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Malisa Blankenship

Hellmers

ENG 1201-B57

28 April 2019

Gentrification: Making It Work For Everyone

After moving to Dayton I quickly fell in love with the history, architecture and

innovative attitude of the city itself. I was able to buy an affordable home rich in

character and conveniently located near the city center, making for a quick commute to

work and school. Exploring the downtown area, I was pleased to find amenities that

catered to my interests. Trendy bars, cafes, small businesses, bike paths, and a local

farmers market. However, I soon discovered it was too good to be true, especially for

those who were not like me.

Near all of these revitalized spaces, I would always see someone markedly

homeless, panhandling, or even digging through the trash. I wondered how can a city

that has experienced so much revitalization still lack housing and resources for its

inhabitants. That is when I learned about gentrification, and how I didn’t want to be part

of the problem but rather part of the solution.

When most people hear the term “gentrification”, they have one of two

responses. The first and most common response is that they have never heard of it.

Most are unaware that gentrification could be happening around them at that very

moment. If they are somewhat familiar with the term, they tend to associate it with

positive outcomes. These outcomes may include neighborhood rejuvenation, the arrival
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of new coffee shops, trendy boutiques, and an influx of hip young inhabitants. These

two common reactions demonstrate that the negative consequences that follow

gentrification are largely overlooked. Despite the benefits gentrification contributes to

underserved urban areas, the negative effects it has on the initial inhabitants should be

acknowledged and addressed by communities and their leaders.

To understand gentrification, one must not only know its definition but explore the

historical conditions that lead to its emergence. To simply define gentrification, it is “​a

process of neighborhood change that includes economic change in a historically

disinvested neighborhood​” (“Gentrification Explained”). This definition, though

informative, give only a narrow view of a larger systemic issue.

One must look back to the early to

mid-twentieth century when neighborhoods

were segregated by policies and strategic

investments, at the expense of minorities

and low-income families. Neighborhoods that

were known for their predominant

demographic of people of color were labeled

as “unfit for investment” (“Gentrification

Explained”). This labeling process, now

known as “redlining”, was set in place by the

government, and led to those minorities being denied loans to buy homes

(“Gentrification Explained”).
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Bound by policy, these families were forced to stay in the city as white families

flocked to the suburbs to take advantage of low-cost mortgages (“Gentrification

Explained”). This kind of massive migration is known as “white flight” (“Gentrification

Explained”). Segregated in the city, these minority communities were forced to live with

the consequences of urban renewal. This process included the removal of homes and

businesses which led to most investments being withdrawn from the community

(“Gentrification Explained”). As resources left these urban areas, what remained was

left to decay.

Now, years later, young professionals are flocking to these areas, bringing

funding and access to resources back into these underserved areas. With the price of

rentals going up, this demographic seeks to invest in affordable homes near the city

(“Gentrification Explained”). The Urban Displacement Project researchers note that this

demographic chooses to relocate to these neighborhoods to be close to jobs,

restaurants, and art spaces. This is where the misconception arises, that gentrification

only brings positive outcomes to a community.

To serve this new demographic, businesses move in to cater to their interests. As

more money comes into these neighborhoods, food, shops, and education become

more accessible than it was before (PBS). Parks and transportation get much-needed

updates, abandoned industrial buildings are put to new use as shops or restaurants

(“Gentrification Explained”). These major upgrades of the city begin to attract a more

affluent population. To make space for these newcomers, high-end lofts are developed
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and landlords begin the search for higher-paying tenants (“Gentrification Explained”). As

the new replaces the old, the character of the community shifts.

One might think that based on these results, gentrification has a positive

influence on once neglected cities. However, there is a disparity between those who are

able to stay and enjoy the benefits of a revived neighborhood and those who are forced

to leave. Renters in gentrifying neighborhoods are often subject to a rise in rent as the

median income of the neighborhood increases. Desmond and Kimbro note in their

research on eviction, that currently, “the majority of poor renting families in America now

devote over half of their income to housing costs” (296). This already places a

considerable strain on a family’s finances. Hence, when a landlord decides to

significantly raise the price of rent to take advantage of a thriving market these families

can no longer afford the rent. Consequently, they are either evicted or involuntarily

displaced from their home and community (PBS).

Displacement can be defined as, “when any household is forced to move from its

residence by conditions which affect the dwelling or immediate surroundings” (Zuk et al.

