GentrificationIntroduction Starting in the 1960s, middle- and upper-class populations began moving out of the suburbs and back into urban areas. At first, this revitalization of urban areas was “treated as a movement back to the city by suburbanites, but recent research has shown that it is a much more complicated phenomenon” (Schwirian 96). This phenomenon was coined “gentrification” by researcher Ruth Glass in 1964 to describe the residential movement of middle-class people to low-income areas of London (Zukin 131). More specifically, gentrification is the renovation of formerly poor urban housing, typically into apartment buildings, aimed at middle- and upper-class professionals. Since the 1960s, gentrification has appeared in large cities such as Washington DC, San Francisco, and New York. This trend of returning to the city among typically young, white, upper-middle class working professionals has caused much controversy (Schwirian 96). The arguments for and against gentrification will be examined in this article. Gentrification does not follow the traditional theory of urban growth, which predicts "the decline of central areas of cities as the affluent classes move to the metropolitan fringes." The traditional economic model of real estate states that wealthy people can choose their housing from the total city market (Schwirian 96). Once these people decide to live in the suburbs, the lower social classes move into the old homes of the upper classes, essentially trading housing up the socioeconomic ladder. Gentrification is actually a reversal of this process. For a variety of reasons, many downtown areas are becoming more attractive to the wealthy, who choose their homes in those areas (Schwirian 96). The problem is that now that the rich take over poor homes and renovate them, the poor cannot afford the homes that the rich have abandoned. Many researchers have debated whether gentrification has really created problems in cities. I will analyze the arguments for and against gentrification by exploring the topic from both sides. Why is the city so attractive? Many researchers have theorized why the rich want to return to the city. Schwirian believes that many wealthy people are attracted to the architectural design of some of these old homes in urban areas (Schwirian 96). Harvey believes in a number of theories and... halfway through the document... dismisses one at a time and assists individual families threatened with eviction. Resources should be divided between short-term and long-term actions. Finally, anti-gentrification advocates should develop a comprehensive approach to slow gentrification. “Tackling gentrification on all fronts requires a combination of relocation assistance, homebuying programs, affordable housing development, land use planning, community organizing and small business support.” (Alexandrino 47). These are just a few recommendations to help save those who are negatively affected by gentrification. Works Cited: Alejandrino, Simon V. Gentrification in San Francisco's Mission District: Indicators and Policy Recommendations. University of California at Berkeley, 2000. Harvey, Todd, et al. Gentrification and West Oakland: Causes, Effects, and Best Practices 1999. November 22, 2003. Schwirian, Kent P. “Patterns of Neighborhood Change.” Annual Review of Sociology 9(1983): 83-102.Tierney, John. "The Gentry, misjudged as neighbors." New York Times March 26, 2002, section. B: 1.Zukin, Sharon. "Gentrification: culture and capital 13(1987): 129-147.