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I <br /> I <br /> <br />JUNE 2002 <br /> <br />AME.qlCAN <br />PLANNING <br />ASSOCIATION <br /> <br />The Tw° Faces of Gentrification: <br /> Can Zoning Help?· <br /> <br />'By Michael Davidaon <br /> <br /> Gentrification has three specific <br /> conditions: displacement of original <br /> residents, Physical uPgrading.of the <br /> neighborhood, and change in <br /> neighborhood character. <br /> <br />A "three-flat' in the Chicago community of Edgewat~ Once a low- <br />income neighborhood, these condo uniu (the structure conrairu &ret) <br />$tare at $370,000. Note the ~ingle-family home. wedged between two <br /> <br />What is genrrificacion? This issue of Zoning News actempra <br />to answer that question first by defining lc, then by <br />exploring why the issue generates heated debate among those <br />.affected, and, Finally, by examining the role of zoning in this <br />powerful phenomenon. That examination includes considering <br />how, despite gentrificarion, neighborhood character can be <br />p. reserved, affordable housing protected, and long-standivn, g ,,.~es <br />nor ~brced out. <br /> The word "gentrification," originating in Great Britain, is <br />used co describe an influx of one societal group--usually a <br />higher socio-economic dass~inro 'a community or an area of <br />the communiqy for the purpose of establishing itself as residents <br />and homeowners, thereby displacing ex/smtg residents. In the <br />2001 Brookings [nsnmrion discuasion paper, !'Dealing with <br /> <br />Neighborhood Change: A Primer on Gentrificarion and Policy <br />Choices," audaorX Maureen Kennedy and Paul Leonard define <br />gentrification aa: <br /> <br /> The processes by which higher-income householdz displace lower- <br /> income residents of a neighborhood, changing thc e~sendd <br /> character and flavor of d~r neighborhood. <br /> <br /> · According to Kennedy and Leonard, §en~rificadon differs <br />from revitalization, defined as: <br /> <br /> The proce.~ o£enhancing the physical, commerc/al, and social <br /> components of neighborhoocL~ and the future prospects of their <br /> residents through private sector and/or public sector effom. Physical <br /> components include upgrading of housing stock and srreetscapex. <br /> Commercial components include the creation of viable busine~se.~ <br /> and septic= in the community. Social components include <br /> increaaing employment and reductions in crime. Genrrificarion <br /> sometimes occurs in the midst of the revitalization process. <br /> <br /> it. also differs from reinvesrmenr, which is: <br /> The flow of capital into a neighborhood primarily m upgrade <br /> physical components of the neighborhood, although reinvesrrnent <br /> can al~o be made in human capacity. <br /> <br />The authors also are clear on what does not constitute <br />gentrificarion: <br />Under our definition, genrrification ha~ three specific conditions <br />which all must be me~: displacement of original resident& physical <br />upgrading of the'neighborhood, particularly 0f h0using stock: and <br />change in neighborhood character. Thus, genmfication does not _ <br />automatically occur when highdncome residents move into a <br />tower-income'neighborhood, ['or e.xarnple, at a scale too sm:fi[ to <br />displace ~-,:isting residents, or in the context of vacant land or <br /> __- <br /> buildings. Nor does economic development activity-- <br /> revimlizadon~necessarily imply genrrificadon. Tenants can leave <br /> their un/ts ['or a range o£ reasons, so departures in a revitalizing <br /> neighborhood do not necessarily mean §enrrificarion is occurring. <br /> <br /> Gentrificafion is associated closely with urban <br />neighborhoods in large, popular cities; bur the pl)enomenon <br />does occur elsewhere. Resort cowns~both coastal and inland~ <br /> <br />97 <br /> <br /> <br />