Submitted by halfway_prince in AskRaddle
u/Kinshavo's post reminded me that this is something that's been nagging at me for a while. Like most folks, I find that post objectively funny but I keep thinking there's something about the way we talk about gentrification that does obfuscate any productive dialogue about how to minimize the impact of gentrification.
Like most young folks moving to Western cities can be accused of gentrification of some kind, but in the U.S. in particular it seems like the word is thrown around rampantly and has almost lost any meaning when describing individual actions or is used as a critique of individuals. Like I know what on the system scale gentrification is (something something displacement of original residents through rent and other cost of living increases), but what do people mean when they say, "hey these folks are gentrifiers!" To be honest, I've never really seen a conversation get past this, mostly because people acknowledge to a certain extent they are part of the system level process of gentrification. What i see lacking from any conversation is a clear description of how NOT to gentrify, but to still move to an area where you can have a job and afford rent.
Obviously there's the uber basic shit like don't shop at whole foods, don't buy expensive coffee from the shop that just opened up and like get to know your neighbors etc.
But like, has anyone actually figured out how to do that? Any resources on best practices?
lettuceLeafer wrote
I'd say if you move to a poor area and rent an apartment you are inherently gentrifying. A bug part of gentrifying is making property value go up. By moving to an area and buying stuff you inherently gentrify.
I don't think it's really possible to not gentrify if you move to an area to live a normie lifestyle of renting, and having a middle class job.
To not gentrify is to move to areas like suburbs or already rich areas or live a life that makes property value go down. Homeless, drug dealer ect.