1. Defining Gentrification
"Gentrification" derives from "gentry", meaning the people of gentle birth, good breeding, or high social position, as in the landed-gentry . Sociologist Ruth Glass coined the term in 1964 to mean the influx of wealthier individuals into cities or neighborhoods who replace working or lower-classes already living there. She defined it by using London districts such as Islington as her example:
One by one, many of the working class quarters of London have been invaded by the middle-classes—upper and lower. Shabby, modest mews and cottages—two rooms up and two down—have been taken over, when their leases have expired, and have become elegant, expensive residences [...]. Once this process of 'gentrification' starts in a district it goes on rapidly until all or most of the original working-class occupiers are displaced and the whole social character of the district is changed. Glass, R. (1964). London: aspects of change. Londen: Macgibbon & Kee.

2. Indicators of Gentrification
Leading Indicators: Areas Most likely to Experience Gentrification
High Rate of Renters
Ease of Access to Job Centers
High and Increasing Levels of Metropolitan Congestion
High Architectural Value
Comparatively Low Housing Values
Michigan State University’s Center for Urban Affairs Report on Gentrification in Grand Rapids (July 2002)

3. Indicators of Gentrification
Primary Indicators: Strong Signs Gentrification is Occurring
Move from Rental Tenure to Homeownership
Arrival of Individuals or Households Interested in Urban Amenities/Culture
Increase in Businesses Intended for High Income People

4. Indicators of Gentrification
Secondary Indicators: Less Strong Signs Gentrification is Occurring
Change in Racial Composition
Change in Occupancy Rate
Change in Income
I call it erosion because that Puerto Rican character, the Latino character in this area is being eroded. There are huge, huge, huge areas of Humboldt Park that are gone, that are lost to us through gentrification…There are a lot of neighborhoods that have no Puerto Ricans-period, have no people of color-period. It’s a huge impact, you know, and I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better, being realistic.
~Humboldt Park Resident

5. A class emerges in the post-industrial era that values neighborhood characteristics such as ethnic and architectural diversity.
Transformation of the labor force. Decline in blue collar workers and a growth of white collar workers.
New middle-class follows groups of artists and “bohemians” who have moved into traditionally ethnic low-income communities
Neighborhood begins to appeal to traditional middle-class sensibilities and starts to loose its original culture.
Neighborhood begins to transform to meet the preferences of the wealthier residents.

6. Educated young professionals, arguably attracted to the cachet of the newly hip neighborhood in increasing numbers, leading to a dramatic escalation of home values and rents…Indeed, before more eyes Wicker Park unfolded as a serendipitous site containing to greater or lesser degrees a host of economic and cultural trends.
-Richard Lloyd, Neo-Bohemia

7. Supply-Side Analysis of Gentrification and the ‘Rent-Gap’
To explain gentrification according to the gentrifier’s actions alone, while ignoring the role of builders, developers, landlords, mortgage lenders, government agencies, real estate agents and tenants is excessively narrow. ~A. Smith (1989) ‘Gentrification and the spatial constitution of the State’, Antipode 21:
Gap forms between capitalized ground rent and potential ground rent in the properties ‘highest and best use’.
Movement toward suburbs leaves areas of disinvestment in the inner-city.
Land values decline from center out (19th century)
Mortgage lenders, developers, and entrepreneurs begin to reinvest in inner-city.
People follow capital back to the city.

8. PROS
Redevelopment or renovation of housing stock
Revitalization of the tax base
Increased homeownership rates
Economic opportunities
De-concentration of poverty
Historic preservation
CONS
Displacement of lower income residents
Lack of affordable housing
Decrease in multi-family rental units
Loss of diversity in neighborhood businesses and residents
Conversion of residential units to commercial property
Decrease in social services for lower-income residents

9. People can’t afford the housing that’s being built, and the housing is not meant for them. The housing is meant for people who have higher incomes, most of whom are white... not all of them, but most of them. ~West Town Resident

10. How You Can Help Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP)
813 E. 63rd Street 2nd Floor Chicago, IL
Pilsen Alliance
Alejandra Ibanez, Executive Director,
Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
C/O KWRU PO Box Philadelphia, PA 19132
march hotline:
The Coalition to Protect Public Housing
984 N Hudson St. Chicago, IL 60610