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Full-Text Articles in Law
Two Cheers For Gentrification, J. Peter Byrne
Two Cheers For Gentrification, J. Peter Byrne
Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works
The very word "gentrification" implies distaste. Advocates for the poor and ethnic minorities see affluent whites bidding up the prices for urban housing to levels that force poor families out, depriving them of affordable housing, perhaps rendering them homeless, and changing the character of a neighborhood from one that reflects distinct ethnic and class needs and cultural traditions into a bland emporium for expensive consumer goods. Sometimes historic preservation laws are indicted as particular culprits in setting this dynamic in motion. A result of these perceptions is that the legal literature on gentrification, in general, and historic preservation both reflect …
Rhetoric And Realities Of Gentrification: Reply To Powell And Spencer, J. Peter Byrne
Rhetoric And Realities Of Gentrification: Reply To Powell And Spencer, J. Peter Byrne
Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works
Gentrification represents one of the most encouraging trends in city life since the 1960s. That may be a sad commentary on the fate of American cities or on our urban policies, but it is nevertheless true. The return of affluent people to urban living offers the possibility of reversing declining populations and municipal revenues, permitting enhanced spending on basic services, and increasing employment and educational opportunities. It also brings greater ethnic and economic diversity, which can contribute to a more humane social and cultural life. The great drawback to gentrification is that increased demand for housing increases rents, at least …