25). Some may think displacement is simply solved by moving somewhere more

affordable. However, the solution is not always that simple and can result instead as a

cascade of misfortune for families facing this fate. After an analysis of mothers and

children who have recently been evicted, it was concluded that these families faced an

increase in negative health effects and material hardship (Desmond and Kimbro

316-317).
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Desmond and Kimbro hypothesized that after an eviction, a family’s material

hardship increases, or their level of poverty, due to focusing all of their time and energy

finding subsequent housing rather than their employment (300). Additionally, when

families are forced to leave their homes with a narrow window to find housing, they

usually leave a majority of their belongings behind. This happens when they lack

resources and time to properly move their belongings, resulting in a need to replace

these items in the future. When a family cannot find housing they face homelessness,

possibly living in cars, shelters, or on the street (“Pushed Out”). If these low-income

families are fortunate to find housing, they are usually moving into a more underserved

area than where they lived previously (“Pushed Out”).

When looking at the health effects displacement has on families, Desmond and

Kimbro suggest that these families are at greater risk for depression, potentially lasting

years after their eviction, due to the stress and hardship they face (317). These families

are forced to move away from familiar surroundings causing an increase in stress

(“Pushed Out”). As for the health and well-being of the children in these families, the

Urban Displacement Project quoted from a study performed by Jellyman and Spencer

that, “​outcomes identified in association with frequent moves included: higher levels of

behavioral and emotional problems; increased teenage pregnancy rates; accelerated

initiation of illicit drug use; adolescent depression; and reduced continuity of healthcare​”.

Aside from health effects, gentrification can cause long-lasting effects on a child

into adulthood. Constant moving around has been noted to have a negative impact on

academic performance (“Pushed Out”). When these families are forced to move to a
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lower-income neighborhood, schools tend to be underfunded. This lack of resources

can cause a child’s test scores to be lower, which has been shown to correlate to lower

earnings as an adult (“Pushed Out”).

When analyzing a neighborhood’s health as a whole, some argue that a

community undergoing gentrification has more positive outcomes. With the introduction

of healthier food options and better access to healthcare, it is suggested that gentrified

neighborhoods self-report better health than underserved areas (Gibbons et al. 2).

However, in the study making these claims, the authors note that their results may only

result from the newcomers and not take into account the residents that were displaced

from the neighborhood (Gibbons et al. 11). The most important concept the authors

note while discussing their conclusions if that “gentrification affects people, not

neighborhoods” (Gibbons et al. 13). This demonstrates that even when it appears that

gentrification may benefit a community, there will always be individuals who will be

negatively impacted.

For the individuals who are able to stay in gentrifying neighborhoods, they find

themselves culturally displaced as their community’s new demographic, businesses and

overall character has completely changed (“Gentrification Explained”). Victims of

cultural displacement feel alienated from their surroundings that are now foreign to

them. Some may report a “reduced sense of belonging” in these neighborhoods that no

longer resemble the culture and people that once inhabited it (“Gentrification

Explained”).
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As newer residents move in, “social dynamics and expectations change”

(Fayyad). Residents of color who are able to stay in their neighborhood are seeing an

increase in police presence. This presence can cause tension within a neighborhood.

The new demographic may find behavior that was acceptable before as a nuisance.

This translates into an increase in police reports on minor violations, such as loitering

and noise violations (Fayyad). It is not only the new residents asking for increased

police presence, but law enforcement departments also say they proactively form units

to send into areas with an up-and-coming nightlife (Fayyad). Original resident's main

concern with this amped up law enforcement is harassment. Most worry that “greater

police presence amplifies the risk of police misconduct and violence” (Fayyad). With the

original residents being predominantly people of color, they are concerned that police

will target them for petty crimes because they look suspicious. They often look to

incidents where interactions with an officer went awry and minorities end up dying at the

hands of a police officer during a routine stop. These fears come to fruition when the

culture of a neighborhood shifts, when the original residents become a nuisance for the

new crowd coming in.

To begin to address these issues, one should look to policies implemented in the

past that ensured equal opportunities within urban areas. Daniel Block suggests that

larger coastal cities are gentrifying due to a bulk of America’s largest corporations being

located in these regions. This creates an area heavily concentrated with educated

professionals who came to these areas to work for these corporations (Block). This

increase of jobs and money coming in causes these cities to thrive, leaving the rest of
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the nation lacking the same economic opportunities (Block).

To ensure an even distribution of opportunity, Block suggests we look to “strong

competition” policies that were set into place during the twentieth century. These

policies required that companies headquartered in large metropolitan areas could not

corner the market and ​“snatch[sic] capital and talent away from everywhere else”

(Block). These policies evened the playing field. Giving young professionals more

options on where to live, dispersing, rather than concentrating wealth, to neglected

cities. Doing this enables communities to slowly grow alongside these businesses,

rather than be displaced by them (Block).

By legislating more inclusive policies, where businesses, developers and

landlords, work together with communities to create a common vision for their

neighborhoods, the negative impacts of gentrification may be lessened (PBS).

Community engagement, meeting with community leaders ensures that the voices and

concerns of those who live in the neighborhood are heard. If a particular issue is the

concern of many the community leaders can notify city leaders, starting the bureaucratic

process of addressing community concerns. Letting leaders know that displacement is a

concern, policies can then be suggested to avoid driving families out of neighborhoods.

