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CQ: Main Street – Hipper Than Thou or Yuppie Crap?

Author: Chattarati Staff
Filed Under: CQ, Chattarati, Southside
Published: July 11th, 2008

Today’s question: Main Street — hipper than thou or yuppie crap?

CQ is a series where Chattarati readers talk back. Give us your thoughts on today’s question.

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Comments
  • What is it?
  • Unfortunately none of us can hide our pride in things done well. Main Street only suffers from a case of "hipper than thou" because they actually did it. The goal moving forward should be to not let that knowing smile of pride fester into gloating and arrogance.

    That end of Main Street had died - through murder or natural causes I don't know. There's little doubt that it's alive now - time will tell if that new life is lived well.
  • Just to be clear, are we talking about Fentress Place? ;-)
  • stelmodad
    Seemed like an open ended Main Street post. Do tell Chattarati Staff.
  • As to the actual CQ, I have mixed feelings. And I have acquaintances among those that get labeled pretentious -- by other acquaintances, sometimes.

    No effort to revitalize a decaying urban area should go without appreciation. Artists (real ones, not posers) do bring a certain "soul" when they establish a community.

    Somehow, though, it seems like the area is trying to jump from one extreme to the other. Chattanooga is not alone in this phenomenon, of course. Investors see an opportunity, they take risks, and gentrification is, one could say, a natural result.

    It takes consistent and wise leadership to help build and sustain communities that offer appropriate amenities for the several socioeconomic layers that, ideally, would inhabit them.

    It also takes, I'm sure, not too small a measure of pure luck. Main Street: do you feel lucky?
  • josiahq
    "gentrification" was scrawled on that sign almost a year ago when Niedlovs, the Firehall, and Maycreate were pretty much the only peeps on Main Street. Technically it's not gentrification if nobody is living there in the first place.

    Much as I dig/respect the Main Street project (and especially its forerunners & leaders) I've still got an... affection for what St. Elmo has done, on its own, without help from either the City or the Big Foundations.

    I do find the "yuppie" thing interesting. I heard it the other day from an employee at Lupiz who asked me for some recommendations for restaurants, and I suggested Bluegrass & Niedlovs on Main, and they stated it was just a bunch of "yuppie" junk. I've always considered "yuppie" to be something having to do with suburbia, not an urban area like Main Street or the Southside.
  • R.
    'I’ve always considered “yuppie” to be something having to do with suburbia, not an urban area like Main Street or the Southside."

    That's odd, considering if you asked where the word "yuppie" comes from they'd tell you "young urban professional". I suppose the shoe fits in that case.
  • josiahq
    Sweet Mary, I'm nearly 30. You're right.
  • By definition, yuppies yes. Since St. Elmo was Chattanooga's first suburb, we'd be young suburban professionals here. I don't know how you'd pronounce ysupie? Ya-Sup-ee?

    I think St. Elmo worked (is working) because it never really died and is slowly in re-growth. Gradual moves with a set of old timers and newcomers who aren't afraid to speak up. I've lived there, yikes, fifteen years now and I'm still easily in the newcomer category.
  • David Morton
    When they started the big push for East Main revitalization (or gentrification depending on your perspective), I was a fairly vocal supporter despite my open criticism of the Lyndhurst machine. Now, I remain sort of ambivalent to the Main Street Phenomenon. I don't live there. I don't work there, and since they roll up the sidewalks at 6PM, I rarely go there.
  • josiahq
    If you look close, ArtsMove included Highland Park and MLK neighborhoods, only recently has it become more focused.

    Lyndhurst "machine". lol
  • David Morton
    Wha? No love for 'Main Street Phenomenon?'
  • josiahq
    4 businesses and a createhere a phenomenon does not make. in a year, mebbe
  • jeff
    the main street revitalization started when there was 3 business on Main. a used furniture business that had not paid rent in 11 months, OCI still there still happy, estate of confusion-still there now very happy, reeves re-needling-doesn't realize anything has happened.

    the number of businesses pushed out 0. the number of new businesses 15.

    the number of people forced out of housing 0. the number of new affordable units 26. the number of new market rate (20% of mean income) housing units 41.

    if that is gentrification bring it on, David Morton sounds a little like RTN.
  • David Morton
    Wow. And I didn't even get to threaten anyone with a lawsuit.
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