A reappraisal of gentrification: towards a ‘geography of gentrification’

Abstract

The gentrification literature since the mid-1990s is reappraised in light of the emergence of processes of post-recession gentrification and in the face of recent British and American urban policy statements that tout gentrification as the cure-all for inner-city ills. Some tentative suggestions are offered on how we might re-energize the gentrification debate. Although real analytical progress has been made there are still ‘wrinkles’ which research into the ‘geography’ of gentrification could address: 1) financifiers – super-gentrification; 2) third-world immigration – the global city; 3) black/ethnic minority gentrification – race and gentrification; and 4) liveability/urban policy – discourse on gentrification. In addition, context, temporality and methodology are argued to be important issues in an updated and rigorous deconstruction of not only the process of gentrification itself but also discourses on gentrification.

Increasing inequalities in health: Is it an artefact caused by the selective movement of people?

“…These conclusions are based on the size and direction of the current migration patterns, which may change over time. The dominant migration pattern over the last few decades has been one of exodus from more deprived areas, but there is evidence of recent change and, with the slow process of gentrification, many deprived areas, especially in cities, are beginning to see the start of a reversal in fortunes (Lees, 2000). This selective movement of more affluent and healthy people into previously deprived areas could also produce dramatic changes in the geography of health inequalities that are independent of any change in the health of individuals or effect of policy initiatives.…”

La densification urbaine dans le quartier Vanier : germe d’un renouveau urbain ou menace pour le dernier îlot francophone de la capitale canadienne ?

“…En se basant sur les premières expériences, certains chercheurs ont démontré comment la réhabilitation des anciennes friches en centre-ville ou à proximité visait essentiellement les classes sociales favorisées (Emelianoff, 2007). Selon plusieurs chercheurs, l'entre-soi qui prévaut dans ces nouveaux espaces résidentiels, qualifiés de « ghettos de riches » (Lees, 2000), contredit les aspirations de mixité sociale qui sous-tendent le développement durable (Bonard et Matthey, 2010). Emelianoff (2006) va jusqu'à évoquer une nouvelle forme « d'injustice environnementale » dans la ville 1 .…”

New forms of gentrification: issues and debates

“…The cultural approach of authors such as Ley (1996) and Caulfi eld (1989), who write about the lifestyles, values, and desires of gentrifi ers, are contextually related to the 'emancipatory' features of gentrifi cation processes in Canadian cities (see Lees, 2000). Calls for a broader 'geography of gentrifi cation' (Ley, 1996;Lees, 2000) were made some time ago now, but we are far from having reached an understanding of the global complexities of this process. Too often still, theoretical debates about gentrifi cation are context blind, drawing general conclusions from a series of US and UK case studies.…”

“…As noted by Lees (2000), the main theoretical frames in the gentrifi cation literature must be seen, partially at least, in relation to the place where they were developed, so that N. Smith's revanchist city theory is related not only to his philosophical and political positioning (Marxism) but also to the very polarised and sometimes brutal character of US cities (especially New York City of the 1990s where he has done most of his empirical research). The cultural approach of authors such as Ley (1996) and Caulfi eld (1989), who write about the lifestyles, values, and desires of gentrifi ers, are contextually related to the 'emancipatory' features of gentrifi cation processes in Canadian cities (see Lees, 2000). Calls for a broader 'geography of gentrifi cation' (Ley, 1996;Lees, 2000) were made some time ago now, but we are far from having reached an understanding of the global complexities of this process.…”