Defining GentrificationDefining Gentrification

"Gentrification" derives from "gentry", meaning the people of gentle birth, good breeding, or high social position, as in the landed-gentry . Sociologist Ruth Glass coined the term in 1964 to mean the influx of wealthier individuals into cities or neighborhoods who replace working or lower-classes already living there. She defined it by using London districts such as Islington as her example:

One by one, many of the working class quarters of London have been invaded by the middle-classes—upper and lower. Shabby, modest mews and cottages—two rooms up and two down—have been taken over, when their leases have expired, and have become elegant, expensive residences [...]. Once this process of 'gentrification' starts in a district it goes on rapidly until all or most of the original working-class occupiers are displaced and the whole social character of the district is changed. Glass, R. (1964). London: aspects of change. Londen: Macgibbon & Kee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentrification

Indicators of Gentrification

Leading Indicators: Areas Most likely to Experience Gentrification

High Rate of Renters Ease of Access to Job

Centers High and Increasing Levels

of Metropolitan Congestion High Architectural Value Comparatively Low Housing

ValuesMichigan State University’s Center for Urban Affairs Report on Gentrification in Grand Rapids (July 2002)

Indicators of Gentrification

Primary Indicators: Strong Signs Gentrification is Occurring

Move from Rental Tenure to Homeownership

Arrival of Individuals or Households Interested in Urban Amenities/Culture

Increase in Businesses Intended for High Income People

Indicators of Gentrification

Secondary Indicators: Less Strong Signs Gentrification is Occurring

Change in Racial Composition

Change in Occupancy Rate

Change in Income

I call it erosion because that Puerto Rican character, the Latino character in this area is being eroded. There are huge, huge, huge areas of Humboldt Park that are gone, that are lost to us through gentrification…There are a lot of neighborhoods that have no Puerto Ricans-period, have no people of color-period. It’s a huge impact, you know, and I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better, being realistic.

~Humboldt Park Resident

Transformation of the labor force. Decline in blue collar workers and a growth of

white collar workers.

A class emerges in the post-industrial era that values neighborhood characteristics such as ethnic and architectural diversity. New middle-

class follows groups of artists and “bohemians” who have moved into traditionally ethnic low-income communities

Neighborhood begins to transform to meet the preferences of the wealthier residents.

Neighborhood begins to appeal to traditional middle-class sensibilities and starts to loose its original culture.

Educated young professionals, arguably attracted to the cachet of the newly hip neighborhood in increasing numbers, leading to a dramatic escalation of home values and rents…Indeed, before more eyes Wicker Park unfolded as a serendipitous site containing to greater or lesser degrees a host of economic and cultural trends.

-Richard Lloyd, Neo-Bohemia

Supply-Side Analysis of Gentrification and the ‘Rent-Gap’

To explain gentrification according to the gentrifier’s actions alone, while ignoring the role of builders,

developers, landlords, mortgage lenders, government agencies, real estate agents and tenants is excessively

narrow. ~A. Smith (1989) ‘Gentrification and the spatial constitution of the State’, Antipode 21:232-60.

Land values decline from center out (19th century)

Movement toward suburbs leaves areas of disinvestment in the inner-city.

Gap forms between capitalized ground rent and potential ground rent in the properties ‘highest and best use’.Mortgage lenders, developers, and entrepreneurs begin to reinvest in inner-city.

People follow capital back to the city.

PROS• Redevelopment or

renovation of housing stock

• Revitalization of the tax base

• Increased homeownership rates

• Economic opportunities• De-concentration of

poverty• Historic preservation

CONS• Displacement of lower

income residents• Lack of affordable

housing• Decrease in multi-family

rental units• Loss of diversity in

neighborhood businesses and residents

• Conversion of residential units to commercial property

• Decrease in social services for lower-income residents

People can’t afford the housing that’s being built, and the housing is not

meant for them. The housing is meant for people who have higher incomes, most of whom are white... not all of

them, but most of them. ~West Town Resident

How You Can Help• Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP)

813 E. 63rd Street 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60637 773.753.9674 stopgentrification@gmail.com

• Pilsen AllianceAlejandra Ibanez, Executive Director, 312-243-5440alibanez@sbcglobal.net

www.neiu.edu/~casaaztl/Programs.htm

• Poor People's Economic Human Rights CampaignC/O KWRU PO Box 50678 Philadelphia, PA 19132march hotline: 888.233.1948 info@economichumanrights.org

• The Coalition to Protect Public Housing984 N Hudson St. Chicago, IL 60610312.280.2298 jdpfleck@yahoo.com