Is Gentrification Really A Threat?

Should the social virtues of urbanism and new investment in cities get washed out in the hue and cry over gentrification?

1 minute read

June 6, 2005, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"With urban living regaining popularity, reinvestment has spread to some of the smaller markets, as has the concern about displacement or gentrification.

...The social virtues of urbanism and the cost-benefit discussion of new investment in cities tend to get washed out in the hue and cry over "gentrification" when some local activists, CDCs and armchair liberals assume the heroic mantle of protectors of the poor. While their outrage at urban developers is no doubt self-gratifying, it presents the existing residents of urban neighborhoods a very distorted picture of the costs and benefits of potential redevelopment."

John Norquist is President of the Congress for the New Urbanism, which holds its annual Congress in Pasadena from June 9-12

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Is Gentrification Really A Threat?

Monday, June 6, 2005 in Planetizen

Community / Economic Development United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.