ook Review: The Great Inversion and the Future of the American City

Through a multitude of significant changes physically, conceptually, economically, and more, the societal reformation of cities in the Progressive Era had set themselves as the foundations of American civilization. The juxtaposition between the rich and poor statuses in these urban areas show the drastic separation within developing cities. Through this division caused a wide variety of living conditions, the majority of which held the overcrowded sections of cities where the population mostly stayed while the higher end communities had more luxurious lives. Through this success of entrepreneurship and economic growth from all aspects in cities, the entire landscape, both physically through innovative architecture and the perspectives outside rural and suburban areas had on them, had transformed for the better in these areas.

For those only weakly committed to city living, particularly middle-class people who have serious difficulty with social diversity and who have clear housing alternatives, the "problem-free" suburbs become tempting. After an incident such as a car break-in or a bicycle theft, a "last straw" can make them leave. (249)

There has been a recent phenomenon throughout the United States of gentrification. As older parts of neighborhoods are occupied by new tenants with money, the neighborhood changes and loses its old character. Those who might have lived in those neighborhoods their entire lives are pushed out as rents begin to skyrocket and the surroundings begin to change. This has happened in many neighborhoods. One of the most well known is San Francisco, where technology companies have brought in new software engineers that have caused local rents to skyrocket and people to move out of the area. However, just as importantly has been the influx of new money to Brooklyn, where local neighborhood changes have forced people from their homes, traditional music to be replaced, and old businesses to go bankrupt.

Over the years, gentrification has been given many definitions from simply referring to, “…instances of new arrivals who were buying and bidding up old housing stock”, (Sanneh, 2016) to, “…disinvested areas of the city that are now experiencing rapid and significant increases in land and real estate values” (Jennings, Terrell, Douglas, Barnett & Harding, 2016, pg. 9) and many more. As noted previously gentrification is occurring throughout the world and the Midwest is not immune. The process of gentrification tends to go like so: visitors stumble upon a disinvested area that they take an interest in. Whether because the rent is cheap or the area is vibrant, they fall in love and decide to pack up their home and relocate. This scenario, from one point of view, can be seen as a story of a person deciding to broaden their horizon and see what other parts of the world has to offer. While the other point of view may see this as a possible financial burden, a cause for the major changes in the place they call their home and the likelihood of displacement.

Before diving into the relevant action steps, it is important to understand the history that led to this crisis. Thompson (2010), states that after World War II, cities were highly valued and popular until conflict, poverty, and distress led to the demise of these cities; thus increasing the value of suburban

During the past few years, gentrification has been on an uprise.“Nearly 20 percent of neighborhoods with lower incomes and home values have experienced gentrification since 2000, compared to only 9 percent during the 1990s.” Gentrification is happening in areas that supposedly need a change, such as the low-income neighborhoods in New York City, Minneapolis, Seattle and Washington, D.C.Factors such as uniqueness, accessibility, the energy of the neighborhood and reasonably priced homes attract gentrifiers. It has altered many cities in the country. Gentrification can be defined as the procedure of reestablishment and remaking due to the flood of prosperous individuals into falling apart and low-income areas that frequently displaces poorer

Throughout David Hulchanski’s article, titled “The Three Cities Within Toronto,” he divides Toronto into three cities by classifying neighbourhoods according to individual income. He describes the city as dynamic, as neighbourhoods have changed through the years between the different classes. A major factor that causes this change is gentrification, where low-income neighbourhoods are renovated, which results in replacing the low-income residents with wealthier individuals. In contrast, the population of low income neighbourhoods has also increased as the population of middle-income neighbourhoods have decreased. As a result of these changes, Toronto is increasing the number of high-income neighbourhoods and low-income neighbourhoods, phasing out the middle class. Hulchanski accurately describes polarization through the process of gentrification and by creating more cost friendly neighbourhoods for families throughout Toronto.

