What is the impact of gentrification on urban communities and housing affordability?
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1. Displacement of low-income residents: The arrival of higher-income residents and investors in urban areas due to gentrification pushes out low-income community members, who can no longer afford housing in the area. Gentrified neighborhoods often see a decline in public housing units, leading to fewer low-income housing options and forcing low-income residents out of the neighborhood (Freeman et al., 2015). 2. Increased housing prices: Gentrification leads to an increase in property values and rental prices. In turn, this makes it more difficult for current residents to afford to live in the neighborhood once it has undergone gentrification. This causes long-time residents to be priced out, leading to the displacement of low-income residents and creating a loss of community (Lee & Leighton, 2012). 3. Loss of community and cultural heritage: Gentrification can lead to the loss of community identity and cultural heritage. As long-time residents are priced out of the gentrified neighborhood, the community's unique character is lost, leading to the erosion of the community's culture (Berry, 2014). 4. Unequal access to amenities: As gentrified areas become more expensive places to live, amenities such as affordable childcare, grocery stores, and access to public transportation often become scarce or nonexistent. In some cases, such amenities may be priced out of the affordable range and only available to new, wealthier residents (Shapiro et al., 2018). Overall, gentrification has far-reaching impacts on urban communities and housing affordability, leading to a loss of affordable housing options for low-income residents, displacement of residents, loss of community and cultural heritage, and unequal access to amenities. These impacts not only affect residents of the neighborhood, but also the wider city and region (Shapiro et al., 2018).

Sources:

1. Berry, L. A. (2014). The “Gentrification Moment”: Changing Understandings of Gentrification, Racialization, and Urban Change. Antipode: A Radical Journal of Geography, 46(1), 114-137.

2. Freeman
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What is the impact of gentrification on urban communities and housing affordability?
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Gentrification can lead to an increase in housing prices and a decrease in affordable housing options, as developers may focus on building high-end properties to cater to the incoming affluent residents. This can lead to the displacement of long-time residents who can no longer afford to live in their neighborhoods. Additionally, as these neighborhoods become more desirable, landlords may increase rents, making it difficult for low-income residents to remain. Gentrification can also have cultural impacts, as the influx of new residents can change the character and identity of a community. This can lead to tensions between long-time residents and newcomers. Finally, gentrification can have positive impacts on the local economy, including increased property values and economic activity, but these benefits may not necessarily be shared equally among all residents.
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