Gentrification

Gentrification is the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.

## Contents

* 1 Gentrification vs. Urban Renewal
* 2 Criticism
* 3 References
* 4 External Links

## Gentrification vs. Urban Renewal[edit]

In general, gentrification is a form of urban renewal, but tends to be more organic and driven by economics, as opposed to classic urban renewal, which tends to be a more direct form of government intervention (either direct rehabilitation or Section 8[1] housing).

## Criticism[edit]

* Gentrification has the effect of forcing economically disadvantaged people out of an area.
* Gentrification can force economically disadvantaged people to move to locations which are more remote from workplaces.
* Gentrification is the natural effect of market forces. Attempts to regulate gentrification inevitably results in market distortions, which have the ultimate result of not benefiting the economically disadvantaged.
* Gentrification results in improvements in urban utilization, resulting in a more efficient use of spaces, reduced energy consumption and improving transportation efficiency.
* Gentrification reduces urban blight.
* Gentrification uses free-market forces to improve a municipality's housing stock, and the same market forces also results in an overall improvement of the housing stock available to people who are displaced ("A rising tide raises all ships" analysis).
* Gentrification can force economically disadvantaged people to move to locations which are more remote from workplaces.
* Gentrification can diminish unique characteristics of a city.
* Gentrification forces out some types of businesses that are favored by economically disadvantaged people.
* Gentrification either encourages or discourages formula retail establishments (depending on the particular analysis).
* Gentrification either encourages or discourages independent or unique retail establishments (depending on the particular analysis).
* Gentrification has a tendency of improving retail infrastructure.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ HUD description of Section 8

## External Links[edit]

* Is Gentrification Really a Problem? \- New Yorker