To simply say gentrification is good or bad would ignore the intricacies of this complicated issue. This essay will explore both the positive and negative consequences of gentrification, as well as how policymakers can balance the pros and cons of the process through public policy and further research. Lees et al. (2008, p. xv) define gentrification as “the transformation of a working-class or vacant area of the central city into middle-class residential and/or commercial use.” This essay will focus on gentrified areas that transform from working-class to middle-to-upper class, since these transformations are more commonly accepted as gentrification and have more impact overall. It is debated whether transformation of vacant areas is gentrification …show more content…
Although gentrification can lead to social mixing of different classes and races, this can actually worsen quality of life for the original residents of a neighborhood and lead to “displacement, segregation, and social polarization” (Lees, 2008, p. 2449). Displacement is the worst consequence of gentrification. There is data that shows a significant number of people are displaced due to gentrification. In New York City, between 1989 and 2002, about 10,000 were displaced each year, which represents between six and ten percent of local moves during those years (Newman & Wyly, 2006). This displacement occurs because of the increased property values the new residents bring with them. The original residents often cannot afford to live in their community and are priced out of their living arrangements. Even with some affordable housing set aside, there is not enough to keep all the original residents and it does not guarantee people will still be able to afford living there, considering other costs of living will also increase, such as food and other goods and services. To make matters worse, displaced residents can have great difficulty trying to find affordable housing elsewhere, which limits the resources they could be using on improving their livelihoods, such as by getting an education or investing in their community (Fullilove, 2001). This is bad not only on a moral level, but also …show more content…
The core flaw with gentrification is that although it brings economic development to a neighborhood, this does not benefit the original residents of the affected communities—in fact, it hurts them. The positive impacts of gentrification disproportionately benefit people who do not really need economic help in the first place (middle-to-upper class people). The goal of neighborhood development should be to improve the lives of the people already living in a community—not to improve the neighborhood so other people can move in and kick the original people out. The latter does nothing to change the systemic struggles that poor and minority people face in urban areas, including lack of affordable housing. This is the difference between gentrification and revitalization. Revitalization is characterized by many of the same positive effects of gentrification, while benefitting the original residents, instead of displacing
Gentrification is defined as the process by which the wealthy or upper middle class uproot poorer individuals through the renovation and rebuilding of poor neighborhoods. Many long-term residents find themselves no longer able to afford to live in an area, where the rent and property values are increasing. Gentrification is a very controversial topic, revealing both the positive and negative aspects of the process. Some of the more desirable outcomes include reduced crime rate, increased economic activity, and the building of new infrastructures. However, it is debated whether the negatives overwhelm the positive. An increase in the number of evictions of low-income families, often racial minorities can lead to a decline of diversity
Lance Freeman tackles the issue of gentrification from the perspectives of residents in the gentrified neighborhood. He criticizes the literature for overlooking the experiences of the victims of gentrification. The author argues that people’s conceptions on the issue are somewhat misinformed in that most people consider it as completely deplorable, whereas in reality, it benefits the community by promoting businesses, different types of stores, and cleaner streets. These benefits are even acknowledged by many residents in the gentrified neighborhood. However, the author admits that gentrification indeed does harm. Although gentrification does not equate to displacement per se, it serves to benefit primarily homeowners and harm the poor. Additionally,
“Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district's character and culture.” (Grant) In layman’s terms, gentrification is when white people move to a black neighborhood for the sake of cheaper living, and in turn, raise up property values and force black neighbors to leave because of a higher price of living. Commonly, the government supports gentrification with the demolition of public housing in areas that are developing with more white neighbors. This is causing a decreasing amount of African Americans to be able to afford to live in the neighborhood as their homes are taken away from them, forcing them to relocate. Whilst gentrification normally has negative connotations, there are several people who believe gentrification brings about “an upward trend in property values in previously neglected neighborhoods.” (Jerzyk) On the other hand, this new trend in property value and business causes those...
Jackson Heights is a neighborhood with a plethora of diversity and multiculturalism, hence there’s wide coverage of Gentrification in the media and literature. Jackson Heights is skyrocketing economically like many other local neighborhoods, with the looming possibility of becoming out of reach for the average American family. Redevelopments of infrastructure have rapidly progressed causing a rise in house price and rent, this ultimately resulting in the neighborhood to become financially unreachable for most. This is an example of the term that was first coined in 1964 by German-British sociologist Ruth Glass as ‘gentrification’. Ruth Glass wrote, "Once this process of 'gentrification' starts in a district, it goes on rapidly
There has been a tremendous change in East Harlem between class warfare and gentrification. East Harlem is one more economic factor to the city’s wealth per capita since the attack of September 11, 2000. It is Manhattan’s last remaining development and it is on the agenda of the tax revenue of our government. East Harlem has become a profit driven capitalism. Gentrification enforces capitalism, it does not separate people, it does not go against race, poor and the working class, it wages war on the poor and the working-class.
