Environmental gentrification
Environmental gentrification, also referred to as green or ecological gentrification, is a phenomenon where the introduction of green policies and infrastructure in urban neighborhoods leads to rising property values, often resulting in the displacement of long-time residents. This process is intertwined with the broader concept of gentrification, which describes how wealthier individuals move into previously lower-income areas, altering the community's character. While the intentions behind greening efforts—such as creating parks, enhancing air quality, and improving community spaces—are typically positive, they can inadvertently push out vulnerable populations, particularly in communities that have historically faced environmental degradation.
Instances of environmental gentrification can be seen in projects like New York City's High Line and Chicago's 606 trail, where property values surged following these developments, making it difficult for existing residents to afford their homes. Research indicates that neighborhoods that undergo significant green infrastructure investments often experience gentrification within a decade. To address these challenges, experts advocate for community engagement and equitable policies that prioritize affordable housing alongside environmental improvements. By incorporating local input and focusing on sustainable development strategies, cities can aim to enhance urban environments while minimizing displacement and supporting existing residents.
Environmental gentrification
Environmental gentrification, also known as ecological or green gentrification, is when the implementation of green policies or infrastructure in urban neighborhoods results in increased property values, thereby displacing residents who can no longer afford to live there. These residents are often replaced by wealthier people and businesses who capitalize on higher property values. Environmental gentrification is an extension of gentrification, a term coined in the 1960s to describe the changing character of urban neighborhoods.
While greening up a neighborhood can have negative impacts on long-time residents, experts say these projects should not be abandoned completely. Instead, they suggest working alongside community members, pushing for affordable housing projects, and implementing smaller-scale greening initiatives that will not affect property values.
Background
The word gentrification was coined in the 1960s by London-based sociologist and city planner Ruth Glass. She used it to describe the displacement of poor people in London by upper-class citizens who moved into refurbished houses in neighborhoods previously inhabited by the city’s working class. The term soon found its way into the vernacular of other English-speaking cities across the globe. Gentrification persists in modern times. While causes may differ from city to city, it results in working people being pushed out of their neighborhoods when they become unable to afford living there. This changes the character of the community.
The United States has seen an increase in gentrification over the years. One contributing factor to this rise is the outsourcing of industrial production abroad. This results in companies downsizing their US-based workforces or closing entirely, leaving people without jobs. Factories and warehouses are left empty, leaving large swaths of industrial land empty. Banks and developers seek to redevelop these former industrial areas and pull in higher paying tenants to the neighborhoods.
Topic Today
Environmental gentrification (also known as green or ecological gentrification) is the process of increasing green—or natural—organizational and physical structures (known as green infrastructure) in urban neighborhoods. This process often increases property values and pushes lower-income residents out of these areas.
Environmental gentrification arose from a movement to increase sustainability efforts in cities. Some green infrastructure examples include planting trees to promote cleaner air, planting large plots of grass to serve as a community space, cleaning up streams, and planting community gardens. While the intentions are often good, these shifts can have both positive and negative consequences. Access to green space is in high demand, so neighborhoods that have benefitted from green infrastructure projects also see increases in rent. This can push residents out of their neighborhoods. Barcelona-based researcher Isabelle Anguelovski found that European and US cities that experienced green infrastructure investment were gentrified within a decade. In about half of the cities she studied, the gentrification was caused entirely by greening.
Environmental gentrification projects typically focus on communities that have previously suffered environmental degradation through decades of exposure to soil, water, or air pollutants. Generally, these communities are mainly low-income, Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. One example of environmental gentrification is New York City’s High Line Park, which was once a railroad but has become one of the city’s most popular parks. The improvement has caused housing values in the area to go up by 35 percent. Establishment of the park spurred the development of boutique hotels and million-dollar condos in the area. In another example, the construction of Chicago’s 606 multi-use trail, finished in 2015, dramatically increased property prices in the area. Many longtime residents had to move when rents increased. Similarly, a citywide campaign to add green space in Barcelona’s Old Town increased housing costs there. Geoffrey Donovan, a researcher with the US Forest Service in Portland, Oregon, found that for every percentage point increase in tree canopy cover in an urban neighborhood, home sale prices went up by $882. The increase in sale prices was not immediate, but instead emerged about six years after new trees were planted. The authors of the research paper concluded that tree planting alone was not a major driver of gentrification but might be associated with other improvements. They also noted that planting trees offers benefits to residents of minority and low-income neighborhoods, such as absorption of air pollution.
Despite the many challenges, most experts agree that greening initiatives should still be pursued. In the face of climate change, cities need more trees, shade, parks, and transportation options—80 percent of cities reported they faced significant hazards in 2022, with 46 percent citing extreme heat.
Solutions
Traditional models delegate policymaking and urban development to government authorities. Experts say green initiatives should be paired with policies that focus on equity, discourage speculation, and maintain or add affordable housing. For example, the Environmental Law Institute helps to introduce greener infrastructure into communities without pricing residents out of their own neighborhoods. The organization’s Blight Revitalization Initiative for Green, Healthy Towns (BRIGHT) focuses on community collaboration and desires. The Whitesburg community in Kentucky utilized the BRIGHT framework to develop the Whitesburg Corridor Project. This initiative revitalized the North Fork Kentucky Riverfront and Downtown Whitesburg. As part of the process, it sought input from local organizations and leaders. Other cities, like San Francisco, California, have worked to incorporate community participation into their redevelopment plans as well. However, in many cases, community input is limited to discussion of parking and bike lanes rather than housing.
Groups in major cities including Chicago, New York, and Boston are working to advance environmental initiatives through an equity lens. This could include pushing for affordable housing agreements as neighborhoods green up. Community advocates are also looking for ways to clean up neighborhoods without displacing residents. Investments focused on environmental improvements as opposed to recreation often do not encourage displacement. For example, establishing oyster beds in rivers and bays naturally helps clean the water, which is a benefit to both the local community and the environment overall, but does not have the impact of building a large park or other greenway.
Bibliography
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Donovan, Geoffrey H., Jeffrey P. Prestemon, David T. Butry, Abigail R. Kaminski, and Vicente J. Monleon. “The Politics of Urban Trees: Tree Planting Is Associated with Gentrification in Portland, Oregon.” Forest Policy and Economics, 2021, DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102387. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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