Gentrification- Diary of Systemic Injustice Showcase- Makenna Jones

When looking at many of the larger cities in America, gentrification is an issue that on the surface seems to cause much improvement, but behind the scenes causes an impact on many people. Gentrification is the “process in which a poor area (as of a city) experiences an influx of middle-class or wealthy people who renovate and rebuild homes and businesses and which often results in an increase in property values and the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents” (Merriam-Webster). Within Columbus we see gentrification, and Scott Wood of Columbus Alive even compared gentrification to a game of Monopoly (Woods). He compared the previous, poor area as Baltic Avenue with green low-middle income houses. As gentrification or “development” begins in these areas, more red hotels which symbolize upper-class housing or businesses are introduced and in turn cause a decline in green houses in the area. This causes an increase in housing prices due to the influx of more wealthy people coming into the area to build businesses or renovate houses. This all comes with a price that affects the previous residents of these areas.

While reading The Leavers by Lisa Ko, we see that Peilan and Deming live in New York City, which is a hot spot for gentrification. Stacey Sutton explains in her TedTalk the impacts of gentrification, specifically within New York. She highlights the different forms of displacement that happen when gentrification occurs. One form, exclusionary displacement, focuses on the group of people that are not forced to leave but leave due to the fact that where they live now does not fit their lifestyle (Sutton). Peilan and Deming, being immigrants in New York City, could have been victims of gentrification and either direct displacement or exclusionary displacement. When gentrification occurs, many of the cities affected lose much of the culture that developed in those cities. Being an immigrant in a new place, Peilan and Deming valued the culture within places like Chinatown and would have ultimately been affected negatively if these areas were gentrified.

Gentrification causes many issues for the residents living in these areas because the cost of living within these areas rises as gentrification proceeds. Many of the residents are not able to afford housing within these areas after developments are made. Another issue gentrification brings to attention is the neglect many of these areas face until they are further developed by an outside wealthier source. Many of these areas lack proper care from the city, like policing and street repairs (Woods). Care from the city, which should have been present previously, finally becomes present after gentrification. Systemic injustice is present in gentrification through the displacement of low-income residents and the neglect their area faced before gentrification. By giving more attention to areas that are at risk of gentrification or developing these areas to fit the needs of the residents, the issues gentrification brings can be eliminated.

Works Cited

“Gentrification.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification.

TEDxTalks, director. What We Don’t Understand about Gentrification | Stacey Sutton | TEDxNewYork. YouTube, YouTube, 15 Jan. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqogaDX48nI.

Woods, Scott. “The Other Columbus: Gentrification – The Monopoly Version.” Columbus Alive, Columbus Alive, 11 Sept. 2019, www.columbusalive.com/news/20190911/other-columbus-gentrification—monopoly-version.