The young professionals or the college graduates are now back and cant afford to pay rent. Why because rent is increasing and the prices of co-ops and the brownstones continue to go up. Gentrification is now the new black as people and it’s now seen in almost every neighborhood in New York City. The bodegas and corner stores are now chic restaurants, bookstores, and gourmet shops are now all over town and booming. If more individuals restore several components within an area, then the process of gentrification will become more mutual in nature. However, the same process also banished many people from the vigorous working class communities. Gentrification was met with violent conflict from New York residents. Some were not happy with the new changes and wanted their old neighborhoods. But the young professionals were happy that their were changes in their neighborhood. There was a potential to raise a family of their own.

The people who are getting moved out are low income families that can only afford so much. This fact makes it harder for them to compete with the rise in rent and mortgages. A study done in Pennsylvania finds that, “...this is a hugely important contribution- that gentrification ultimately hits hardest at the least advantaged and most economically vulnerable.” Gentrification occurs where people are less likely to stay in their homes after the values of the land and property increase. Allowing more businesses to pop up and crowding more people around until older residents move out and substantial ones move in. The more substantial

Is it a coincidence certain areas only consist of black civilians or white civilians? The articles “The City as a Growth Machine by Logan and Molotch, Minoritized Space by Michel Laguerre and The Construction of the Ghetto by Massey and Denton demonstrate segregation between racial backgrounds are divided into into specific neighborhoods that contributes as a benefit towards whites. I will be arguing how the theory of Karl Marx on estranged labor is related into these article but also Angela Harris theory on Critical racial theory contributes, clarifies and supports the author 's reasons on why segregation still exists among communities. I will be connecting argument by adding evidence to support my argument with Karl Marx and Angela Harris theory within the articles.

Due to economic security, the baby boom, and the "American Dream" suburbs grew in the 1950's. Our economy was the largest in the world at the time and we were becoming a largely consumerism based country. We even had enough money that the government helped pay half the loans of American Veterans through the GI Bill of Rights. That security was sure, the government would not offer to pay back so much money if they thought it would be necessary for every person (Doc 1). Home ownership rates went up by over 10% the first 10 years after WW2 (Doc 4). This was caused by a great rush of babies being born also known as the baby boom. These many children needed space to live, and suddenly, suburbs are born! With the money needed families could take

It started with the partial integration of these “elite” groups into lower-income class neighborhoods that lived in the inner city. The integration of these higher income class people that were attracted to live in these urban clusters, triggered the shift of the local communities’ social structure. The end result was the constant rise of the prices that affected the people’s rents and the commercial services in the area which forced the original residence to leave their own homes.

Historically, many of the suburban towns and neighborhoods around the major U.S. cities served as homes to poor and minority residents, offering cheaper living spaces due to the marginalized and inconvenient geographical locations with several negative reputations. Yet, given the big cities’ overcrowded environment and expensive living cost, these suburban areas are now popular destinations for people who seek for a less-crowded and affordable neighborhood to dwell. According to statistics by Kolko (2016), in 2015, the population of overall U.S. suburban neighborhoods increased by 159 million people, while only the total of less than 80 million

As the city 's center becomes older and less desirable, the value goes down. This then attracts people who want to be centrally located, and now in the 21st century people tend to believe that the suburbs have less “character” and that most cities are considered to be “edgy” and “urban”, which is another reason as to why young, wealthy, white workers want to be located in the inner-city. Our pop culture is heavily influenced by black culture, so young people want to live where it’s hip, as well as reasonable.

Corporations are taking over the urban landscape. In previous years, many upper and middle class families fled to the suburbs to escape the everyday hustle of city life. However, in recent years, city living has become glamorized and thus the movement back into the city has increased. Once blighted inner-city neighborhoods are being taken over and revitalized by corporate leaders in hopes to redesign and yuppify these areas. As more money is put into the area, the higher the market value goes up and as a result, many local residents can no longer afford to live there. While these residents are pushed out, a more ‘desirable’ group of residents move in and thus, take over. This process, known as gentrification, is occurring in many cities all across the nation. In the past, displaced residents could possibly move to another area that was not undergoing this process. However, as we are seeing in Chicago, it is nearing impossibility to move to an area within the city that will not