The back-to-the-city movement: Neighbourhood redevelopment and processes of political and cultural displacement

Abstract

While certain US cities are still depopulating, others have experienced a reversal of aggregate out-migration patterns. Some scholars, politicians and real estate boosters celebrate this urban population influx, as it will likely increase property values and municipal tax bases; however, we know little about the social costs associated with the back-to-the-city movement. This study investigates the consequences of the back-to-the-city movement through a four-year (2009-2012) ethnographic case study of the revitalisation of Washington, DC's Shaw/U Street neighbourhood. The redevelopment of this African-American neighbourhood is associated with the city's 5.2 percent population increase, which occurred between 2000 and 2010. While affordable housing efforts help to keep a portion of long-term, low-income residents in place, political and cultural displacement is occurring as upper-income newcomers flock into this neighbourhood. This article contributes to the urban literature by highlighting that population influx, and associated neighbourhood revitalisation, can have important social implications.

Gentrification and residential mobility in Philadelphia

“… 3 While our study focuses on residential displacement, other studies also find evidence of political and cultural displacement alienating less advantaged residents in gentrifying neighborhoods, as well as broader economic consequences of gentrification (e.g., Hyra, 2014; Lester and Hartley, 2014). …”

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The reurbanisation concept and its utility for contemporary research on post-socialist cities: The case of the Czech Republic

“…On the other hand, it could be argued that inner city re-population might occur without specific policy tools. Changing housing prices in the inner city and changing demands by smaller or new types of households can lead to inner city re-development as theories of gentrification suggests (Hyra, 2015).…”

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