There is, I have some theories, but so does everyone else I suppose.
The trick with Seattle - and other tech-heavy places - is that the gentrifiers belong to a demographic that is generally not invested in the arts. NYC's gentrification has driven a lot of artists out for certain, but it's also kept many by virtue of the fact that many of its wealthiest are curators and tastemakers of various art media (see: publishing, fashion, music, etc).
The population has a vested interest in seeing the arts stick around.
This isn't a perfect solution, since the "wealthy patron of the arts" demographic is skewed towards certain media and genres, so other artists may yet be left behind. But it's something.
Whereas in a place like Seattle people just don't really give a crap about art. How many Amazonians and Microsofties actually regularly go to art shows? How many have even been on the First Thursday events in any neighborhood?
The first step to successful tech gentrification is for techies to give a shit about the arts. But good luck with that.
> How many have even been on the First Thursday events in any neighborhood?
Few, at best. And it's not just Amazon or Microsoft. I was at a mobile developer meetup in Pioneer Square that coincidentally happened to land on the first Thursday of this month. Nary a word was shared with any other attendee about the richness in the arts happening right outside of our event. Made me rather sad, to be honest.
The trick with Seattle - and other tech-heavy places - is that the gentrifiers belong to a demographic that is generally not invested in the arts. NYC's gentrification has driven a lot of artists out for certain, but it's also kept many by virtue of the fact that many of its wealthiest are curators and tastemakers of various art media (see: publishing, fashion, music, etc).
The population has a vested interest in seeing the arts stick around.
This isn't a perfect solution, since the "wealthy patron of the arts" demographic is skewed towards certain media and genres, so other artists may yet be left behind. But it's something.
Whereas in a place like Seattle people just don't really give a crap about art. How many Amazonians and Microsofties actually regularly go to art shows? How many have even been on the First Thursday events in any neighborhood?
The first step to successful tech gentrification is for techies to give a shit about the arts. But good luck with that.