gentrification

VI. CONCLUSIONThis paper provides a fresh look at the gentrification issue in the context of neighborhoodrevitalization and change occurring today. We have attempted to reframe gentrification in aproductive way; one that recognizes both the tremendous value that new residents and higherincomes can bring to urban areas and neighborhoods, and the significant change and dislocationthat gentrification can mean for lower income residents. Moreover, by reframing the issue, by settingit in a broader context of revitalization, by examining the socio-economic dynamics of gentrification,and by listening carefully to those facing the issue on the ground, we hoped to distill some hands-onadvice for cities, communities, developers and others. We also hoped that the research and dataanalysis of the past generation would offer insights and guidance.Ultimately, we found the literature to be less than fully satisfying. As noted by many beforeus, data on gentrification appear to be spotty, inconclusive, and often contradictory. Gentrificationrelates directly to neighborhood change, and neighborhoods change in myriad ways and for myriadreasons. The literature is too often driven by ideology rather than by a focus on concrete strategiesto minimize adverse impacts associated with gentrification.We draw the following conclusions, however:• First, gentrification is a politically loaded concept that generally has not been useful inresolving growth and community change debates because its meaning is unclear. Thispaper attempts to move the focus away from the phenomenon itself, and pragmatically andproductively towards its causes, consequences and solutions.• Second, the process of gentrification can offer great benefits and great hardship tocommunities, businesses and families.• Third, the current wave of gentrification, suggests that urban areas are again attractive tomiddle- and upper-income people, an essential benchmark if our cities and surroundingregions are to recover from their economic and environmental tailspin of the past thirty years.• Fourth, the pace of change matters a great deal. Rapid gentrification brings with it manymore problems than does slow but steady revitalization.• Fifth, involuntary renter and commercial displacement is the most significant adverseconsequence of gentrification, albeit among those hardest to affect. Strategies to minimize itshould form the core of efforts to moderate gentrification.• Sixth, gentrification is a politically powerful concept that can be manipulated to driveresources, jobs and housing into lower income communities that need them.40