Understanding gentrification pt. 2

2020-08-21

See yesterday’s post for pt. 1.

And then take a look at these tweets, that went somewhat viral this week.

look at this new monstrosity in my mother’s neighborhood 🤮 pic.twitter.com/mhdLEbCDTl
— John Manuel Arias (@johnmanuelarias) August 17, 2020

If the widespread process of gentrification can be reduced to an architectural style, surely it’s detached houses being renovated to the latest fashion.

Gentrification is often thought of as an exclusionary and unfair process. To the extent that that’s true, neighbourhoods zoned for detached housing only, which will naturally be far more expensive than multifamily, are far more exclusionary and unfair.

We should celebrate dense infill development that provides more housing for more people, and aim our attacks at land use rules that make that impossible in large swathes of our cities.