urbanism

Gentrification is not inevitable, actually.

wealthier classes moving into a neighborhood, causing rent and property prices to go up and pushing out lower-income residents—doesn't happen on its own. It happens because city gov and businesses make choices, like giving tax breaks to developers or investing in certain areas, that encourage this change. 

cities could make different choices, like protecting affordable housing, to stop people from being forced out of their homes.

It’s also a myth that gentrification is needed for improvements like better schools. Displaced communities have been asking for these resources for YEARS but are ignored because corporate interests and development were prioritized over their needs

Urbanist thinking about open space, open access, and open web
/urbanism

I think one of the most egregious examples of this is something I saw in a neighborhood in Philly. 

People used to say that it was “hipsters” (I’m glad that concept is pretty much retired and we can just call them rich kids now) move into a cheaper neighborhood and then they start opening coffee shops and that’s how you know it’s being gentrified. 

This poor Philly neighborhood had a coffee shop that was owned by the real estate developer who was trying to gentrify it. It was even branded with their logo and name.