Giving Compass' Take:

• Writing for The Aspen Institute, Border X Brewing CEO David Favela discusses how gentrification affects Latino communities, and why "Gente-fication" (people-focused development) is a better way.

• How can we make sure that the people who make up the lifeblood of urban neighborhoods aren't forgotten when businesses expand? Grassroots entrepreneurialism will be essential.

• Here's why community-led urban design could be a solution for gentrification.

Gentrification is one of the biggest issues facing Latino communities across the U.S. today. The proximity of our Barrios to an emerging entertainment urban core, office buildings, and jobs is a powerful magnet to waves of outside investors who gobble up the beautiful Victorians, Craftsmen bungalows, and even the shotgun shacks.  Remodeling and restoring these homes bring in outsiders who increase rents and drive out low-income residents. Funky little shops, cute cafes, and galleries soon replace the mercados and bodegas and the last remaining residents feel like strangers in a strange land.

But does it have to be that way? Over the last four years, Border X Brewing, located in historic Barrio Logan, sought to find that balance between revitalizing our historic Barrio while honoring the people and groups who have called this home for more than a century. We identified a few critical ways to change “Gentrification” to “Gente-fication,” or people-focused development.

The concept of Gente-fication started as soon as I began working on our tasting room. Long-time residents out for morning walk would stop and watch me as I went about building the small tasting room. At first, they were suspicious, but once they got to know me, they would share stories. “See that old Victorian?  All seven of my brothers and sisters were born in that building!” “See that theater, Pedro Infante sang there once!” While it slowed my work considerably, I developed a deep appreciation for the history of the Barrio and the original residents.

Read the full article about replacing gentrification with people-focused development by David Favela at The Aspen Institute.