About Gentrification

Since there are other options, gentrification is not the answer to revival. For instance, regulations that encourage high-quality development rather than mega-block projects. Gentrification is the primary answer in areas where the interests of the wealthy are prioritized in development, placing profits ahead of community needs. Logan Community Neighborhood must participate in self-investment activities as a result. Instead of gentrification, which has negative consequences on the community, this encourages it to revive. The personal scale, which involves acknowledging various races in the area, is also helpful. collaborating with them and avoiding treating them negatively.

Statement of Problem:

Chicago like any city in the United States grapples with the issue of gentrification, which results in the displacement of low-income earners from a place they have known home for the development that then ushers in people with the means. While immigrants have been largely affected, poor blacks and whites have also been victims of gentrification. The reality is that exclusionary zoning in the United States has become endemic because policies are made in political debates where poor communities are voiceless. And since wealthy individuals formulate decisions that favor their interests, LSNA presents Chicago neighborhoods with the forum that issues of the minority and wealthy are deliberated to find a lasting solution for posterity. While the issue of quantifying a causal link between people being displaced and gentrification has been a huge challenge, the federal authority does not view displacement that comes from gentrification as a serious problem. In contrast, activists for the poor communities have indicated that displacement takes place on a large scale and requested for administration effort to defend low-income groups (Hwang & Sampson, 2014). While various cultural and ethnic issues have been resolved, fairly many of the high-income newcomers are minorities. Some preservation measures rejoice not only in the accomplishments but also the struggle of minority groups. However, in Chicago, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) has a different approach not just when it comes to voicing the concerns of local people, but also advancing the course of social justice by ensuring that any project undertaken in the area are done in close talks and corporation with leaders in the community engagement that has been lacking.

Objectives:

To determine strategic assessment

Stabilizing existing renters

Land control

Background

Gentrification or upgrading is the displacement of the lower cadre of urban inhabitant by the wealthy individuals. It is associated with an increase in rents and property and the transformation in district character and culture. The phrase has often been employed adversely, indicating the displacement of underprivileged societies by the affluent outsiders. However, the impacts of gentrification are intricate and conflicting, and its actual effects differ. In reality, various elements of gentrification are necessary. It is the dream of everyone to see reduced crime, new ventures in buildings and infrastructure, and enhanced economic vitality in their vicinity (Papachristos et al. 2011). Unluckily, the advantages of these transformations are often appreciated unduly by the entry of the affluent population, which renders existing communities socio-economically marginalized. Gentrification is often a source of heartbroken conflict in most urban centers in the US. This is largely along racial and economic lines. Neighborhood change is largely seen as a failure of social impartiality, in which the affluent are commended for upgrading the neighborhoods. On the contrary, the disadvantaged minority are displaced by high rent and the economic shift. Gentrification is characterized by an upsurge in the middle-income earners, reduced minority groups, a decrease in household size, as the newly married couples and singles displace those from low-income cadre. As the demand for better houses goes up, rental fees and home prices increase, this leads to the number of evictions, the transformation of rental units to ownership that the development of expensive houses. There has been a growing demand of Americans in city life, which has certainly put a premium on the suburban. A few of these cities have been developed since WWII. When people throng at their new placement presumably in an area where housing is scarce, pressure beings to build up in areas once viewed unattractively.

Literature Review

Gentrification takes place in areas with certain qualities that make them attractive. The expedience, diversity, and liveliness of city environs are major allures, as is the attainability of cheap housing, particularly if the buildings are unique and attractive. Old structural buildings tend to attract individuals that seek for “fixer-uppers” as outlay prospects. Gentrification gathers the impetus like a snowball. Few persons are more than willing to transition into an unfamiliar environment especially the minority groups. As soon as the information goes out that an appealing neighborhood has been unraveled, it speeds up change, as the influx of people flocks in. In certain circumstances, a neighborhood that is redeveloped can become a culprit of its accomplishments (Helms, 2003). The upsurge of desirability and rents as well as property values tend to erode the very attributes that started to attract people from affluent demographics in the first place. Irrespective of the success that comes in a given neighborhood as long as it does not come with established residents, the gentrification process may have its ramifications.

Legal information has almost time and again degraded gentrification due to its obvious effects on urban poor and minority groups who excessively occupy urban environs. For many years gentrification has contributed to painful disputes regarding ethnic fault lines. Newcomers in “upgraded” surroundings tend to be more affluent whites, in most cases displacing established minority communities (Betancur, 2002). However, many experts allege that gratification is mainly concerned with economics. Gratification cannot be associated with the white community. In any case, the majority of poor individuals in the US are whites. Besides most displaced individuals can be whites because white working class environs have been preferred places for gentrification. Certainly, some cultural and ethnic concerns remain. Many of new inhabitants in gratifying environs are white people and the existing are mainly individuals of color. New inhabitants have interests and values that shape local cultural organizations and shopping (Slater, 2006). Disputes between new and existing inhabitants can erupt due to subsidized housing or college funding. In essence, this type o change is erroneous committed through gentrification. Although environs may have unusual and essential cultural organizations for a given racial community that draw or hold individuals of that race, no area remains stationary in particular cultural essence. Dynamism associated with succession has been the basis of urban history. Certain areas in the US such as Harlem underwent substantial gentrification because they were mainly inhabited by German and Jewish. It was also named by Dutch farmers that displaced Indians. It is also charcterised by the multifarious movement of blacks from the south to the cities in the north, even though; currently approximately half of its inhabitants are from West Indies and Africa. The minority groups in the inner cities have no moral or legal sanction for racial exclusion compared to white suburban communities. Newcomers and old inhabitants can have varying standpoints on neighborhood concerns, opportunities, and challenges. Furthermore, neighborhoods can be attractive if they are racially diverse with various indigenous ventures. Therefore plausible cultural issues related to gentrification will be the continuation of a process that results in a new class of wealth an aspect effectively tackled through enhancing affordable housing initiatives. Again gentrification should enhance shopping for low-income earners. Depictions of the impacts of gentrification on retail put more emphasis on stereotypes who prefer supermarkets that sell expensive products at the expense of local ones aimed at fulfilling the needs of poor communities. Whereas these catastrophic changes without a doubt occur as rents skyrocket, they too depict the national retail patterns. According to Murdie & Teixeira, (2010) the provision of alterations that serves as the epitome of profitable modifications in gentrifying environs is deceptive. Inner cities have been associated with insufficient shopping contributing high costs of staples compared to affluent neighborhoods with intense competition. Supermarkets and discount stores are likely to follow the wealthy. Simultaneously, existing retailers in gentrifying areas are likely to welcome new inhabitants particularly those with money to use.

