'Neighborhood residents cannot afford homeownership': the limitations of community development on Latino enclaves.

This article examines the impact of top-down, business-oriented community economic development strategies on Frog Hollow, a predominantly Puerto Rican/Latino, low-income neighborhood in Hartford, Connecticut, during the 2000s. Despite revitalization efforts focused on commercial district improvements and increased homeownership, the neighborhood experienced population decline, rising unemployment, persistent poverty, and a loss of affordable rental housing, suggesting localized gentrification without broad socioeconomic benefits for existing residents. The study highlights tensions between economic development driven by institutions and businesses and the limited political and cultural empowerment of the Latino community, noting missed opportunities for alternative development models centered on cultural arts and job creation. It concludes that a more holistic, resident-inclusive approach is necessary to achieve sustainable community development that addresses both economic and social dimensions.