“Passive” Ecological Gentrification Triggered by the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Urban areas can be conceptualized as large and ever-changing playgrounds in which many diverse agents (households, businesses, developers, municipalities, etc.) are active. The interactions between the playground qualities and the players’ preferences are not unidirectional. However, sometimes, external events may change the perception of the playground qualities in the player’s eyes. The recent Covid-19 pandemic and its associated precautionary measures are a clear example. During the pandemic, the value of existing urban green infrastructures has increased, as lockdowns were imposed, and distance working became widespread. The concept of “passive” ecological gentrification is developed in order to characterize this type of process. In contrast with “active” ecological gentrification, caused by purposeful intervention in the urban arena, “passive” ecological gentrification is triggered by a change of context, such as the pandemic impacts. This article focuses on the appreciation of green urban infrastructures by urbanites during the pandemic, showing that the willingness to pay to live near green and open spaces has increased in general, but with significant spatial differences. The main research questions are: (a) How does the player’s perception of the playground’s value change in times of pandemic? (b) Do these changes support the emergence of “passive” ecological gentrification? The methodology is based on the analysis of changes in property values over time as an indirect measure of a location’s appeal, looking specifically at areas near green urban infrastructures, both in the inner city and in the peripheral areas. Relatively large changes in property value over time are a possible indicator of ongoing gentrification processes: When they are observed near existing green infrastructures, and not related to redevelopment initiatives, “passive” ecological gentrification may be the result. Using detailed spatial data on land use and property prices from the Netherlands, we find evidence that supports the hypothesis of a “passive” ecological gentrification drift towards areas around urban parks and green infrastructures in general.

Navigating spatial inequalities: The micro-politics of migrant dwelling practices during COVID-19 in Antwerp

“…This leads to a rent gap, negatively affecting lower-income groups and changing the form of urban areas (Smith, 1996). Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the value assigned to green areas has increased among the population, with a knock-on effect on prices of property close to green areas, leading to what some scholars have described as 'green' gentrification (Broitman, 2022;Larcher et al, 2021).…”

“…This includes whether people can negotiate trade-offs in their dwelling preferences, such as making trade-offs between their home’s size versus location (Easthope et al, 2020; Lau and Wei, 2018). Given the impact of COVID-19, it is important to explore how changes in dwelling preferences (Broitman, 2022; Larcher et al, 2021) occurred within the context of structural inequalities.…”

Social Justice in the Green City

“…The third article, "'Passive' ecological gentrification triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic" published by Dani Broitman (2023), focuses on the current urban challenge of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on urban dynamics and green gentrification processes. In particular, the pandemic resulted in a stronger need for more accessible green spaces, and the article assesses if this situation actually influenced housing prices within the Netherlands.…”