Gentrification | highland-park

What is Gentrification?

Have you ever wondered why coffee is $7 at modern, "hipster" (yikes) coffee shop in Silver Lake? Or in Echo Park? or in East Los Angeles? Or most recently, Highland Park? Well gentrification is your answer!

According to Jeffrey R. Henig, a professor at George Washington University and author of the academic article Gentrification and Displacement Within Cities: A Comparitive Analysis, gentrification is the phenomenon of inner city resettlement and displacement by higher socioeconomic status groups.

Merriam-Webster defines gentrification as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. While this definition does suggest that gentrification leads to economic benefits and physical improvements to the cities, it also suggests that gentrification is harmful to those already living in the city, like Jeffrey R. Henig's definition.

Gentrification leads to a large influx of affluent people and businesses in poorer neighbordhoods, and because of this large influx, the price of basic necessities, like grocieries and clothing, goes up as well as the price of rent and the overall price of living.

While these effects may gradually occur over months or years, they eventually catch up to those living in the city. The reason why gentrification displaces many of the poorer residents is because of the rent increases and the overall increase in the cost of living. What ends up happening is these prices increase so much so that the long-time residents can no longer afford to live in the city. And unfortunately, these residents tend to be minority families and individuals. In Highland Park, over 70% of the residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, with about half of the households consisting of four or more people. These are the people that are affected by gentrification.

So what can you do about it?

While gentrification solutions usually lie within the jurisdiction of the city's local government (providing affordable housing and education, rent control, ensuring historic preservation, providing relocation benefits to those who are displaced, working to avoid displacement but still allow new businesses to prosper, etc.) there are things consumers can do - other than participate in protests against gentrification (which is still a great idea).

First, you can be informed and aware of what happens to a city that is being gentrified. This is actually the most important part to combating gentrification. Being socially aware of the surrounding environment allows you to think about how you as a consumer are contributing to the city's economy, which also includes its socio-political environment as well.

Being informed and aware, however, is only the first step. In order to actually put the information to good use, you as a consumer can support the long-standing, small businesses in these gentrified cities to help prevent displacement. Gentrification is such a hard issue to combat partly because the power lies in the hands of the consumer. Consumers have the choice to give their money to the new businesses, the older, small businesses, or both. While it is okay to give your business to newer stores, it's important to make an informed decision because in someway or another your business will affect the overall economy of the city. It's also important to keep in mind that these newer businesses are specifically catered to the newer, wealthier residents that can afford a $7 coffee, and don't consider the poorer residents to be a part of their target demographic. Nonetheless, the choice is always up to the consumer but it's important to be aware of whether or not you as a consumer may or may not be contributing to and accelerating the gentrification process of a city.