Beginning in the 70's urban life began to slowly regain it's prestige. Many cities began to thrive in desirability among artists and the highly educated. Gentrification has been the cause of painful conflict in many American cities, including here in Tallahassee. Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in existing urban districts. It's been related to the the increase of property values, changes in districts culture.
The citizens of Tallahassee have faint recollections of the events that have taken place down in Frenchtown but that doesn't stop the city from producing major projects to preserve the soul of Frenchtown. Throughout the years it's history has been forgotten.The city of Tallahassee has established Frenchtown/Southside Community Redevelopment Area (F/S CRA) and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in 1998 to try and preserve that history.
Bridgette Balderson wrote about Frenchtown in 2012 explaining that the efforts to re-stimulate the economy and safety of Frenchtown have been stagnated. Leaving many still ignorant on the history of Frenchtown. If you ever ask anyone for advice about Tallahassee, they'll turn around and tell you the best spots to club at. They will fail to mention the Historical Frenchtown, and that's because it's been tainted as a ghetto.
Frenchtown originated in the 19th century when settlers moved to the area from France. On July 4, 1825 the relocation of the settlers was prompted by the Lafayette Land Grant. The grant gave Marquis de Lafayette, a major general in the Continental Army, township in the U.S of his choice for his contribution in the Civil War.
Shortly after this claim of land many freed slaves migrated to the area. Lafayette never actually lived or visited Florida for all the time the land was completely his. Napeolon Bonapartes son, Prince Achille Murat, had lived in Tallahassee, in 1830, shortly after the execution of his father.
Shortly after dropping his european titles and becoming a citizen of the U.S., Prince Murat found himself the mayor of Tallahassee. This is rich, something many other cities don't have. We have royalty right here in our backyard.
Neighborhood change is often looked upon as a miscarriage of racial and economic fault lines. Increasing the community involvement in this neighborhood would prove to show the interest to keep Frenchtown alive.
