Walk through the streets of downtown New Haven and one of the first things you'll notice is the numerous construction sites. Whether it's the new construction of apartments or updating older buildings, on the outside it looks like a fantastic moment of growth for the city. But this growth does come with a dark side...

One of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic has been the push by Yale students for off-campus housing. According to the Yale Daily News, there was a 79 percent increase in students living off-campus. A recent survey of Yale students also found that 24 percent of rising juniors and 44 percent of rising seniors reported a preference to live off-campus this upcoming fall.  

To meet this rising demand, there has been a surge of upscale apartment buildings for students. Sporting luxury accommodations and proximity to the campus, Yale students are making their way out into the neighboring community. These features come with a price though, with rents soaring to as high as 3, 4, and even 5 thousand dollars a month.  

This might not be a problem for some Yale students, but what does that mean for New Haven residents? For most, that means leaving their communities and looking for housing further away. This can complicate where they can find work, especially at a time when it is already difficult to do so. On top of that, the gentrification of these areas can rip communities apart and leave them a void of their former self.  

What's being done about this? A new city initiative is hoping to address some of these issues. According to the New Haven Independent, four local affordable housing projects will soon receive 5.4 million dollars in state support. These housing options will be located in and around New Haven. They will range from updated to new construction and have gauges for renting towards annual median income.  

With new affordable housing options on the way, hopefully, this means a step in the right direction for relief for New Haven residents. This has been Bailey MeCey, thank you for listening.  

Articles Cited:

https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2020/09/11/demand-spikes-for-off-campus-housing/
https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2021/02/26/amid-historic-housing-demand-preliminary-housing-plans-for-next-academic-year-announced-to-undergrads/
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/chfa_funding/

Gentrification in Downtown New Haven

On a dark and stormy night in November 2009, my friend and I dedicated ourselves to beating Uncharted 2: Among Thieves on its hardest difficulty.

A Night to Remember

As I do the dishes, my roommates devise a plan to prank our neighbors.  

Photo by Peapod Labs
https://www.flickr.com/photos/peapodlabs/6963931014

Doing the Dishes

Photo and story by Bailey MeCey

Michael Kalenis, a local musician, takes a moment to talk about the potential of downtown Reno's redevelopment.

Local Musician Excited about Reno Redevelopment

Photo and Story by Bailey MeCey

For Jordan Wines, Remote Services Technician at the University of Nevada, Reno Knowledge Center, meeting new people in a new town was difficult. That all changed after he started playing the card game Magic the Gathering. Not only was he able to make friends at local card matches, but he attended Comic-Con-like events where thousands of people would come to battle each other. While most of the fun comes in the intense strategy in the game, Wines finds the most enjoyment from the social interactions.

Making Connections Through ‘Magic The Gathering’

For Jessica Brown, the call of the theater was one she could not refuse. Previously a journalism major, she decided to switch to theater after getting involved with the theater department. Now she works behind the scenes, from crafting set pieces to setting up lighting for UNR productions. Reporter Bailey MeCey from the Reynolds School of Journalism has more.

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