Essay Example on Gentrification

Gentrification is a common term that refers to the arrival of wealthier people in a particular existing urban district, a correlated rise in prices for rent and property values, and modification of areas character and culture. However, the term is often used in the wrong context to suggest the displacement poor people by rich outsiders. Some aspects of gentrification are desirable especially to the indigenous communities. For instance, reduced crime, economic improvement in the neighborhood, new investments in infrastructure and building construction are some of the benefits that come with gentrification. Unfortunately, the advantages and demerits of gentrification are often enjoyed inappropriately, especially with the new arrival while the established community finds themselves socially and economically marginalized (Valoy, 2017).

As depicted from the two articles, gentrification has been a primary cause of conflicts in the main cities of America, especially along racial and economic fault lines. Restoration change is often perceived as a discharge of social justice, in which the wealthy people, especially the whites are congratulated and appreciated for improving the once dilapidated neighborhood who minority and poor people are displaced through triggering skyrocketing rents and increase in economic change. Although the two articles have exhibited some differences, they have characterized gentrification in certain aspects. Regarding demographics, there is an increase in median incomes, a significant rise in the racial proportion of minorities, reduction in the household size and the ultimate replacement low-income families with young singles and couples. Neighborhood change has also facilitated new ideas regarding attractive and desirable standards, landscaping, and architecture. With the neighborhood change, there is a decline in industrial land use, conversion of the rental house to ownership, development of luxury housing and restaurant.

American renewed interest in the life of the city has put a premium pleasure in the neighborhood forcing a lot of people to seek resident where housing is scarce, increasing the pressure of building the house in the area considered by undesirable. Gentrification mostly tends to occur in specific places with certain qualities that are desirable for change. The diversity, convenience, and vitality of the urban are some of the features that attract wealthy people. The old buildings, as well as industrial buildings, are often the features that attract individuals looking for fixer mostly for investment prospects. According to the two articles, gentrification operates by accretion-gathering momentum, in which people are willing to settle in an unfamiliar neighborhood. When the familiar faces settle, more people start streaming in. Many people then start learning about the attractive community that has been discovered, and changes accelerate rapidly as many people invade the area.

In certain aspects, a neighborhood that has been gentrified can turn to the victims of its success. The improvement of desirability and increase of rent, property values often ends up eroding qualities that initially attracted people in the first place. When the success and enhancement come to a neighborhood, its not only shared by the established neighborhood, but the displacement of the first communities is the most troubling impacts gentrification causes (Gillespie, 2017). No one is more vulnerable to adverse effects of gentrification than the renters. When the rents of the housing go up, tenants are involuntary pushed out either through natural turnover, eviction or hiked rents. However, despite the shortcomings, the process causes, gentrification is not bad for the neighborhood regarding the long-term impacts of the community. The economic effects of the restoration vary proportionally depending on the new arrival. Gentrification symbolizes the arrival of new investment and new tax base which significantly improves the economic activity of the area. Rehabilitation which favors inhabitants, the housing development of new shop and restaurant and high wage are some of the benefits accrued to gentrification. The previous community might benefit from this development specifically in construction sector and services sector.

Desirable physical changes may also accompany gentrification. Previously old building gets rehabilitated and as new construction occurs. Public improvement and enhancement are realized. Streets are lightened, the park established and infrastructure may be linked by federal government revitalization to enhance the well-being of the wealthy people (Valoy, 2017). The new arrival of the wealthy people may push the government to improve on it aesthetically and modification of new designs, historic preservation and appropriate laws that favor the resident. As depicted by the two articles, gentrification is not bad for a neighborhood, on the contrary despite the minor displacement of the poor, class a lot benefit in the form of improvement of health services, education, infrastructure, and job are enhanced.

The physical, social, as well as the economic impacts associated with gentrification, frequently leads to severe and grim political conflicts that are cultivated or rather fueled by the differences in culture, race as well as the living standards. Residents that have been there earlier on may have that weird feeling of being embattled, excluded and ignored by their communities that they did not choose to be born at. New and incoming residents are continually bewildered by the ever raising accusations linking their pains and efforts trying to improve the same local conditions as being racists or even hostile. The most necessary change in the so communities nearly involves the losers and the winners whereby the low-income earners end up being the losers in many situations (Gillespie, 2017). However, the negative impact of a process is insignificant, and the benefits weigh the demerits making gentrification beneficial to the neighborhood.

References

Valoy, Patricia. "Reasons Why Gentrification Hurts Communities Of Color." Everyday Feminism, 2017, pp. 1-3. https://everydayfeminism.com/author/patriciav/.

(Valoy, Patricia)

Gillespie, Patrick. "How Gentrification May Benefit The Poor." CNN MONEY, 2017, http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/12/news/economy/gentrification-may-help-poor-people/index.html.