Means: The actions to stabilize gentrification in the Logan neighborhood include; the strategic evaluation of this scenario is an important phase, this is because it assists the community to recognize what is happening while presenting a baseline of data a community can compare to their goals. The appropriate time to begin addressing displacement is the start of community revitalization attempts. Nonetheless, a number of communities start focusing on displacement a time when the disabled, elders and low-income earners are evicted or when indigenous organizations cannot afford neighborhood rent (Brenner, Marcuse & Mayer, 2012). Generally, the assessment comprises community mapping attempts to help in the identification of renter to homeowner rates; spatial analysis; affordability levels; race and poverty. Obviously, the assessment must be customized to a given situation. Another action is stabilizing existing renters; these entails evaluating rates of displacement, create emergency funds to help the community pay rent, eliminate discriminatory hindrances renters face or enact rent policies like eviction control as well as rent increase schedules. The development of limited-equity housing cooperatives and resident controlled housing enables stabilization in the community. This is because it turns high-end renters to homeowners. Housing cooperatives also enable its members to take part in neighborhood developments (Hodkinson, 2012). Together with residential controlled housing, affordable housing may include public, private and non-profit owned housing; however, this should be coupled with long-term affordability (Susser, 2012). Land control; this is a useful action that helps Logan community neighborhood. However, land control should take into consideration zoning policies; land use and tax to ensure not only equal development but also affordable housing (Hickey, 2013). The Logan neighborhood must understand zoning to drive them towards an intended direction. This can take the form of various things including inclusionary zoning regulations, mixed-use and density conditions to ensure affordability of all irrespective or income level or race.

Table 1: Shows the Time Line Graphic

Time Line Graphic

Wk1

Wk2

Wk3

Wk4

Wk5

Wk6

Wk7

Wk8

Wk9

Wk10

No

Deliverables

1

Strategic Evaluation

2

Land Control

3

Stabilizing existing renters

Budget:

Table 2: Showing Budget

Budget for Renovating 10,000 Units

Items

Cost in $

No

1

Wage and Labor

20m

2

Materials purchases

50m

3

Services

30m

4

Shipping and communication

10m

5

Miscellaneous

7m

Total Budget

117m

Outcomes

The success of the project will be based on various descriptors such as; evidence of reduced rates of displacements, which will be addressed during the beginning of community revitalization efforts. Again, awareness in the community will be an important aspect of the community when being aware of what is happening. Moreover, the existence of policies to protect renters to stabilize the community will be an indicator of success. Another descriptor for success will for affordable houses for all regardless of race or income level.

Final Word

The commencement of this project will not only ensure that dilapidated homes are refurbished but also abandoned properties rehabilitated. Overall, the project will save many families that stem from the low-income bracket the agony of vacating their homes for private developers that only care about profits. Moreover, it will foster community integration and collaboration on all fronts, an issue that will change how gentrification is approached in future.

Reference

Betancur, J. J. (2002). The politics of gentrification the case of west town in Chicago. Urban Affairs Review, 37(6), 780-814.

Brenner, N., Marcuse, P., & Mayer, M. (Eds.). (2012). Cities for people, not for profit: critical urban theory and the right to the city. Routledge.

Helms, A. C. (2003). Understanding gentrification: an empirical analysis of the determinants of urban housing renovation. Journal of urban economics, 54(3), 474-498.

Hickey, R. (2013). After the downturn: New challenges and opportunities for inclusionary housing. Center for Housing Policy.

Hodkinson, S. (2012). The return of the housing question. ephemera, 12(4), 423.

Hwang, J., & Sampson, R. J. (2014). Divergent pathways of gentrification racial inequality and the social order of renewal in Chicago neighborhoods. American Sociological Review, 79(4), 726-751.

Murdie, R., & Teixeira, C. (2010). The impact of gentrification on ethnic neighbourhoods in Toronto: A case study of Little Portugal. Urban Studies.

Papachristos, A. V., Smith, C. M., Scherer, M. L., & Fugiero, M. A. (2011). More coffee, less crime? The relationship between gentrification and neighborhood crime rates in Chicago, 1991 to 2005. City & Community, 10(3), 215-240.

Slater, T. (2006). The eviction of critical perspectives from gentrification research. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 30(4), 737-757.

Susser, I. (2012). Norman Street: Poverty and politics in an urban neighborhood. Oxford University Press.