This week’s readings addressed a topic that seems to be the root of many problems talked about in our class. Gentrification is a process of “renovation” of low-income neighborhoods that ultimately results in the displacement of the low-income residents living there by higher income/middle-class people. This process has its pros however the detrimental effect surpasses the benefits. In an article on “Panam Post,” the author, Adam Handles posits that the real culprits behind gentrification are not the people moving in, but those with the political power to induce this influx of the middle class in the first place. Handles claims rezoning is the “mechanism” and developers are the just using it in this phenomenon. The higher income neighborhoods are resistant to rezoning or development that those living there do not want, so developers must set their sights on easier targets, ones with less power in their arsenal, like low-income neighborhoods who often have very little say when it comes to decision making about their neighborhood. Handler goes on to say that the automatic reaction of those involved is to blame developers when he claims the real culprits are the rich and affluent who make it hard for developers to develop in places that are higher income. The fundamental issue here, in my opinion, is the lack of power of the people who live in the area to make decisions about the area. Handler seems to say something of the same idea when he discusses solutions for the issue. However, where I disagree with him is where he says the enemies are not developers or gentrifiers. They are part of the problem, and should not be absolved. People who move into these neighborhoods are not blind to what is happening. Developers know what negative results come from redeveloping a building in a low-income neighborhood and charging higher rent. Everyone involved should feel a responsibility to help resolve the issue and should incorporate renovations in a manner that is compatible with the people already living there.
- Do you agree with Adam Handler that the developers and gentrifiers are not the enemies?
- Should all parties feel the responsibility to resolve the issue?
- Are there ways to renovate a neighborhood without gentrifying it?
