I was in town to hand in some film at my favourite lab today after some time. It was a nice sunny day in London today, even though the temperature was quite crisp, so I decided to take a walk through my old neighbourhood.
I also had my camera on me, as usual, so I took a few random snaps.
It was a pretty nice shuffle through the artsy district, onwards to the gentrified area around River Lea. My mind was blown to see how much has changed in such a short period of time.
It had been about a month since I'd last been on Brick Lane - which is where my film lab is. Even on there, I noticed three new shops. I must say they seem to be out of character with the spirit of Brick Lane. That's usually the sign - the beginning of the end. In five years time, it will be lined with well known franchises and the soul of Brick Lane, and Shoreditch, will be lost forever.
Along the River, so many of the oldschool warehouse buildings have been demolished to make way for "homes". "Riverside homes" they are called, springing up all over the place. I seriously couldn't believe it. The thing is, I knew they were being built, but it's just so much more noticeable because I hadn't been to the area in a while.
My favourite bar/chill out area in the neighbourhood is still kind of there. It's lost the chill out area though. The grounds have been used to put up a 6 storey block of flats. It all just looks so sad.
I took some photos during my daily walk home from work back in the day, so I have photographs showing how the place used to be - including before the building of the Olympic stadium. I hope others have been documenting it since I've moved away from there.
I also noticed that many of the old shops have closed too, replaced by cookie cutter shops all selling the same standardised stuff. A very cool coffee shop / tea room that I used to go to now looks like they sell cheap mobile phones. Depressing stuff.
Peace and Love ✌🏿
Adé
All copy and photos are original content by me.
© adetorrent.com
It is ironic. I think of my home town the same way. Houses, just right down from where I currently live, were once very beautiful, and even majestic. Now they are falling apart, with people who could care less about their property or neighborhood living there.
The curbs, parks, and roadsides are littered with garbage constantly. Finding used needles in the parks, or even the alley behind my house has become a common thing. As the older people die, their old houses are purchased by slum lords who make them into 4-8 bedroom apartments. They then rent them to ...let's just say socially challenged folks who could care less about taking care of themselves, the property or the neighborhood.
The wife and I will hopefully be old and moved into a nice assisted living place before this slow creeping decline makes the way to our part of the street. There really isn't much one can do.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That's sooo depressing!!! Do you have the option of moving away from there? I think that's the thing those that can are doing now.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
We have thought about moving, but we really like our house. It was built in the 1880s. Of course it’s been modernized, but the guts are original rough cut lumber with some rooms still having horse hair mixed in with insulation and plaster.
We will sell when we start getting too old to take care of it or if the creep makes it to us before.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Looks really nice. 1880's is ancient for America !! :)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you. We love the history of it, and the inside still has some older looks as well, that although not the "style" anymore, we keep for the history of it.
Yes, compared to where you live, it is ancient. It is very new compared to some of the architecture you see there in England. To me, the older the better. There is something about living in something that holds many memories, even if they aren't your memories, that makes the mind and imagination wander at times.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yeah, those riverside "homes" are depressing, so many glass sided towers lining the river from one end of town to the other, and so many of them empty, investment properties, not places to live.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Exactly. I've joined a petition to stop a tower coming to my street.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yea Absolutely, thing's are bound to change in most cases... Enjoy yourself
Posted using Partiko Android
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I suppose. It's happening faster here than most places I think.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
There seems to be a massive change at your favourite places of shopping. This could be embarrassing especially when you're not aware. Nice shots anyway.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit