Walking back from the grocery store the other day with Pdot and Miami, a comment was made concerning how nice and how much effort was put into certain parts of our neighbourhood. The specific area that was being referred to is located one or two blocks away from where I live. As you can see in the photograph here, lining the sidewalk in front or 5 or 6 houses is a row of potted plants, benches, flowers and knickknacks. If I remember correctly, it was Miami who said something to the effect of: "Really though! In other cities and in other neighbourhoods plants and nice pots like these would probably be smashed. But here everything is respected". Pdot concurred that there is a lot of respect in our neighbourhood for personal property. This 'respect' only seemed strange to us because of the preconceived notions about living in a big city like Rotterdam; a city that also boasts the most problem neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. My neighbourhood is not one of the supposed 'achterwijken' or bad neighbourhoods here in Rotterdam. It is instead categorised as ‘moderately positive’ however, I have been told that my own street (just two blocks away) is bordering on the moderate to moderately negative status. So what does this say about the process of categorising neighbourhoods along the spectrum of good to bad? There are certainly effects from having one’s neighbourhood categorised as problematic: one’s property value goes down, there is more policing in the area (this is debatably a good thing), and the neighbourhood undoubtedly receives a negative reputation, which can also affect how one might view the inhabitants of such an area (destroying personal property could be an example of asocial behaviour thought to be found in such areas). And while I don’t want to infer that a bunch of ‘intact potted plants’ lining one street should be taken to mean that our neighbourhood is free of all problems, I think it makes one think twice about the categorisation of neighbours as positive or negative spaces. For example: what standard is used to determine whether or not a neighbourhood is problematic? How many neighbours from that area were consulted? Can one standard be applied to all neighbourhoods throughout the Netherlands?
Whatever the case may be, (I intend to delve deeper into this question) the idea of problem neighbourhoods, the process of their categorisation, and the effects of this process, is something that should be taken seriously. For now, I will take examples such as these potted plants as signs of the importance of one's neighbourhood in everyday life and as a material connection one can make with their local surroundings. Besides all of this, these green areas are very nice to look at when you walk by! As Miami said, “Even the parking metres are gezellig (cozy)!” (see photography to the right). It might even make one feel better when they pay for park or if they get a parking ticket, how thoughtful...
Interesting. Here in Toronto you'd find the same thing on Yorkville street or something of that 'ritzy' nature. The street lamps are embossed, the sidewalks have detailing, and there is ample room (not often found in T.O) for pedestrians to sit on a large rock sculpture and water fountain for people watching. That and the Gucci/Prada/Marc Jabcobs stores kinda give it away. :)
ReplyDeleteI forgot to tell you that day that even the neighbourhood where I grew up in, Overschie, was categorized as negative some two years ago. I ask myself the same question about the standard used to categorize a neighbourhood as such. I never felt like living in a bad neighbourhood and it still doesn't feel like that when I go visit my parents. Furthermore, I never hear them complain about it...
ReplyDeleteMiami? You kill me... :-)