Last updated on May 22, 2024

How do you address the concerns of communities affected by gentrification?

Gentrification can significantly transform neighborhoods, often bringing in new businesses and higher property values. However, it can also displace long-time residents and alter the cultural fabric of a community. As you navigate the complexities of urban renewal, understanding and addressing the concerns of those affected is crucial. It involves a delicate balance of economic development and social equity, ensuring that the benefits of revitalization are shared by all members of the community.

1 Engage Early

Engagement with the community at the earliest stages of development is key. You want to ensure that residents have a voice in the changes that will affect their neighborhood. This means setting up meetings, forums, and workshops where community members can express their concerns and desires for the future. It's important to create a platform where all voices are heard, and to genuinely consider the input when planning developments. This collaborative approach can help to build trust and create a shared vision for the neighborhood's future.

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Davante Mallard

Driving Success from Concept to Completion: Expert Realtor & MPM Master Project Manager Transforming Concepts into Urban Reality | Remote Construction Project Management Specialist
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Early and continuous engagement with the community is essential for successfully addressing gentrification concerns. By involving residents from the beginning, developers can ensure that projects are more responsive to community needs, build trust, and foster a sense of shared ownership. This collaborative approach not only mitigates the negative impacts of gentrification but also creates more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant communities.

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2 Policy Tools

Utilize policy tools effectively to mitigate negative impacts on vulnerable populations. This includes enacting inclusionary zoning laws that require a certain percentage of new housing to be affordable for low- and moderate-income households. Additionally, offering tax incentives for developers who include affordable units or preserve cultural landmarks can also be beneficial. These policy instruments help ensure that gentrification doesn't lead to displacement and that the neighborhood's economic gains are accessible to existing residents.

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3 Support Locals

Supporting local businesses is essential to maintain the unique character of a neighborhood undergoing gentrification. This can involve providing grants or low-interest loans to small business owners, especially those belonging to historically marginalized groups. By doing so, you help these businesses compete with newer, often larger companies moving into the area. It's also important to foster local entrepreneurship through business development programs that can provide training and resources to residents.

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4 Affordable Housing

Ensuring the availability of affordable housing is a cornerstone in addressing gentrification concerns. Strategies like preserving existing affordable units, building new ones, and providing rental assistance can prevent displacement. It's also beneficial to support housing cooperatives and community land trusts, which give residents more control over their housing and keep prices stable. By prioritizing affordable housing, you help maintain diversity and allow long-time residents to remain in their communities.

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Nadine Bitar Chahine

MENA Leader in Urban Development|40+ MENA Cities & Urban Communities |International Speaker| Visionary on MENA Urban Affairs |Champion Sustainable Cities| Women Leadership in Urban Development
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Zonning is a great tool to ensure afforability of housing in communities threatened by gentrification. The second way that zoning can improve housing affordability is through inclusionary zoning. When developers pursue high-density buildings, the cost savings do not always get transferred to the consumers, especially when the housing supply is tight. That’s where inclusionary zoning can be an When developers pursue high-density buildings, the cost savings do not always get transferred to consumers.Inclusionary zoning programs tie affordable housing development to the market-rate housing development by incentivizing or requiring specific percentages of units in new developments to be affordable for households with certain income ranges.

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Davante Mallard

Driving Success from Concept to Completion: Expert Realtor & MPM Master Project Manager Transforming Concepts into Urban Reality | Remote Construction Project Management Specialist
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Utilize Community Land Trusts (CLTs): Land Ownership Model: Establish CLTs to separate land ownership from housing ownership. This model helps keep housing prices stable and affordable by removing land speculation from the equation. Permanent Affordability: Ensure that housing within a CLT remains affordable in perpetuity, benefiting future generations of low- and moderate-income residents. Addressing gentrification through affordable housing requires a multifaceted approach that combines preservation, creation, community involvement, and policy advocacy. By implementing these strategies, communities can protect existing residents, ensure long-term affordability, and foster inclusive and sustainable neighborhoods.

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5 Cultural Preservation

Cultural preservation is vital in maintaining the identity of a neighborhood. This involves protecting spaces that hold cultural significance, such as community centers, local landmarks, and public art. Encouraging new developments to incorporate elements reflective of the community's heritage can also be effective. By preserving cultural assets, you acknowledge and respect the history and traditions that make a neighborhood unique, while still allowing for progress and change.

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6 Sustainable Growth

Promoting sustainable growth ensures that gentrification benefits are long-term and equitable. This includes planning for mixed-use developments that offer both residential and commercial spaces, creating walkable neighborhoods, and improving public transportation. These strategies help reduce the risk of creating exclusive enclaves and instead foster inclusive communities where residents of all income levels can thrive. Sustainable growth looks to the future, prioritizing environmental health and social well-being alongside economic development.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Davante Mallard

Driving Success from Concept to Completion: Expert Realtor & MPM Master Project Manager Transforming Concepts into Urban Reality | Remote Construction Project Management Specialist
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Crowdfunding: Utilize crowdfunding platforms to raise funds for affordable housing projects. This approach can engage a broader community, including those who may not live in the area but are passionate about the cause. Modular Construction: Leverage modular construction techniques to reduce costs, speed up project timelines, and maintain high-quality standards. Modular homes can be built off-site and assembled quickly, minimizing disruption to existing communities. By incorporating innovative funding mechanisms, technological advancements, cultural preservation, and long-term support, we can create vibrant, resilient communities that benefit all residents.

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John Zakian, CEcD

Federal Grant and Long Term Disaster Recovery Subject Matter Expert Focused on Economic, Housing and Infrastructure Strategic planning and Development
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Gentrification is one of those popular buzzwords which seems to carry many meanings most of which are not helpful or relevant to long term beneficial planning efforts. Indeed, often times it becomes a political hammer pursuing targeted agenda which do not address neighborhood changes or new investment in areas. Regardless, planning can and should be the driving force to counter misuse of the term as well as to help manage growth within a community to the benefit of everyone. The key is not to react but rather be proactive by initiating plans which take into account the types of new development and rehabilitation which will occur and promote uses such as mixed income that mitigate against gentrification.

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How do you address the concerns of communities affected by gentrification?

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Engage Early

2 Policy Tools

3 Support Locals

4 Affordable Housing

5 Cultural Preservation

6 Sustainable Growth

7 Here’s what else to consider

Urban Planning

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How do you address the concerns of communities affected by gentrification?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Engage Early

2 Policy Tools

3 Support Locals

4 Affordable Housing

5 Cultural Preservation

6 Sustainable Growth

7 Here’s what else to consider

Urban Planning

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