Environmental gentrification
Environmental gentrification is the process by which efforts to improve urban environments, such as enhancing green spaces or reducing pollution, increase property values and living costs, often displacing lower-income residents and attracting wealthier populations.
[8] The introduction of green spaces in urban areas has historically led to increases in property values, which can displace long-term residents.
[9] Environmental gentrification is commonly understood as the process in which urban green space improvements lead to the displacement of lower-income communities, although the exact definition remains a topic of debate.
[15][16] As the process progresses, low-income residents are pushed out or to the outskirts of the neighborhood as real-estate and rent prices are increased due to demand.
[20] Criticism arises on how well urban sustainability efforts promote social equity, as many development projects do not account for the impact that economic growth has on the existing community.
[21] The social equity aspect of sustainability focuses on enabling local communities to participate in decision-making processes and benefit from development projects.
The redevelopment of brownfield sites, including post-industrial areas and abandoned lots, has become a key element of large-scale urban greening projects.
These sites, which are often located near downtown areas or waterfronts, typically require environmental remediation and are supported by economic incentives from various governmental bodies.
The study of urban environments can reveal patterns of spatial inequality, such as the observed negative correlation between the provision of green spaces and the presence of African-American and Hispanic populations in the United States.
The areas that are redeveloped with the intent of adding more environmentally friendly parks and greenspaces, are generally selected because the neglected property that can be purchased for a lower cost.
[29] As neighborhoods are cleaned up through Superfund cleanup programs, there are noticeable changes that have the tendency to follow, such as an increased number of people that move to the area, with more financial resources and higher levels of education.
[29] As people with more financial resources move in, the previous residents are slowly pushed out as the costs of living become less affordable in comparison to before the development and gentrification of the area.
[30] As neighborhoods gain more of a white population, there are increased instances of citizen-based policing of the youth, such as not only profiling, but also the baseless calling of law enforcement, disproportionately targeting people of color.
Studies have shown green spaces in urban areas to have an effect on climate and health risks by lowering local temperature and improving air quality.
[35] First and foremost, as Barcelona was awarded the 1992 Olympic Games, the city prepared for the event through numerous urban developments which influenced a transformation of public spaces.
[39] Diagonal Mar project provides an example of the green initiatives being coupled with large-scale urban redevelopment on a previous brownfield site.
The Diagonal Mar project includes luxury condominiums, three hotels, three office buildings, a shopping mall nested within an urban green space.
[42] At around the same time, Joshua David and Robert Hammond formed a non-profit they called Friends of the High Line with the main goal of to acquiring public and private funds to save the bridge from demolition.
[43] Friends of the High Line presented a redevelopment strategy to the Bloomberg administration, suggesting that the bridge could be converted into a public park, arguing that this would provide economic benefits to the surrounding neighborhood and generate substantial tax revenues.
It allows us to implement our plans to preserve this valuable historic resource, create a much needed public open space and strengthen our city's economy.
"[45] Evidence that this project has ignited gentrification can be observed through the soaring real estate prices as well as types of activities that are being attracted to the High Line and its surrounding areas.
Concurrently in 2007, the Bloomberg administration released the PlaNYC 2030: A Greater, Greener New York which aimed to combat climate change through expanding sustainability measured with 132 initiatives.
[47] After the Expo, the site was acquired by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing for $320 million and a numerous residential luxury developments followed suite.
[51][54] Although Vancouver is a highly desirable place to live, the promotion of sustainability through policies ignores provision of much needed affordable housing allocations.