The last big effect that comes from the urban housing reform is that it makes it difficult for people to get out of those areas. Living in urban projects is not a place where many people wish to be but they have no choice if they can’t afford to get out of the area. Some people re only able to afford living in those areas or cannot get a job that pays high enough to move to someplace else. This has created a vicious circle of the areas becoming more run down and more
... motivation for wealthy individuals to return to the inner-city core but it also provides impetus for commercial and retail mixed-use to follow, increasing local revenue for cities (Duany, 2001). Proponents of gentrification profess that this increase in municipal revenue from sales and property taxes allows for the funding of city improvements, in the form of job opportunities, improved schools and parks, retail markets and increased sense of security and safety ((Davidson (2009), Ellen & O’Reagan (2007), Formoso et. al (2010)). Due to the increase in housing and private rental prices and the general decrease of the affordable housing stock in gentrifying areas, financially-precarious communities such as the elderly, female-headed households, and blue-collar workers can no longer afford to live in newly developed spaces ((Schill & Nathan (1983), Atkinson, (2000)).
With the rapid development of the city and tremendous progress of technology in America, gentrification becomes a universal phenomenon in every city, especially in Englewood―the south side of Chicago. As capital begins to flow into the Englewood community, many aspects of daily life are changed for better. The tremendous change brings not only the renovated facilities but arrives with the new retail and service business. Plenty of citizens who live in the Englewood community were benefiting from the gentrification. They also said that gentrification is a commendable change in Englewood to renew and develop. Thus, gentrification is beneficial to local residents because it arrives with the new retail and service business, increases employment opportunities and transform a more beautiful community.
This investigation is based on the assumption that gentrification with all its troubles can’t be prevented and is an inherent part of every city. What are the negative impacts of gentrification? What are the underlying mechanisms that feed these impacts? What drives these mechanisms? What would be an alternative scenario?
Gentrification is designed to improve the quality of life for the residents, but the fact is that it pushes out old residents to welcome in young and wealthy citizens. To analyze the demographic even further, gentrified neighborhoods in New York City have seen an increase in white population despite a city wide decrease. As Kate Abbey-Lamertz of the Huffington Post states, “The report notes that change is driven by educated people moving in, rather than by existing residents becoming more educated.” These changes are being driven by a millennial demographic who can afford the changed aesthetic. The influx of millennials are pushing out families whose lifestyle can’t keep up with the changing demographic. Even though these changes have been occurring for almost thirty years, and the city hasn’t made the changes needed for people who need low income housing. New York City’s gentrification must be slowed in order for people in low income housing to catch
There are many examples of cities reforming itself over time, one significant example is Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. More than a hundred years after the discovery of gold that drew thousands of migrants to Vancouver, the city has changed a lot, and so does one of its oldest community: Downtown Eastside. Began as a small town for workers that migrants frequently, after these workers moved away with all the money they have made, Downtown Eastside faced many hardships and changes. As a city, Vancouver gave much support to improve the area’s living quality and economics, known as a process called gentrification. But is this process really benefiting everyone living in Downtown Eastside? The answer is no. Gentrification towards DTES(Downtown Eastside) did not benefit the all the inhabitants of the area. Reasons are the new rent price of the area is much higher than before the gentrification, new businesses are not community-minded, and the old culture and lifestyle of the DTES is getting erased by the new residents.
“The Deeper Problems We Miss When We Attack ‘Gentrification’”exhibit their opinion on the positives of gentrification and the potential of “revitalization” in low-income urban communities. Badger argues that gentrification brings nothing more than further opportunities for urban communities while integrating citizens of different social classes.Furthermore , she continues to question if gentrification is in fact the monster that brings the prior expressions against gentrification where she says “If poor neighborhoods have historically suffered from dire disinvestment, how can the remedy to that evil — outside money finally flowing in — be the problem, too?”(Badger) Stating that the funds generated from sources external that are brought into these communities can’t be problematic. This concept is further elaborated in the article “Does Gentrification Harm the Poor” where Vigdoor list the potential positive enhancements gentrification can have on an urban area in America ,stating that gentrification can
Gentrification is the consequence of free enterprise, a framework described by the tireless quest for benefit. The late geographer Neil Smith counterposes Levy's hypothesis with a class point of view. He composes: By complexity, the proprietors of capital expectation on gentrifying and adding to an area have significantly more "purchaser decision" about which neighborhoods they need to eat up, and the sort of lodging and different offices they create for whatever remains of us to expend. Smith's point outlines that the foundations of gentrification lie much more profound than in the way of life of the general population - they emerge from the very reality that the economy is benefit driven. The things we expend are created
In discussions of Gentrification, one controversial issue has been with displacement. Gentrification is the process of renovating and repairing a house or district so that it complies to wealthier residents (Biro, 2007, p. 42). Displacement is a result of gentrification, and is a major issue for lower income families. Gentrification is causing lower-income residents to move out of their apartments because they’re being displaced by upper class residents who can afford high rent prices and more successful businesses. Throughout out the essay, I will discuss how gentrification affects lower income residents and how it results in displacement. Then I will follow on by discussing some positive and negative effects that take place because of Gentrification.
Gentrification is a process that flips poor, deteriorated urban communities into luxurious, hip, and expensive residences. This process displaces lower-income people or families by increasing expenses such as rent or property values and brings in wealthier individuals, which buys them out of their homes. Gentrification remolds a neighborhood that is deemed to be “ghetto” into one that is more “livable” or “safe” and creates a better atmosphere for the wealthy. Though, there are many advantages to gentrification as well such as a reduce crime rate, renovated buildings/homes/parks, and overall increase in economic activity. Despite these benefits, gentrification seems to cause more harm than good. It is evident that the rapid expansion of gentrification