The Urban Displacement Project notes that there is no, “one-size-fits-all

solution”, however they give key elements to preventing displacement. These elements

include: “Protection of residents, production of affordable housing, and preservation of

existing affordable housing stock” (“Pushed Out”).

Residents can be protected by offering financial assistance to those who qualify

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and legislating policies that prevent

renters from being unfairly evicted.

These policies could include landlord

Anti-Harassment protections, Just

Cause for Eviction protections and

rent control (“Workshop Series”). By

making sure renters have a

reasonable cost of living and

preventing landlords from evicting or forcing families out through rent price hikes, the

chances of families being displaced will lessen.

To produce more affordable housing The Urban Displacement Project suggests

building subsidized housing and offering tax exemptions for developing housing 20%

below market value (“Workshop Series”). These two solutions will provide low-income

families with access to housing within their budget.

Lastly, preserving affordable housing stock prevents the existing affordable

housing from decaying to the point where it can not be lived in (“Workshop series”). To

preserve these units, areas would be required to enforce existing code and tap into

funding for maintenance (“Workshop Series”). By holding landlords accountable for

maintaining their properties up to code, buildings will be kept in a habitable condition.

Adequate funding is necessary for rehabilitating deteriorating houses or neighborhoods

for residents to have access to them.

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Most of these solutions require public investment to begin to solve the issues

caused by gentrification. With a majority of the public unaware of the effects

gentrification has on neighborhoods this cannot be accomplished. This is why educating

others on this issue is the first step in solving it. By making communities aware of the

negative health effects, hardship and tension caused by a seemingly harmless process,

they can take action to reduce these effects. When members of a community

participate in their neighborhood to address these issues, the path to a solution is

initiated. Getting policymakers and community leaders involved opens up access to

resources for further funding and assistance with the end goal being: making

gentrification work for everyone. Decaying neighborhoods should strive for

improvement. Communities should be working alongside those planning future

improvements. The perks of better amenities, access to city centers, and trendy shops

are nice. However, they aren’t when they come at the expense of others. ​Despite the

benefits gentrification contributes to underserved urban areas, the negative effects it

has on the initial inhabitants should be acknowledged and addressed by communities

and their leaders.

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Works Cited

Block, Daniel. "Gentrification isn't a universal problem. Democrats would do well to

remember that." ​Washingtonpost.com​, 5 Mar. 2019. ​Opposing Viewpoints in

Context​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A577356558/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&

xid=eb4f9e47. Accessed 6 April 2019.

Desmond, Matthew, and Rachel Tolbert Kimbro. “Eviction's Fallout: Housing, Hardship,

and Health.” Social Forces, vol. 94, no. 1, 24 Feb. 2015, pp. 295–324.,

doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/sov044.

Fayyad, Abdallah. “The Criminalization of Gentrifying Neighborhoods.” The Atlantic,

Atlantic Media Company, 4 Jan. 2018,

www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/12/the-criminalization-of-gentrifying-ne

ighborhoods/548837/. Accessed 6 April 2019.

“Gentrification.” ​What I Hear When You Say,​ episode 9, PBS, 15 March 2017,

www.pbs.org/whatihear/web-series/gentrification/. Accessed 6 April 2019.

“Gentrification Explained.” ​Urban Displacement Project,​

www.urbandisplacement.org/gentrification-explained. Accessed 6 April 2019.

Gibbons, Joseph, et al. “Evaluating Gentrification’s Relation to Neighborhood and City

Health.” PLoS ONE, vol. 13, no. 11, Nov. 2018, pp. 1–18. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207432.

“Pushed Out: Displacement Today and Lasting Impacts.” ​Urban Displacement Project,​

www.urbandisplacement.org/pushedout. Accessed 20 April 2019.

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Ross, Benjamin. “Fighting Gentrification, But To What End?” Dissent Magazine, 18 Aug.

2014,

www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/fighting-gentrification-development-tenants-rights

-nimby. Accessed 28 April 2019.

Wedell, Katie. “20 Dayton Neighborhoods Where It Is Hardest to Get a Mortgage Loan.”

WHIO, 26 Feb. 2018,

www.whio.com/news/dayton-neighborhoods-where-hardest-get-home-loan/oA7H

LRjYeiabM6iLNHVLFM/. Accessed 28 April 2019.

“Workshop Series: Investment without Displacement.” ​Urban Displacement Project,​

www.urbandisplacement.org/iwd2017. Accessed 20 April 2019.

Zuk, Miriam, et al. “Gentrification, Displacement, and the Role of Public Investment.”

Journal of Planning Literature​, vol. 33, no. 1, Feb. 2018, pp. 31–44. ​EBSCOhost​,

doi:10.1177/0885412217716439.