The Grove

I lived in a lot of different neighborhoods in Miami over 20 years. I lived in 13 different houses. My favorite home was in Coconut Grove. In a classic shotgun house. The neighborhood started by Bahamians and freed slaves, has residents who have lived here for generations. Bit by bit this part of the Grove is being gentrified and losing a lot of its character. What's most telling about the inevitability of this trend is the corner building at the main intersection of Douglas and Grand. The storefront was always some kind of community development office; now it is a real estate office. Most of the houses and building scattered around the traditionally African-American community are slapped with "for sale" signs. It is sad to see this transformation, and the displacement of the residents.