Gentrification

Gentrification is the process whereby the character of a neighborhood changes through the influx of more affluent residents (the "gentry") and investment. There is no agreed-upon definition of gentrification. In public discourse, it has been used to describe a wide array of phenomena, sometimes in a pejorative connotation.

Gentrification is a common and controversial topic in urban politics and planning. Gentrification often increases the economic value of a neighborhood, but at the cost of changing demographic composition and potential displacement of incumbent residents. Gentrification is more likely when there is an undersupply of housing and rising housing values in a metropolitan area.

The gentrification process is typically the result of increasing attraction to an area by people with higher incomes than those of local residents spilling over from neighboring cities, towns, or neighborhoods. Further steps are increased commercial investments in the area and its infrastructure by real estate developers, local government, or community activists and resulting economic development, increased attraction of business, and lower crime rates.

Origin and etymology

Historians say that gentrification took place in ancient Rome and in Roman Britain, where large villas were replacing small shops by the 3rd century CE. The word gentrification derives from gentry—which comes from Old French genterise, "of gentle birth" (14th century) and "people of gentle birth" (16th century). In England, landed gentry denoted the social class, consisting of gentlemen and gentlewomen (as the latter were known at that time).