What city is a good example of gentrifiation?

Question

why?

Answer 1

Chicago!

I recently stayed with some people that used to live in Chicago in the 1990's. They didn't have much money, so they lived in an extremely high-crime area. They've seen people get shot in the head, they've been threatened with guns, they once watched a gang sitting on the roof of their grandmother's apartments point their guns at every person that walked by below and laugh about how they could kill them at any minute. Their stories got very graphic.

Just when I was really freaking out, they explained how that area has since been gentrified. They even moved out of the city (to Michigan) because they couldn't afford the housing in Chicago anymore. They explained that crime went down and the gangs dispersed to different areas outside of the city.

Usually, I think of gentrification as a negative, insensitive city effort to marginalize poor people and get them out of town so that they're someone else's problem. But in Chicago, it also insured that the gangs weren't all living in the same area anymore, so I think things were better off.

Answer 2

When you see $40,000.00 rear porches popping up on old factories; you can be sure yuppies have become enthralled with the neighborhood. Out of nowhere...Gentrification!

Answer 3

Austin is a good example, and I'll elaborate in a different way to give another perspective than just a change in houses and shops.  East Austin has traditionally been the area where lower SES families live (socio-economic status).  It began in the same way other's describe, people buying a house and adding on, or tearing it down and building a new expensive house, then follows restaurants, galleries, etc.

The problem is that tax rates begin to rise in the neighborhood when land and house values increase.  Many people live in the area who are on a fixed income or have great trouble paying bills--it was the least expensive area of town.  Also, renters populate the area again because it's inexpensive.  Many lower income people rely on public transportation that is available in the neighborhood often because they can't afford transportation and frequently work non-tradtional hours.

So, tax rates rise sharply and suddenly the elderly couple on a fixed income can no longer afford their mortgage and taxes, but have nowhere to go!  The single-mom family that rents is evicted because the owner can suddenly sell their house for twice what they could 2 years ago.  Again, nowhere to go.  The city isn't building affordable housing because no one wants it in their neighborhood.  Places that are affordable are now miles away from their jobs and public transportation.

It's a terrible dilemma, it's scary and sad for people who are displaced and have so few options.  I wish cities had regulations that mandated a certain proportion of new housing had to be dedicated to lower-income housing (DECENT but affordable) or that neighborhood planners would set aside some area for small townhomes or patio homes so people would have options.  We'll always need wage workers--someone has to work in retail and fast food--but if they have no decent housing options their quality of life really suffers!

Answer 4

Toronto.

I live in a neighborhood known as Parkdale. It's run down with crime and poverty, but it's friendly and unique in it's own way, with a lot of character. The people who live here love it. Recently we've been getting a lot of yuppies moving in, tearing down the old buildings, making art galleries, making it a HIP place to be. I hate it. It's happening everywhere in Toronto. You can't go anywhere without seeing a Starbucks. And the rising property rates and taxes forces the lower income families out of their homes.

http://flickr.com/photos/steffiejupe/677...

The Drake is a hotel that renovated and is now a popular hang out for young professionals and hipsters. Most the residents blame it for the downfall of the neighborhood.