Some cities are already suffering gentrification phenomenon, We have been able to get to know him in our own city or known cities, with a process of transformation in a well-known neighborhood. This phenomenon has been happening for decades and happens more than we imagine around the world.
Many neighborhoods in many cities they end up renewing and with the reconstruction of a new, modern and more luxurious urban area. This event happens like replacement of low income neighborhoods and that are replaced by new homes with a high cost of living, a situation that in some cases creates a conflict.
What is gentrification?
As we have already detailed, it is an urban phenomenon that happens as a process of renewal and transformation. Poor areas are sold or restored and urban reconstruction is carried out. middle or upper class people, displacing the poorest inhabitants of the intervention areas. This new area becomes a high-income area, so the former residents cannot make up for it with their salaries.
The UN describes it as a fact of evolution, a process of urban renewal and reconstruction. There is a flow of middle or upper class people that displaces the poorest inhabitants of this area. There are different studies that are analyzed to understand if this phenomenon is viable with the rest of the city, and the UN recognizes it as feasible as long as certain measures are adopted.
When they are adopted redistributive economic policies. Through this act of renewal, it is intended to promote regeneration, with a benefit of the municipal revenue and thus improve the supply and distribution of people and homes to other areas.
La population retention existing to improve the social life of the new enclave. and fsupport small businesses with microcredits, to help lift everything that has deteriorated and create better social interaction.
With gentrification we can see thousands of people working and looking for places with a lower cost of living. They access places to improve their level and create a family with stability. It usually happens that they move to new neighborhoods with new access to housing and at a price they can afford.
However, the fact moving from the countryside to the city It is the phenomenon that is also known as gentrification, like the one we are pointing out. The complaint is that these new people buy in places where others have been expelled. These other people have been for years survivors of these urban areas and now they have to move to a new area or neighborhood, because the cost of housing goes up for them. It generally happens in vulnerable people, such as retirees or people with disabilities.
When gentrification is positive
Gentrification can have positive effects, related to infrastructure and services. If these services are increased, they will benefit these gentrified areas, especially those with low incomes. Another positive aspect is helping revitalize degraded urban areas and improve the quality of life for all residents.
Social impact with this phenomenon
These new spaces are designed to attract new neighbors, with an urban life and good quality spaces so that they can afford to live in them. These new neighbors have had to leave other places and live far from their workplace.
Gentrification has a social impact for people who already resided in these areas, since they end up affected by several factors. The new residents are people who have greater purchasing power and this pushes them to repeal new needs and expectations. It happens that a new change is issued and the old small businesses have to close or make a new change. The fact is having to open new more expensive and exclusive businesses that are accessible to new residents.
On the other hand, one of the negative facts is the social impact of the arrival of new people to the neighborhood, which causes housing prices go up and people with low incomes have to be forced to move to other areas. This can generate conflicts between people, since social networks among the community are lost and can generate cultural conflicts and socioeconomic.
Who are the people most affected by gentrification?
When we talk about the negative impact, it is when we know a loss of the cultural identity of the area, given their customs. When people with higher purchasing power arrive, they displace people with low incomes. They start to shops, bars or restaurants be replaced by more modern ones.
The most vulnerable people are those with low incomes, such as elderly, homeless, disabled or vulnerable people. Many of them cannot bear the rise in prices and are forced to move to more affordable places, but, although it may seem like a solution to the problem, in reality, it is a big problem for those who cannot do so and do not have support networks.
Where can this phenomenon be observed?
This phenomenon happens in many cities. In Europe it happens in numerous countries and in Spain too. It has happened in Barcelona with neighborhoods like Born or Gòtic and in Madrid, in neighborhoods like La Latina or Lavapiés.
The transformation of these neighborhoods has generated much more wealth in the medium and long term, in the context of the social impact of gentrification. Greater security has been created in the neighborhoods and has improved the image of cities, since they look cleaner, modern and attractive. It is true that neighborhoods become more modern and cause apartments or premises to rise in price.
But it has its counterpart, given what we have discussed. The excessive price is a cause of speculation, which means that long-time residents cannot afford certain increases, for example a rent increase, and have to leave the neighborhood. Therefore, the neighborhoods lose part of their original identity and there may even be an excess of tourist apartments.