This week, a bike ride through the Eckington neighborhood provided me first-hand experience and feel of the habitat present there. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Pictures on this site were taken this past week and represent Eckington in the present form. In perspective of the theme, Healthy Habitats, Eckington provides many resources and community togetherness, which keeps the rich culture alive. However, some aspects of the community need improvements.

 

Focusing on the positives, most of the Eckington neighborhood has safe, attractive, and affordable housing. The community enjoys affordable mass transit, bicycle rentals and lanes, storage centers, parks and play areas, local schools, walking distance retailers, restaurants, and self-food service providers. A lot of historical roots and religious centers are present within the community. Almost all houses have small yards with flowers or trees to contain pollution. Many humanitarian assistance centers for homeless folks to get free food, shelter, and low-income housing is seen.

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The negative aspects include, abandoned warehouses, schools, a lot of construction underway leaving pollution, parts of the neighborhood under watch and having heavy police presence due to crime and drugs. Some walls left with graffiti and inappropriate sprayed words/drawings.

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All in all, Eckington provides a livable habitat with many conveniences which the locals enjoy. Major development projects are underway to improve property and businesses around the vicinity and provide jobs to local residents. Some feel proud while others invaded. Only time will tell if gentrification is truly the answer to healthy habitats or not. It is visible from interviews and talking to locals that there are mixed fillings within the community when it comes to change.