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Overall I agree with this article, but I don’t like how it frames gentrification as a individual issue that can be fixed by simply choosing to live elsewhere.
Gentrification is a symptom of population and job growth outpacing the housing stock - there simply not enough homes. https://twitter.com/leahfessler/status/1336749052550131714
Gentrification is a symptom of population and job growth outpacing the housing stock - there simply not enough homes. https://twitter.com/leahfessler/status/1336749052550131714
And before people get into my mentions about that unoccupied housing stat - I know. However unlike most commodities housing is defined by the land it sits on.
All land isn’t created equally. Urban land =\\= suburban land =\\= rural land in terms of opportunities, mobility, etc
All land isn’t created equally. Urban land =\\= suburban land =\\= rural land in terms of opportunities, mobility, etc
As a result, land characterizes all aspects of a person’s life, so when one chooses a home, they’re doing more than that - they’re choosing a life path.
Over the recent decade, job growth have been located in or around cities, particularly jobs requiring degrees. With jobs and opportunities, come people - this is an immutable fact, even post-COVID.
However, housing stock has stayed flat since the 20th century - driving up prices.
This is due to local and state governments acting in the interests of rich property owners and not the general population. @IDoTheThinking has great thoughts on this on @bufordsharkley’s podcast
This is due to local and state governments acting in the interests of rich property owners and not the general population. @IDoTheThinking has great thoughts on this on @bufordsharkley’s podcast
On the podcast, Darrell talks about how de-zoning in Berkeley in the 70s (spearheaded by progressives) artificially made the area extremely expensive and how that affects Bay Area housing politics today.
The main point is that gentrification is deeper than a bunch of college educated hipsters living in a working class neighborhood. It’s because their property owning parents have effectively shut them out housing in affluent areas via NIMBYism.
NIMBYism in affluent urban areas place the burden of population growth disproportionately on working class areas of color. Because residents in those areas are more often renters, they are easier to displace than their affluent counterparts. This goes up when supply <<<< demand.
This is why mainstream anti-gentrification tactics that ignore land politics are performative, at best and at worst, create more gentrification. Ultimately, these tactics don’t increase housing supply, just kicks the can down the road.
So what is actually effective? Anything that increases the housing stock including:
- Up-zoning wealthier areas
- Increasing # of units per square mile in urban areas
- Abolish wasteful zoning regs like parking minimums
- More affordable housing being built in the short term
- Up-zoning wealthier areas
- Increasing # of units per square mile in urban areas
- Abolish wasteful zoning regs like parking minimums
- More affordable housing being built in the short term
- Allowing ADUs
To conclude, gentrification happens because your government sold you and other renters out to line the pockets of property owners, car companies, and oil companies. Focusing on individual fixes alone won’t make housing affordable for everyone. Fin.