gentrification

experience in the Reynoldstown community further east has been similar, in part because of its veryactive community development corporation.4. ConclusionGentrification is proceeding at a modest pace in revitalizing Atlanta. Several city-wide andneighborhood organizations, most particularly the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership,are working hard to help officials, leaders and residents understand the benefits and risks ofgentrification. They have developed some strategies to maximize benefits and minimize inequity. Atthe same time, the city of Atlanta has relatively few tools to help original residents stay in place astheir neighborhoods change. If the economy continues its hot pace and gentrification accelerates,problems may emerge.C. WashingtonThe Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is experiencing substantial economic growth andprosperity. The city appears poised for a new economic lift, though the actual indicators of economicimprovement are not yet reflecting dramatic progress. Optimism generated by a new mayor, thedevelopment of new city social and cultural attractions and some key public investments and policiesseem to be the engines for the revitalization and potential gentrification of a number ofneighborhoods close to downtown, particularly when combined with the metropolitan area’s severetraffic congestion.1. Development Trends: Cautious Optimism for City Within a Booming RegionLike many other major metropolitan areas, the Washington, D.C. region has grown rapidly inthe past decade. A recent report published by the Brookings Institution documents that developmentin Washington, D.C. has not followed the usual doughnut pattern with rapid suburban growth andcity stagnation. Instead, the benefits of growth and economic prosperity have fallen inequitablyacross an east-west divide. On the western side of this line, in both the city and its suburbs, onefinds middle- and upper-income families, substantial public and private sector investment, job growthand good schools. On the eastern side are high concentrations of the poor, minorities, welfarerecipients and much larger numbers of low- and moderate-income working families. 85At the heart of the metropolitan area, the city of Washington, D.C. appears poised foreconomic resurgence. Though the city continues to reflect the east-west divide, a number of recenttrends suggest the city could be well positioned for economic growth in the future. Optimism aboutthe city’s future, combined with policy decisions made over the last several decades, have led toeconomic revitalization and in some cases gentrification pressures on the city neighborhoods thatare close to this divide and to downtown.85 The dividing line of the region generally follows Interstate 95 to the north and south of the city and cutsstraight through the heart of the city down 16 th Street, NW. (Brookings, Washington, p. 2)54