Where Are Gays and Lesbians Moving Next?

 

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Wait, I just moved to Wilton Manors!  And now they are telling me all the gays are moving?

A recent Huffington Post tackled the rumors that gayborhoods across the nation are declining and soon will cease to exist as we know them.  What are your thoughts?

 

Chelsea. The West Village. The Castro. South Beach. These are some of the priciest neighborhoods in the country.

They were also once the nation's most prominent gayborhoods. These trendy, high priced neighborhoods were built in large part by gays and lesbians (with a heavy emphasis on gay men) who were unmarried, mostly single and without children; more adventurous than their straight counterparts; in need of their own territory; and thus willing to go into an architecturally promising area that might be considered sketchy or simply desolate and make it their own.

The unintended result is family-friendly flipped neighborhoods with skyrocketing real estate values.

The death of the gayborhood has been heralded recently, attributed in part to the toppling of these former gay ghettos, as well as to the mainstreaming of gay culture and gays and lesbians no longer needing or desiring to have neighborhoods of their own.

Based on what I hear through the real estate grapevine I would say the reports of the death of the gayborhood are greatly exaggerated. Potential next big gayborhoods are appearing on the horizon.

The fact is that the forces that drove gays and lesbians (but especially gay men) to create gayborhoods haven't changed that much. The vast majority of gays and lesbians are not married, and only 1 in 6 gay households have children. In other words, gay men and lesbians are still mostly single and without children and thus less likely to live in suburban, family-friendly neighborhoods.

From working in various aspects of real estate development in the last thirty years I can also tell you that gays just have that vision thing — whereas straight people tend to want a house and a neighborhood right off the showroom floor, the gay community tends to have the ability to look at a rundown or unwanted area and see the potential beauty.

And at the end of the day living in a gayborhood is just more fun, not to mention — as a lot of gays and lesbians who bought in the Village, South Beach, the Castro and Chelsea decades ago can attest to — a good real estate investment. So if you're looking for a potential gayborhood to move to or invest in, here are the 'hoods that should be on your gaydar: – huffingtonpost.com

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Are you in agreement so far?  Moi aussi, but the Huff lost me on this next step. 

Go over to the Huffington Post here to read why they are recommending the following areas as the next new gayborhoods to watch out for, invest in, or help start up.

 

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Detroit, Michigan:

Astoria, Queens New York:

Montevideo, Uruguay:

Smith Lake, Alabama:

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Do you agree with their suggestions and why they thought those 4 locations should be next?

I am surprised that they left out Wilton Manors as one of the current gaynorhoods.

Do you have other places that need a nod for being a great gayborhood?

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Do you have a recommendation for a future gayborhood?

 

H.T. : Huffington Post

 

21 thoughts on “Where Are Gays and Lesbians Moving Next?”

  1. Surprisingly, Phoenix, AZ.

    Surprisingly, Phoenix, AZ. The state is kind of conservative but we and 1200 major companies fought back when they tried to pass an anti Gay law big time and it was vetoed. We have many Gay enclaves, large upscale complexes rentals and condos filled with LGBT, a super Gay friendly Mayor and 3 council members, state representatives and Senators very supportive and all attend events. The largest and oldest LGBT Chamber of Commerce in the Country; a dozen bars and clubs, dozens upon dozens of Gay or Gay friendly restaurants,  many open early for patrons who have to sleep early, many jobs available in technology and medical field. Low property tax. Districts 4 and 6 center city are the best. The city has an anti LGBT discrimination ordinance. Various rents in different areas.

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  3. We live in Guerneville Ca a

    We live in Guerneville Ca a gay filled small town with gay activities in the redwood forest, 70 miles of San Francisco. It gets gayer all the time!

    Reply
  4. Wilton Manors north  is

    Wilton Manors north  is Pompano Beach  nice places to eat , less traffic , less temptation of alcoholism from gay bar happy hours!  

    Reply
  5. Greystone neighborhood in
    Greystone neighborhood in Birmingham alabama is a gay enclave. Smith lake is ugly, muddy mess with low end gays buying ugly A frame housing and slap coating them With cheap do it yourself home depot finishes. does Bao bingo Parties that you referred to in this article are cheesy and for the low end gave the Birmingham. No gays of a certain standard would be caught dead there.

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  7. As with gay clubs and bars,

    As with gay clubs and bars, 'gayborhoods' may too be victims of GRINDR and the like.  Gays are no longer compelled to congregate in order to find a plethora of sex partners, which is why this 'community' came together in the first place.  It's still nice when your hook-up only lives a couple of doors down, but it's nicer still to have an affordable place to live, own a house even.  You can always get in your car or jump on the MUNI

    Reply
  8. I never lived in a gayborhood

    I never lived in a gayborhood, but I do live in a city with a large gay population rather near the for lack of a better term, gay areas. The gayborhood is mostly 40 plus in age. It's also a progressive city where young gay couples can live in diverse neighborhoods. What I have noticed is when a couple decides to have children, they often move to the suburbs, not unlike straight couples. Couples without children tend to stay in the city, so while it may be sad to see a certain culture go away, a very rich culture I may add, it may be a sign of equality they are not as necessary as they were at one time.

    Reply
  9. Tybee Island,Georgia a little

    Tybee Island,Georgia a little island off of Savannah Georgia has become the new Gay place, Rainbow days Tybee has become a big hit.

    Reply
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  11. In California, I’d vote for

    In California, I'd vote for Long Beach. Thriving gay community and comparatively (for So. Cal.) rents. I'm not from L.B. but when I could, I bought a cute little 1936 bungalow here and planted roots.

     

    Reply
    • I love LB. When did you buy

      I love LB. When did you buy 1938? I live in Arizona, like something in a decent area for the summer, I have an in, foreclosures 2 bedrooms $350,000- $550,000 opening bid with much work needed. Decent places in high rises $700,000 and up and that's first bid. San Diego the same. I gave up, rented a hot condo in Barcelona for 3 weeks, then another 2 weeks in Sitges below on the coast so to escape some of the summer big heat. Even with plane ticket my summer costs were less. But I did not give up on LB. Still have someone looking for me, will go for a fixerupper too. I did 6 in Phoenix and live in 1.

       

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  13. Olympia, WA is for the most

    Olympia, WA is for the most part  a very tolerant town but, after 20 years I haven't discovered a particularly gay neighborhood yet.There are a few gay owned restaurants, 2 gay bars, and an annual pride parade and festival.  There also a number of inviting churches.

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  15. Not married does not mean

    Not married does not mean single.  I know lots of long term gay couples who haven't gotten married yet.  Many plan to get married, but haven't gotten around to it yet.  I seriously doubt that 5/6 of gay men are actually single.  It'd probably closer to 1/2.

    Reply
  16. Capitol Hill Seattle used to

    Capitol Hill Seattle used to be exclusively gay, 70's through 80's.  Now pretty much exclusively straight with a few gays here and there.  Its definitely not what it used to be, sky high rent is one of the main reasons…

    Reply

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