GentrificationIntroductionStarting in the 1960s, middle- and upper-class populations began to leave the suburbs and return to urban areas. Initially, this revitalization of urban areas was "treated as a return-to-the-city movement of suburbanites, but recent research has shown that it is a much more complex phenomenon" (Schwirian 96). This phenomenon was named “gentrification” by researcher Ruth Glass in 1964 to describe the residential movement of middle-class people into low-income areas of London (Zukin 131). More specifically, gentrification is the renovation of previously poor urban housing, usually condominiums, aimed at upper- and middle-class professionals. Since the 1960s, gentrification has emerged in major cities like Washington DC, San Francisco and New York. This trend among young, white, upper-middle-class professionals returning to the city has sparked much controversy (Schwirian 96). The arguments for and against gentrification will be examined in this article. Gentrification does not follow traditional urban growth theory, which predicts “the decline of city centers as the wealthy classes move to the metropolitan periphery.” The traditional economic model of real estate states that wealthy people can choose their housing from the entire urban market (Schwirian 96). Once these people decide to live in the suburbs, the lower social classes move into the former homes of the upper classes, thus passing housing down the socioeconomic ladder. Gentrification is actually a reversal of this process. For various reasons, many inner-city neighborhoods are becoming increasingly attractive to the wealthy, and the wealthy are choosing to live in these neighborhoods (Schwirian 96). The problem is that now, when the rich take over poor houses and renovate them, the poor can no longer afford the homes they abandoned. Many researchers question whether gentrification has actually created problems in cities. I will analyze the arguments for and against gentrification by exploring the topic from both sides. Why is the city so attractive? Many researchers have theorized why the wealthy desire to return to the city. Schwirian believes that many wealthy people are attracted to the architectural design of some of these old houses located in urban areas (Schwirian 96). Harvey believes in a number of theories, and ...... middle of paper ...... rejects them one at a time and helps individual households facing eviction. Resources must be divided between short-term and long-term actions. Finally, anti-gentrification advocates should develop a comprehensive approach to slowing gentrification. “A combination of resettlement assistance, homeownership programs, affordable housing development, land use planning, community organizing and small business support must be put in place to combat the gentrification on all fronts? (Alexandrinus 47). These are just a few recommendations to help save those negatively affected by gentrification. Works Cited: Alejandrino, Simon V. Gentrification in the Mission District of San Francisco: Indicators and Policy Recommendations. University of California, Berkeley, 2000. Harvey, Todd et al. Gentrification and West Oakland: Causes, Effects, and Best Practices 1999. November 22, 2003. Schwirian, Kent P. “Patterns of Neighborhood Change.” Annual review of sociology 13(1987): 129-147.