Discrete Appeal
An inspection of the ineffable value found within historical places, what they represent, and the contemporary risks posed to them.
by Jakob Peters
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The nation's capitol, Washington D.C. can be regarded as one of the top cities in the United States suffering from gentrification. A recent study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition found that the "percentage of DC neighborhoods that experienced gentrification from 2000 to 2013 was far greater than those of the city with the second highest intensity of gentrification [...] 40% of DC census tracts were gentrified during these years." (Jacobs) One walk through the streets will display the intense displacement of people and extrinsic dynamics at play between big companies and the places they wedge themselves into. This subsequently causes rifts to grow constantly further between both previous and potential residents, having countless ramifications on the future state of the city.
In this instance, a key part of DC's modern day soul and life force survives through the famous, historic Ben's Chili Bowl restaurant. It is located on U-Street, an area previously more commonly known as "Black Broadway" during the first half of the 1900s. This place surrounding Ben's was once a massive stage for culture and growth flourishing within the city. However, the modern day business, political, and civil climates are threatening the sanctity and beauty of what remains more now than ever. (National Trust for Historic Preservation) Ben's Chili Bowl is a prime example of resilience, history, and staying true to your roots in a city now most focused with making the quickest buck possible with no regard for real things, real meaning and quality. Blair A. Ruble says in his article Why Washington History Matters: Lessons from U Street, that DC is not only a real city with real history worthy of study but "urban neighborhoods that function as 'zones of contact' among diverse groups is the most valuable urban asset of all." (Ruble) The perseverance and importance of upholding these zones is only growing increasingly more vital. With this being said, the following observation of Ben's Chili Bowl, "Black Broadway", and DC as a whole is meant to serve as an indicator of the seeping change that is plaguing the true foundations of the capitol city but also a reminder that authenticity never dies: it adapts and perseveres above all else.
"DC’s residents have a long history of bouncing back from hard times. Our Black community is front and center in this story and Ben’s is a perfect case study – a study in our quest of freedom and its ongoing re-definition. - statement from Ben's Chili Bowl
Clean and classic, Ben's Chili Bowl got its start beaming out towards the street. The face value is enticing, its beauty is not only solidified but prioritized in the photograph from 1980. Simple yet iconic. For contrast, the recent 2022 photo attempts to tell a different tale. A somber sight is Ben's subjected to an attempt at being painted in poor light. While still classic, historic, and undeniably significant regardless of the time, a degree of Ben's street appeal is futilely obstructed by a neighboring restaurant.
Works Cited
Demczuk, Bernard. “63 Years and Counting: Our Legacy.” Ben's Chili Bowl, 2022, https://benschilibowl.com/history.
Jacobs, Adam. “New Study Quantifies the Impact of Gentrification on DC.” Legal Aid DC, 27 Mar. 2019, https://www.legalaiddc.org/blogs/new-study-quantifies-the-impact-of-gentrification-on-dc#:~:text=The%20study%20found%20that%2040,homes%20between%202000%20and%202013.
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Site. “Explore Washington, D.C.'s Historic Black Broadway on U Street: National Trust for Historic Preservation.” Explore Washington, D.C.'s Historic Black Broadway on U Street | National Trust for Historic Preservation, n.d., https://savingplaces.org/guides/explore-washington-dc-black-broadway#.Y5IbV-zMLty.
Ruble, Blair A. “Why Washington History Matters: Lessons from U Street.” Washington History, vol. 23, 2011, pp. 59–63. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41317469.
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