Rent on the rise: Gentrification stirs concerns in Fruit Belt neighborhood

Members of the community and local organizations gathered together on Buffalo's Eastside Friday afternoon to host a rally following a press conference to address gentrification in the Fruit Belt.  

This on-going discussion is a community organized effort to continue the conversation and increase public awareness.

Veronica Hemphill-Nichols is one of many residents who lives on Buffalo's Eastside and says imposed rent increases are unfair. Friday's rally is meant to drive home the need for her neighborhood and others like it to have a community owned and driven Land Trust. 

"Families have been here, four and five generations who stand to lose their home. If their salary doesn't go up with the property taxes, they're not going to be able to be here," she said.

In response to community concerns, Elliott District Councilmember Darius Pridgen said, "I personally have been very concerned about gentrification, however on private property, that the city does not provide any funding for or help to that tenant or landlord, we can't regulate the rent at this point."

Both the press conference and rally took place in the Fruit Belt, where all members of the community were invited to attend and share their thoughts, opinions and concern.