael, I really don’t mind any title good or bad being pinned on me, but would rather just be P

I hadn’t heard about the Gentrification Resistance Brigade. How do I join? Do they have a smart uniform and a secret oath?

Does this mean there is an Anti-Gentrification Resistance Brigade too? Wonder if they’ll get a balloon?

According to GoCompare, Lewisham is the least gentrified part of London. Seems there is room for more coffee houses.

https://www.gocompare.com/landlord-insurance/gentrification-hotspots-london/

I wonder about the “salary change” figure. Is that an intra borough average salary figure, i.e. jobs located within the borough, or does it reflect the salary of people living in the borough?

Good question. No idea

I’m pretty sure it’s the latter. Intended to show if higher earners have moved to the area.

This is good news. Perhaps our children or even our grandchildren will be able to buy a property in Lewisham and look after us in our old age.

Lewisham is home to the finest cafe in Sarf East London called Maggies. The breakfast will feed an army the coffee is great the service spot on and properly priced. So if you are in the area check it out.