By: Horlenes Flores and Isabella Lee
Growing up in Highland Park, Sundays began with mass at St. Ignatious de Loyola Catholic Church, followed by a traditional Guatemalan plate of food with pan frances from El Chapin on York Blvd. Walking the main streets of York and Figueroa felt like home-every corner held a place of my roots, the smell of pan dulce from Elsa’s Bakery.
I even spent many afternoons at Bobby’s Auto Parts because my dad, a mechanic, always had something to fix. Some days, we would walk for hours at the indoor swap meet on Figueroa, with the cumbias playing in the background, the laughter, and vendors that made Highland Park feel like el corazon of our community (the heart of our community).
Unfortunately, as many Highland Park natives can probably relate, our community began to shift rapidly, and now, as I walk down York Blvd, I don’t even recognize it. The feeling of home quickly began to fade, along with the faces of my childhood friends and local business owners. Businesses began to close or struggle to stay open. Gentrification isn’t just about new coffee shops and rising home prices, it’s about who gets to stay, who is forced to leave, and who gets left behind in the shadows. In Highland Park, longtime Latino families are being displaced at an alarming rate. By supporting local time-honored businesses and strengthening community ties, we can fight for a thriving Highland Park without losing our identidad.
Who Gets Left Behind?
The rapid influx of wealthier newcomers and outsiders has driven up property values, causing rent hikes and displacing working-class Latino families and businesses that have lived in the area for generations. While new businesses open on York and Figueroa, many long-standing mom-and-pop shops are kicked out or struggle to keep their doors open.
The numbers paint a stark picture. In the past decade, Highland Park’s Latino population has decreased by about 15%, but the community doesn’t feel all of its lost members are being accounted for. Once an affordable working-class neighborhood, the median home price has surged from an average $400,000 to over $1 million, making home ownership nearly impossible for longtime residents. Families who once paid $1000 to rent a 2-bedroom apartment have now had their rent nearly doubled, and in some cases tripled, leaving them no choice but to move away from the community they’ve built. All so landlords can cash in on the neighborhood’s new desirability.
When Culture Becomes a Commodity
Local businesses are also struggling to survive. Family-owned mercados, carnicerias, and bakeries that have been community staples for decades have been replaced by high-end and upscale art supply stores and restaurants that cater to newer, wealthier residents.
The owner of Bobby’s Auto Parts, a local business that had been present on York Blvd for over 30 years, said witnessing the neighborhood change negatively impacted his business because his clientele could no longer find parking to get in.
He says, “When I first opened up my business, I began paying $800 a month of rent, within thirty years it went up to $1,500. Then in November of 2017, my landlord increased it to $3,500 within two months”. The drastic rent increase affected many long-term businesses, forcing them to close or find a new location. Fortunately for Bobby, it worked out as he was able to buy a property of his own and reinstall his business in Lincoln Heights. However, as he mentions, “This was not the case for everyone.”
Although change is inevitable, it doesn’t have to cost us our community identity and long-standing residents feeling left out. Rudy Flores, a Highland Park resident for over 25 years, witnessed the changes happening in the community firsthand while working on York. Rudy shares, “It’s good for safety, but I feel bad because it’s not the same as before. They bring their stores, and the prices aren’t something the community can afford. They should share the business”. The question remains: Who is Highland Park really being developed for?
Can Development and Preservation Co-Exist?
In our opinion, there needs to be a HERITAGE Rent Fairness ACT (HRFA) to highlight the historical significance of long-standing businesses. This policy would recognize the historical and cultural significance of these legacy businesses and protect them from predatory rent hikes that force them out of the community. Under HRFA, businesses that have operated in the community for a certain number of years, particularly those owned by Latino families, will receive protections against rent increases and the uprisings of gentrification.
Additionally, there will be an inclusion of incentives for landlords who participate in this program, such as a rebate for a percentage of their property tax for every year they don’t increase the rent for their tenants. By preserving these businesses, HRFA will help Highland Park maintain its identidad and honor the cultural heritage of legacy businesses that made Highland Park the vibrant community that it has proved itself to be.
