City Heights is changing, but is it changing for the better? There are a lot of changes being made, but I believe they will highly affect the less fortunate people living here.

Many great modifications are being made to City Heights. One of them has been the I-15 highway. This highway has made it easier for people to get to work in different parts of the city that public transportation takes them. One section has a park built on top. These changes may bring forth a bigger group of non-minorities to move into City Heights because of how nice of an area it is slowly becoming.

Another big change has been the rent increases. At least one multi-apartment complex has had a 75% increase in rent charges. It is possible other rental units may do the same because it is legal, and they have to give a notice of at least 30 days to inform the tenants, and this does not break the limit set by government clauses. There’s a high chance that many people with lower incomes will struggle to maintain their rent or find themselves struggling to find a home they can afford if many apartments increase rents. It is unlikely that the rent will increase for most of City Heights’ apartment complexes due to how many problems that would cause and controversy that would ensue. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible they’ll follow through with that way of thought. If many are looking to making as much money as they can, there’s a chance they will do it.  Most low income people here in City Heights have been people of color. Higher rent increments will mean that many people of color will have to move out of the city to be able to find an affordable home.

I have seen changes. Unfortunately, they aren’t perfectly great changes. They have personally affected me. The last apartments I lived in were bought out and a new landlord renovated. Some people were forced to move out by the owner, including my family. The new apartment we moved into had a rent increase shortly after we moved in. They’ve also started renovating the place. A while after a family had to move out and the apartment they lived in is being renovated inside. This may be happening to apartments here as well. With people being forced to move, their lives and their culture moves away from City Heights too.

So while there may be an increase in positive changes, there’s also a great loss of culture. So while I do welcome any people who come to live here, and seeing such positive growth within this city; there’s a loss in the diversity of many other cultures of people who couldn’t afford to stay here and that is incredibly saddening.