Revitalizing a neighborhood not the same as gentrifying it.As a retail store leasing broker, I am often asked the question: "What is the next "hot" neighborhood in the city--and why?" In the 1970's, I would answer SoHo. In the mid 1980's, the response would be the Flatiron District. In the late 1980's, it would be Columbus Avenue. Times Square and Harlem would be the answer in the mid to late 1990's. In the last five years Chelsea, the Meatpacking meatpacking or meat-processing, wholesale business of buying and slaughtering animals and then processing and distributing their carcasses to retailers. The livestock industry is among the largest in the world. District, NoHo, NoLIta would be the right responses. Most are neighborhoods that went through revitalization re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. . So, what is next? I think we have reached the point where there are few parts of Manhattan that haven't been discovered or rediscovered, and the processes of revitalization have emerged. But does a neighborhood have to do through gentrification gentrification, the rehabilitation and settlement of decaying urban areas by middle- and high-income people. Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, higher-income professionals, drawn by low-cost housing and easier access to downtown business areas, renovated deteriorating to become "hot"? Over last 25 years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time word "gentrification" has been quite in fashion. Almost every "hot", "discovered" or "rediscovered" neighborhood somewhere is described as having gone through the process. Despite the frequent usage, there seems to be a controversy over its definition. Does gentrification include every neighborhood improvement or just those that involve class transformation? If the improvement involves class transformation, does it have to be forceful to be considered gentrification? Restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property--including physical renovation and improvements linked to an increase in property values and reduction in crime rates--sounds like a positive description. But because of the "displacement" of middle- and lower-income residents, the word "gentrification" has gained a mostly negative connotation con·no·ta·tion n. 1. The act or process of connoting. 2. a. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: . Not only did displacement start to be viewed as an inevitable component of gentrification--and was included in most definitions--but it was implied, even when it didn't occur. I don't want to get into the pros and the cons of the process--it is well-known to have both positive and negative outcomes. However, I would like to discourage the misuse of the word and to distinguish between gentrification and regeneration, between displacement and replacement. Although some studies--such as Gentrification and Displacement: New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. in the 1990's by Lance Freeman--show that the residential turnover is not higher in gentrifying areas, we still cannot ignore that displacement is a component of gentrification. Because existing residents and local businesses cannot afford higher rents and operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. , they are often forced to leave revitalized re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. areas. Gentrification is a paradoxical, self-perpetuating process, where artists and art galleries, for example, "discover" new, cheap spaces in industrial and commercial buildings and establish residential neighborhoods that soon go upscale--finally forcing the "discoverers" to move on. SoHo, TriBeCa, Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and NoLIta all went through this process, that is, experiencing changes in physical and social characteristics and in ethnic and class composition. But these changes can accrue not by displacement resulting from socioeconomic forces, but by replacement resulting from natural turnover and natural residential movement. Consider the development of the Lower East and Flatiron District. Today they are thriving with new retail businesses, but the new is not displacing the old, because the old is either being replaced by natural processes, or the new is simply joining the old without displacing it. In such cases, using the word gentrification is misleading when we assume it involves displacement. Regeneration would be a better term. During regeneration, forceful displacement doesn't take place, so the process should avoid the community disapproval that gentrification usually engenders. I view regeneration, the upgrading of a neighborhood, as the next step in the redevelopment process. Displacement is difficult to measure. But if we consider it as an inherent part of gentrification, we have to limit the usage of the word "gentrification" to cases where we have significant evidence of displacement, and not automatically apply it to all revitalization cases. We need to distinguish gentrification from regeneration, and stop using these words interchangeably INTERCHANGEABLY. Formerly when deeds of land were made, where there Were covenants to be performed on both sides, it was usual to make two deeds exactly similar to each other, and to exchange them; in the attesting clause, the words, In witness whereof the parties have hereunto . BENJAMIN FOX, PRESIDENT, WINICK REALTY realty n. a short form of "real estate." (See: real estate) REALTY. An abstract of real, as distinguished from personalty. Realty relates to lands and tenements, rents or other hereditaments. Vide Real Property. GROUP LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control |
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