Research explaining changing neighborhood characteristics (e.g., gentrification and redlining) has become increasingly popular over the last decade. But what’s so bad about gentrification, really?
Gentrification symbolizes many different things for different people – from boutique coffee shops to sky-high rents. At its core, gentrification supports inequality on multiple levels and prioritizes the needs of some residents (typically newcomers) over others. Therefore, gentrification is less about individuals preferring to live in certain neighborhoods and more about real systemic issues (e.g., wealth gaps, housing affordability), reflecting a two-tiered system where access to housing (and health) is limited to those who can afford it.