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Gentrification

Gentrification is a process where neighborhoods are transformed in order to cater or give profit to a wealthier home buyer or investor. The process often takes place in working-class neighborhoods that are inhabited by low-income residents. Real-estate development such as luxury condominiums or the transformation of old factories into trendy lofts, attract wealthier investors. As the process progresses, low-income residents are either completely pushed out of the neighborhood or to the outskirts of the it as real-estate and rent prices are increased due to demand. These low-income residents are unable to afford the cost of living in the neighborhood they previously lived in. Additionally, as middle-class residents enter the neighborhood, the surrounding businesses transform to accommodate their desires instead of desires of the low-income residents. Gentrification has often been promoted by local governments through policies that promote ‘'urban renewal.' Recent studies suggest that state intervention occurs for three reasons. (1) There is increased pressure on state governments to actively pursue development, no matter who has to be displaced. These developments could also allow states to increase taxes; (2) When gentrification happens in less popular areas, there is a profit risk. There is an emphasis to gentrify places that have a bigger population to insure a profit; (3) Some measures to protect the working class have been contested by the government. Although the process is considered to benefit the local economy and improve neighborhoods, it causes an immense amount of displacement to lower-income individuals. Three phases of gentrification are generally recognized:

1. 1960's-1970s - an irregular process led by the government which hoped to reinvest capital to the inner-city.
2. 1970s - widespread in big cities and spreading to smaller towns across North America. Promotion of art communities such as Soho Manhattan to attract residents and investors.
3. 1990s - extensive large-scale development increased in scale and complexity through public-private partnerships.

There is additional evidence that indicates gentrification occurs in cities that have a higher population of immigrants and people of color. Data shows that these two factors correlate with neighborhood gentrification that is embedded in racial and ethnic inequalities. As gentrification causes housing prices to soar and historic racial economic discrimination continues, urban working class tenants of color are struggling to afford their homes. The U.S. Census data shows that San Francisco's population grew from 776,700 in 2000 to 817,500 in 2013. However, the African-American population had dropped from 60,000 to just under 48,000. Additionally, historically Latino neighborhoods dropped from 50% Latino down to 38.5% in just thirteen years. The extreme housing prices of San Francisco are forcing lower income people out of the city.

As wealthier citizens have started to demand green amenities, cities have shifted their focus to marrying urban redevelopment with green initiatives. However, not all these green initiatives are accommodating to the lives of urban working class people of color.