This article in today’s Neighborhood Times talks about how young people drawn to St. Petersburg, “a young, hip, modern” city, can barely afford it. It points out some facts such as:

• The median sales price for a single-family home in the city soared from $78,000 in 1995 to $225,500 in 2006
• Rent for a two-bedroom apartment climbed from $541 in 1995 to $817 in 2007
• Pinellas County lost 20,000 affordable housing units in the past six years (majority of which were apt to condo conversions)

I may just be a cynical bastard, but does it seem odd that they are covering what I can only assume are white, middle class folks instead of the people seriously affected by these trends? What about the actual working class surviving just above the poverty line that couldn’t even afford the housing or rent costs back in 1995, let alone now? Not newsworthy?

Askia Muhammad Aquil, president of the nonprofit agency St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services says: “We are finding that families with higher income levels than we have historically seen are seeking out our assistance.”

Well, isn’t that great news? That’s fantastic! I think people that have good jobs, but are feeling a little financial pinch (most likely because of unintelligent debt they’ve incurred) should totally be using services designed for people that aren’t sure they’ll be able to buy their kids food this week.

Median prices are complete bullshit anyway because it means factoring in the $750,000 condos in addition to the more affordable houses in north St. Pete. I think the problem is that these “young, hip, modern” folks want a house in Old Northeast or a new “urban” condo downtown instead of being realistic. Yes, costs are rising. Yes, pay is not increasing at the same rate. But it doesn’t feel right reading about folks that even have the means to buy a house when we’re busy gentrifying the most needy of our city right out of their homes.