Who’s Afraid of Gentrification?

Examining the complex sources of concerns about displacement and opposition to investment in low-income neighborhoods.

1 minute read

June 23, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Gentrification

MsSaraKelly / Flickr

In an article in Governing, Aaron M. Renn explains the importance of cultural forces in shaping local responses to economic development initiatives. According to Renn, studies show that “gentrification-driven displacement either doesn’t happen in practice or is limited to a small number of locales nationally.” However, Renn points out, citing this data to allay concerns “misses a bigger point: Inflows of higher-income people do cause cultural displacement, as the values of the new wealthy residents become dominant in the community.”

What Renn calls ‘cultural displacement’ “can have practical and tangible consequences for daily life in these neighborhoods. In Oakland, Calif., gentrifiers have filed complaints with the city about gospel choir practice sessions at local Black churches, accusing them of being a noise nuisance.” Meanwhile, “Cultural concerns are frequently treated as illegitimate by intellectual elites.”

Renn notes that “As Jane Jacobs noted in The Economy of Cities, ‘Economic development, whenever and wherever it occurs, is profoundly subversive of the status quo.’ People in leadership positions in a community are generally benefiting from the status quo, hence can fear change.” Renn argues that “Cultural concerns should be understood and engaged with in order to create real progress,” rather than dismissed as unfounded fears.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022 in Governing

Aeriel view of white sheep grazing on green grass between rows of solar panels.

Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US

The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.

April 24, 2024 - Columbus Dispatch

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Workers putting down asphalt on road.

U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause

A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.

April 18, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Colorado State Capitol Building

Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD

The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.

1 hour ago - Colorado Public Radio

Texas

Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs

Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.

3 hours ago - FOX 4 News

Divvy Chicago

Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks

New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.

4 hours ago - Streetsblog Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.