Gentrification

Will Chinatowns Soon Be Extinct?

The formation of Chinatowns in the United States began in the late 19th Century, and since then have provided an important immigrant gateway. But gentrification and rising expenses in U.S. cities are shrinking many Chinatowns.

February 6, 2014 - BBC News

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

How to ‘Not Be a Gentrifier’—Oakland Edition

As an urbanist, it can be easy to think of gentrification as a macroeconomic trend or a collection of data points, not as an individual experience. A community organizer in Oakland would like to bring the issue home for the city’s newcomers.

February 3, 2014 - Oakland Local

Gentrification Also Hurts Shrinking Cities

Recent research calls for policies to incentivize affordable housing in the urban cores of shrinking cities like Buffalo and Cleveland, lest gentrification drive low income residents away from the resources and efficiencies found in urban density.

January 29, 2014 - PhysOrg

facade of college for creative studies in downtown detroit

Professionals Priced Out of Hot Detroit Neighborhoods

As unbelievable as it may sound in a city with tens of thousands of vacant properties, young professionals are being priced out of popular Detroit neighborhoods like Midtown and Corktown as demand far exceeds supply.

January 27, 2014 - Detroit Free Press

Yuppies are home

Gentrification and Displacement: Not the Relationship You Might Have Thought

The prevailing wisdom is that as a neighborhood gentrifies, long-time, low income residents are forced to move out because of rising rents, i.e. displacement. Two studies from Columbia University and the Federal Reserve draw different conclusions.

January 26, 2014 - NPR

D.C.'s Neighborhoods are Improved, but Who's Benefiting?

After a decade of phenomenal growth and transformation, a survey of D.C. residents reveals widespread agreement on neighborhood improvement, but also concern that the changes are only benefiting the city's affluent residents.

January 23, 2014 - The Washington Post

Infill Proposal in Phoenix Raises Gentrification Concerns

Bucking tradition amidst arguably the most thorough example of sprawl in the country, a Phoenix developer is investing in Grant Park—a Latino neighborhood adjacent to downtown.

January 21, 2014 - Marketplace

How to Predict the Next Hot Hood

The growing interest in city living is transforming urban neighborhoods throughout the United States. But how can one get in on the rising tide before becoming priced out? Charlie Wells provides some clues.

December 19, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Blame Single-Family Neighborhoods for Gentrification

What's so special about single-family homes that we'd rather preserve them than prevent the displacement and financial distress of thousands of low- and moderate-income renters?

November 25, 2013 - Shane Phillips

Boston Skyline with Dome

Which U.S. City Gentrified the Most Before the Recession?

A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland quantifies the rate at which America's 55 largest cities gentrified between 2000-2007 based on neighborhood home values. The results may surprise you.

November 9, 2013 - Next City

Is Downtown Denver Too Popular?

Some of Denver's leaders are sounding the alarm over rising household income levels and the threat to affordable housing. But in an editorial in The Denver Post, Vincent Carroll argues that an exclusive downtown Denver is better than the alternative.

October 25, 2013 - The Denver Post

Making Sure Bike Lanes Aren't Viewed as "White Lanes"

Bike infrastructure is often viewed with skepticism in minority neighborhoods across the U.S. Jay Walljasper looks at how to extend the benefits of biking to communities that often have fewer options for transportation and exercise.

October 24, 2013 - People for Bikes

facades of victorian style residences in San Francisco

Protecting San Francisco's Character Has Transformed It

By "protecting" San Francisco's physical character through down-zoning and NIMBY activism, the city has transformed its social character, as families, young adults, and others flee the city to find cheaper rents. A regional solution is required.

October 14, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Is Stagnation the Only Alternative to Gentrification?

David Madden laments that our current debate over gentrification, whether bemoaning a loss of authenticity or trumpeting the good that trickles down, "doesn't do justice to everything at stake." He suggests how to reorient the discussion.

October 10, 2013 - The Guardian

Can Better Public Housing Forestall London's "Supergentrification"?

Owen Hatherley looks to the approach to public housing pioneered in the London boroughs of Islington and Camden in the 1960's and 70's for a solution to the capital's extreme gentrification.

October 6, 2013 - The Guardian

Gentrification, Shmentrification

Despite media commentary about urban gentrification and the decline of suburbia, suburbs still have far less than a proportionate share of regional poverty.

October 1, 2013 - Michael Lewyn

Dueling Narratives Describe a Changing Cincinnati Neighborhood

Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood has been the focus of battles over gentrification for decades. Sarah Wesseler examines recent developments in the neighborhood in light of this history.

September 22, 2013 - Satellite Magazine

Mapping Silicon Valley's Clandestine Private Transit Network

Project to map corporate shuttle routes of Silicon Valley giants such as Apple, Google, & Facebook, outlines the forces behind gentrification in San Francisco and reveals a startling pattern of reverse sprawl.

September 7, 2013 - Wired

Influx of Cool Causes Concern in Somerville

Somerville, a 4.2-square-mile city outside of Boston, has successfully attracted young, educated people, but many worry what an influx of 'hipsters' will do to the small city.

August 31, 2013 - The Boston Globe

Is Change By Another Name Still Gentrification?

Those investing in the largely Latino enclave of Boyle Heights prefer to use the term "gentefication" - a play on the Spanish word for people - rather than the pejorative gentrification, to describe their efforts to improve the L.A. neighborhood.

August 19, 2013 - The New York Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.