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Introduction
Today, most urban development results in or is an influence of gentrification. As is claimed by Vicario and Martinez Monje, “Since the late 1970s, it has become increasingly apparent that the gentrification phenomenon should not be seen as an individual, isolated outcome of residential rehabilitation, but as an integral part of a much broader, deeper process of urban restructuring” (2003, p.2383). The term gentrification was first coined by Ruth Glass in 1964 describing the changes that were observed in the social structure and housing market of inner London. However, the definition since then has widened …show more content…
The major impact of gentrification is displacement, loss of affordable housing and homelessness (Atkinson, 2004). Most gentrified areas are often in the urban core, where huge abandoned landmass which were once working industries or manufacturing companies that declined after World War II, become the main focal point of investment. Low-wage manufacturing jobs brought the initial residents in those areas and the consequent drop of such jobs post-industrialization left them in the marginal economic straits. As the property prices increase in these areas attracting more middle-income groups and businesses, the original inhabitants start getting displaced due to lack of affordable housing and amenities, thus leading to homelessness while the gentrifying residents have the economic affordability to become home owners, thus creating a shift in the land prices and …show more content…
As new construction occurs, older buildings are rehabilitated with ameliorations in public spaces and infrastructure as demand from the gentrifying residents start rising. This influx of development is associated with safer streets, improvement in built environment, contradictory change in crime rate, and better facilities (Braconi and Freeman, 2004). However, the benefits of gentrification are primarily accrued by the gentrifiers than the gentrified, it might be argued that the original residents also benefit from better quality local services and shops in the gentrifying neighborhoods (Atkinson,