In “Brooklyn Tenants Battle Gentrification on Many Fronts,” Ian Marsh discusses tenant protests of gentrification in their neighborhoods. Though gentrification may improve the outer appearance of an area, it often increases the market pressures and people who can no longer keep up with the finances of living in a gentrified area are forced to move elsewhere. As the article puts it, “predatory landlords” capitalize off of the increased value of property in gentrifying areas. This allows them to increase the amount they collect for rent. However, groups like the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, the Crown Heights Tenant Union, and the Pratt Area Community Council are working to unify citizens against the phenomenon of gentrification. I believe that though the issue of gentrification is often brought up, people can be swayed by the fact that gentrification brings more money to an area and can make it look improved. However, underlying issues like housing displacement are a real concern, and need to be addressed when phenomena like this are happening across the world in cities with gentrifying cities.

Question: how can we lessen the negative effects of gentrification while still bringing the improvement of infrastructure and services to an area? How can we keep old tenants while still improving public right of way?