Guest Opinion

Real Montavilla area bypasses stereotypes

My View • Perception doesn’t trump reality in our vibrant, growing neighborhood

By Fritz Hirsch

, Dec 10, 2009

Tribune File Photo

Waitresses serve dim sum at Wong’s King Seafood restaurant on Southeast 82nd Avenue. A My View writer believes the availability of affordable housing is drawing new families, first-time homeowners and immigrants to neighborhoods surrounding 82nd Avenue, making the area a vibrant place.

Reality and perception are two separate commodities. For those who take a quick drive down 82nd Avenue or through my neighborhood, Montavilla, perception is often clouded by stereotypes that prevent people from seeing the reality of what is going on here.

In Montavilla, this reality includes an explosion of business development, changing demographics and a tremendous amount of new community involvement.

True, Montavilla and other neighborhoods along 82nd Avenue historically suffer from challenges related to public safety and neglect by institutions and local leaders. As these challenges are being addressed, though, business development is expanding greatly. Take for example the booming Stark Street strip in Montavilla between Southeast 82nd and 76th. It boasts the Country Cat Restaurant, Montavilla Farmers Market, Vintage Cocktail Lounge, Academy Theatre, Bipartisan Café and Flying Pie Pizza. Or along 82nd, there are many new venues that represent the avenue’s prominence as a new regional center for authentic Asian food: Fubon Marketplace, which draws visitors from across the metro area, and Pho Van, Shenzhen and Wong’s King restaurants.

On the other hand, along the entire length of 82nd Avenue there are only nine adult businesses.

Once again, perception vs. reality. Or reality vs. perception, depending on which you prefer to emphasize.

Spurred in part by the wide availability of affordable and fairly priced housing, new families, first-time homeowners and immigrant families are moving to Montavilla, changing its demographics and making it a vibrant neighborhood in which to live and work.

A tour through Montavilla on a weekend will reveal hipsters mingling with immigrant families, young professionals, new families and long-time residents, all either dining out or having drinks, tending their yards, chatting on their porches, riding their bikes or strolling through the neighborhood.

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