Outline

Introduction

Why gentrification is an important issue for low income communities

Issues both economic and health that apply to low income communities as it relates to gentrification

Economic Impacts of Gentrification

How rates of return impact investment and housing prices

How low interest rates further exacerbate the gentrification process

Summary of economic impacts of gentrification on low-income families

Health Impact of Gentrification

Anxiety and Depression

Conclusion

Of late, the topic of gentrification has become a polarizing and contentious issue with the urban development community. Here, professional recognize the need to further help foster wealth and higher incomes with low-income communities, but on conflicted in the manner in which to do so. Recent evidence from Green Gentrification and 21st Century Civic Infrastructure suggest that gentrification can actually harm low income communities due to rising home valuations and displacement of low-income communities. Those individuals who are displaced due to gentrification, studies have shown, can develop psychological trauma as the support network for many people of color diminishes over time (Rigolon, 2019). Likewise, as indicated by Green Gentrification locations of parks and the recent adoption of higher environment standards also posses a risk to low-income families. Here again, parks, amenities and other environmental conscious investments tend to increase housing prices and lower affordability. This is compounded by low housing availability in certain high demand locations such as Atlanta or New York City. Urban planners, community organizations and policymakers are all confronted with a difficult challenge. As the evidence mounts that environmental amenities can foster environmental gentrification, how can we continue to provide them without displacing the very people they are intended to benefit? This essay focuses particularly on the New York Highlines and Chicagos 606. The studies related to green gentrification and its impact on neighboring communities is particularly pertinent these two projects namely due to their heavy emphasis on parks. Both infrastructures provide a strong case student for the impact of gentrification on low income families due primarily to overall variety and magnitude of the gentrification efforts relative to other much smaller projects in the United States. To properly ascertain the impact of these two infrastructure projects, we will be evaluating both on the basis of both economic well-being and health. The object is to better pinpoint the causes of displacement while also offering potential remedies that can benefit all stakeholder in a manner suitable to urban planners (Banks, 1958)

To begin, from economic perspective gentrification has been found to displace those with lower incomes in many prominent communities around the world (Ellen, 2016). The effects of gentrification are not unique to the United States are often bound by economic rules and laws. For one, investments, particularly those in infrastructure, require an adequate return in order to justify initiating the project. For example, with The High Line, is a 1.45-mile-long park and rail trail on the west of Manhattan in New York City. Prior to its construction, the high line was primarily a large array of abandoned rail road tracks. In order to generate the capital needed to create The High Line, a $152 million dollar investment was required. This investment was funded by $112 million from the city , $20 million from the federal government, and $400,000 from the state. These funds were ultimately generated through bond issuances in which entity borrowed money from investors with a promised to pay the funds back at a latter date. The weight average duration of the bonds were 10 years and the average interest rate was 4%. In order to justify this investment, the city, state and local governments must obtain a return comparable or...

…of ER visits or hospitalizations and proportions of children who went to at least one well visit. Children starting out in areas that gentrified had a 22 percent higher prevalence rate than did children who started off in low-SES areas that did not gentrify according to the study (Lim, 2017). The primary catalyst according to the research is related to culture. As gentrification forces minority and lower-incomes communities out, much of the culture leaves with it. Aspects such customs, rituals, observance of holidays, community gatherings, and more are often lost during the gentrification process. As a result, children often lose a sense of culture and belonging. This becomes particularly acute given the racial tensions prevailing in the United States today. Many minorities including African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Latin-Americans have all recently be subject to had crimes on behalf of the white community. Historically, the white community typically purchases land and homes during the gentrification process. These racial tensions could ultimately exacerbate stress and anxiety levels as indicated in the study. For one, the protection of the community is diminished. Second, culture understanding related to customers, behaviors and beliefs appear to be low. As a result, many low-income families and communities may be fearful living in gentrified community where a large percentage of their community has left due to higher prices.

In conclusion, gentrification has had severe negative consequences of lower-income communities within the New York and Chicago areas. For one, rising housing prices and ower affordability have crippled low income communities as it relates to affording a home. As a result, they are forced to relocate to cheaper areas, leaving their culture and their legacies behind. Those that remain often deal with anxiety and depression as communities are torn apart. In additional racial tensions in the country have a disproportionate impact on children…