October 21, 2011 | 9:00 AM | By

Is Gentrification Always Bad?

Gentrification is not only good for communities, but necessary for cities to thrive, Kaid Benfield argues in a post on The Atlantic Cities. But, as he cautions, steps need to be taken to ensure income diversity. “The challenge” with gentrification, Benfield writes, “is to have enough without having too much.”


Fashioning the more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable cities of the future will require more, not less, revitalization and more, not fewer, new residents. But it will also require providing high-quality affordable housing in neighborhoods where revitalization is occurring. It will require bringing existing residents to the table early and often in the planning process, but to help shape good neighborhood development, not to prevent it. And, where wounds over gentrification exist, we must take steps to heal them, because divisive rhetoric only hurts everyone involved and, ultimately, the viability of our communities.

— www.theatlanticcities.com