Cue the chorus of assholes who want to whine about gentrification in 3, 2, oh, shit, already started.

As a black man who earns enough to live in the neighborhood of choice, OregonTina and those like her should learn to shut the fuck up and notice that nothing stays the same forever. No one gets turned away from buying or leasing property in North Portland. Stop equating my skin color with poverty.

There's a Whole Foods, New Seasons, Safeway, Fred Meyer, and Cherry Sprout produce all pretty close to that location. Also the farmer's market in Overlook Park in season. You can even take the Max to the Freddies and New Seasons. More jobs will benefit the neighborhood though.

The only question now is do I spend my $10 on two bottles of Kombucha at New Seasons or buy a baggie across the street?

OregonTina,

Why in the hell do you keep acting like YOUNG BLACK people can't have money? Rising property costs drive out those WHO CAN'T AFFORD the prices, not those of a certain age or skin color.

You're a racist honey, and it's only mildly cute that you don't seem to know that.

I knew this was somehow white peoples' fault.

Western Family is a generic, cheaper alternative that also happens to be local and appears on almost every New Seasons shelf. When I moved to the Eliot neighborhood and away from a Fred Meyer, I was able to maintain the same food budget shopping at the Interstate New Seasons. There are some things that yes, are quite a bit more expensive, like the meat. But at least I know I won't get mad cow's disease. Or fill my body with unnecessary antibiotics. And I'm supporting a local farmer and a local economy. I just don't buy meat as often. It's lazy to cast the cost stereotype on New Seasons, when they are just offering an alternative to the large chain grocery store. It is also not fair to blame them for a systemic problem (concentrated poverty and displacement) that is the City's responsibility. New Seasons raises significant money and spends significant time supporting the communities where they locate. I wholeheartedly believe that we should be doing more about displacement in areas experiencing reinvestment. I also wholeheartedly support a New Seasons in my neighborhood. I don't want to live in a city that doesn't believe that good grocery stores (that offer healthy alternatives) should be available to everyone.

According to Google Maps there are 3 Safeway stores within 1.1 miles of the location of the new New Seasons, and a Fred Meyer's w/in 2 miles. I'm not sure how the "there's not a grocery store in the area" argument holds up. It's almost like campaigning to build another Starbucks because your latte gets cold before you walk passed another one.

I grew up off Fremont 1982-1996. My verdict on gentrification? Don't blame the people moving in, just give the people staying there a chance to stay via rent and property tax controls, and treat everyone by the same standard.