Urban Gentrification
Positivism
There are ecological principles in the Positivist theory that state that the most powerful group will obtain the most advantageous position in a given space (Pacione, 2009).
Higher income population and developers are able purchase or rent housing and/or properties throughout the urban area over the working class, displacing them over time
How does this relate to gentrification?
Looking at it this way, the "most advantageous position" is referring to the entire urban area that is becoming more desirable to the higher class due to gentrification taking place
These places that are being bought or newly built by higher income people or developers are often in high desirable places, for example close to stores, workplaces, or areas close to the water, etc.
How does this relate to gentrification?
New developed houses or businesses in these areas further contributes to gentrification in the area, and attracts even more of the creative class and high income population
Individual decisions are made based on the goal of utility maximization, which is the aim of minimizing costs and maximizing benefits (Pacione, 2009).
Through positivism, the concept of distance decay was introduced. The main point of distance decay is that the greater distance between points in an urban area, the less interaction there is between those points (Pacione, 2009).
High income residents move into homes with low rent and restore and renovate them to their potential ground rent to make a profit. Similarly, developers will purchase cheap property or housing and sell for a higher price to make a profit.
By renovating these houses and selling at a higher price, the only people who can afford to live in these houses are the higher income class, forcing the working class to look for housing elsewhere
By renovating and adding new, expensive housing to the urban area, the rent throughout the urban area will inflate. This will result in the working class that is currently living in the urban area to be forced to move out, because they can no longer afford the rent
Results in the original population and sense of community in the urban area to be lost in the process of gentrification
How does this relate to gentrification?
The businesses that come to the urban area being gentrified often sell over-priced items to maximize their profit on a population that are able and willing to pay high prices
How does this relate to gentrification?
Or the businesses come to this urban area in the first place due to the cheap rent and property cost, allowing them to make a large profit in their business because they did not have a large financial setback at the beginning from buying or renting in an expensive urban area.
It is beneficial for the businesses in the gentrified urban area to have their customers or employees in close proximity to increase revenue and profit through more frequent interaction
Can result in a higher density of housing in the urban area, like high rise condominiums
How does this relate to gentrification?
Causes more high income employees for these businesses to move into the urban area, further developing the gentrification in the area
Sources: Pacione, Michale 2009. Urban Geography: A Global Perspective
Structuralism
Each society should based on a mode of production (Pacione, 2009)
for example: Capitalism (Feudalism)
How it relate to the urban gentrification
Capitalists regard it as a chance to accumulate wealth and develop and expand the city
One of the characteristics of urban gentrification is the upgrading of the community
rebuilding the streets and houses to rapidly develop the neighbourhood into a higher value
Repairing roads to make the connection to various places become more convenient improving the atmosphere and environment of the entire community, and upgrading the previously small bungalows to upscale and gorgeous villa residential area
Capitalists purchase land assets at low prices, and then carry out a lot of investment and reconstruction
with the increase in land value, there are enough reasons to collect more rent and other expenses
there would be enough assets for the next investment. It is through this continuous reinvestment that capital has been accumulated step by step.
Cause debt burden to low-income people who originally lived here, affect or change their lives
after the upgraded, the value of the land will instantly double, and the entire community can rise into a totally different level
with the advanced living standards and conveniences can attract many high-income elites to consume and live here
to rapidly develop and upgrade the suburbs, earning as much profits as they can
for the people who originally lived in these suburbs
the initial reason why they don't live in the central business district is because of the unaffordable rent and consumption level
increasing rent after the urban gentrification makes them compelled to move away, or even nowhere to go
Explains how every individual has their own truth and right to equality
Post modernism
explains gentrification by looking at how change has come about a group of individuals who share the same beliefs, opinions, and way of life
Qualities that take shape in the surrounding demographic are those of the upper class (drivers of gentrification)
Can lead to isolation in the community
inhabitants moving to a different area
Can lead to tension in the community
possible instances of crime
individualism
People have their own differences
no absolute truth
"class, marital status, sexuality, race, age" (Pacione, 2009, p. 28)
more diversity
post modern thinking began evolving in urban geography starting in the late 1980s to 1990s
(Pacione, 2009)
Due to redeveloped land in communities, the land in the area increases in value, being more expensive to live in (Jonas et al., 2015)
The fusion of culture & capital sets the stage for gentrification
the demographic and lifestyle of individuals are changed and
require different necessities
Woman in the workplace and LGBTQ rights
different ways of thinking and earning money
developing already existing land and reselling it
causes gentrification
Rejects grand theory
Post colonialism
Gentrification causes a basis for homelessness and marginalization of low income groups and indigenous peoples
Gentrification led to plundering of indigenous land and exploitation of the working class
Causing criminal behaviour
Rent increase in an area due to gentrification leads to community disputes
These disputes are among low income people who cannot afford their rent
Can take the form of graffiti, violent protests, etc.