Gentrification Pros And Cons

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Gentrification is a term that describes the general influx of wealthier people in an existing urban area, an increase in property and rent values, and change in the neighborhood’s culture. After many years of urban population decline, city population is now growing due to the rise of trendy middle and upper class Americans moving into neighborhoods they previously would have avoided. Many people would see this as a chance to bring together groups of people from different races, backgrounds, cultures, and ideas to make improvements in the city; However, there continues to be high levels of inequality and poverty in these areas. Gentrification has caused tension and conflict in many communities where a dynamic and culture had already been established. …show more content…

Nonetheless, people are being moved out of places they call home for the arrival of middle and upper class tenants and developers. This leaves people with nowhere else to go and more people on the streets. One could argue that these people could just move to cheaper places, but with the rising home market prices affordability becomes a huge issue. Say for instance you take a person out of their place of business, say it’s a family business for decades but gentrifiers decide to want to take this place down to create a Starbucks. Therein lies the rub people have with gentrification especially when you can’t afford to go anywhere else; Forcing a lot of residents and business owners to file for bankruptcy. As a result of this, the poor begin to suffer from economic hardship and marginalization while the middle class and upper class wealth begins to grow from their new found …show more content…

However, based on an article I read by nextcity.org, there are three ways that we could approach to slow down its rapid rate. First, we need to make sure that “every stakeholder in the community has a place at the table before the process advances too far.” This means that developers and city residents should work and plan together from the start to make sure everyone’s goals and needs are met. Multiple meetings and gatherings should be mandatory to make sure that compromises can be made to any arguments on both sides. Next, people of the community need to “learn how the planning and development process works.” In cities like Philadelphia, there are organizations such as the Registered Community Organization (RCO) that deal with how people of the community want to shape its development. However, these organization aren’t able to reach the entire community which sometimes stagnates progress. Regardless, giving residents the knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes of their community can help development help everyone and influence developers. Lastly, city government needs to protect its residents and keep the culture already established but bringing in others to that culture and helping the understand what makes that special. A community that sticks together and forms plans together can

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