Gentrification and the Social Impacts on Downtown Toronto - Report Example

Gentrification and the Social Impacts on Downtown Toronto Task Since the introduction of the term gentrification in the 1960’s, many researchers have focused on the aspects of the term on urban housing and cultural values in many neighborhoods in Canada. The term gentrification is usually taken to mean the influx of wealthier people into poor communities, perhaps due to the presence of affordable housing and social infrastructure in the poor neighborhoods (Freeman, 2006). Gentrification occurs in a region when rich people of a community decide to acquire property and housing in places usually considered low-income and low-class communities. The term is associated with the aspect of movement from one area to another, mainly from a high-class to a lower-class area of living. The following analysis of the gentrification process will focus on the social aspects of the term by discussing both the positive and negative effects of gentrification on the neighborhoods to which the movement occurs. This analysis is proof that the gentrification process haves both positive and negative social effects on downtown Toronto, and shows that the effects of gentrification process balance out eventually. The Concentric Zone model theory developed by Burgess is an applicable theory to the issue of gentrification, since the theory is an explanation of the urban growth process. According to Bunyi (2010), the concentric zone model theory was developed by Burgess and divides cities into social groups depending on their relative distance from the center of the city. The theory divides cities into circular zones, with the central business district in the innermost zone. For this paper, it is evident that the gentrification process occurs in the third zone of the concentric model; the zone occupied by poor quality housing individuals. From the concentric zone model, it can be deduced that individuals move out from the inner cycle and expand outwards to the less socially acceptable neighborhoods. An application of the concentric zone model theory can be done from the positive and negative social effects of the gentrification process described below. According to Lee, Slater and Wyly (2007), the gentrification process is usually evident in major cities in a country, and an analysis of the Canadian landscape indicates that the most affected cities are Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The researchers state that the factors responsible for the gentrification process in these cities are mainly due to the influx of richer members of the community in relatively poor parts of the cities, and from research, it can be identified that the main part of the richer community that causes gentrification is performing artists and businesspeople. The focus on gentrification is increased by many factors, whose indicators usually include the changing social status and commercialization of downtown areas of the cities identified. The literature used for this paper indicate that artist and performing parts of the population are the first causes of gentrification in urban areas, and they are ultimately replaced by business people in the areas that they encroach upon. This indicates that the gentrification process is a continuing process, with the first causes of gentrification being replaced by more affluent members of the community. Therefore, it can be deduced that the final result of the gentrification process is the formation of completely high-class neighborhoods in previously low class community regions. An analysis of prior research on the gentrification process has mostly been focused on two factors; the interaction between gender and ethnicity, a factor that has excluded the social impacts of the process (Teixeira, 2007). However, later research conducted has focused on the social impacts of the process, mainly focusing on the aspects of the process on the existing and new communities in an area (Atkinson, 2004). Some of the effects identified by researchers include the lack of affordable housing due to the whole process, the displacement of low-income residents, the social relations between the residents, and the increase in the social mix of the residents. These factors of the gentrification process can be interpreted into both positive and negative effects, with some of the factors taking on both positive and negative effects. The major effect of the process is identified as the displacement of the original residents of an area, a factor that leads to most of the other positive and negative effects of gentrification. An analysis of these effects of gentrification can be broken down into the following negative and positive influences of the process. From research, it can be noted that the process of gentrification results in two main factors; an increase in the average income pool of a community and a decrease in the normal family size in the said community (Atkinson, 2004). These two changes usually occur when the normal population of the community gives way to more affluent members of the community, resulting in increased property rates and prices of commodities. As a result of gentrification, there occurs a displacement of property rates and an increase in the building of more suburban property in an area. Therefore, a gentrified area can be expected to have new businesses that are able to cater for the new population mix in an area and the conversion of old property to business areas and malls. These changes are usually accompanied by some positive and negative effects from the process. Research indicates that there are three main positive effects of the gentrification process, the first of these factors being an increase in property values (Hackworth and Rekers, 2005). Even though an increase in property values can be termed as a negative social effect, the justification for the reason is seen in the property owners of the existing structures. According to Teixeira (2007), many property owners in downtown Toronto are primary property owners, meaning that they acquired their property at considerably low prices. As already noted, the process of gentrification increases the value of property by a substantial margin. Therefore, it can be expected that the process of gentrification is a positive result for these property owners. Some people term the gentrification process in downtown Toronto as the most beneficial thing that has happened to the city in recent years. An analysis of the current market rates reveal that since the process of gentrification usually results in pushing out the native inhabitants of the area, Toronto will benefit since the residents will sell their property and finally become part of the affluent community. Therefore, these residents will be able to afford the increasing cost of living in the area, making them a part of the new community. The other positive effect of the gentrification process is the increase in the social mix of the area (Lee, Slater and Wyly, 2007). The gentrification process is typically characterized by an influx of urban members into a poor community; therefore, the process will increase the mix of cultures and values in a community. This is termed as a positive social effect since the influx of new populations will break into closed social structures in downtown Toronto and reduce ethnic enclaves. From research conducted, it is evident that most of the population in downtown Toronto is made up of different ethnic groups who have closed social statuses. However, the arrival of urban professionals in the area will effectively mean that new social groups are made, which is beneficial for the community since the new entrants have a positive outlook for the community. The changing social mix of the population will increase the livability of the area, since criminal gangs and effects are usually eliminated with an increase in the income pool of the community. This is also a positive effect since the new entrants usually care about the maintenance and appearance of their houses and general living area, meaning that the area will become socially attractive. The stabilization of the declining areas in downtown Toronto is also one of the positive effects of the gentrification process, since the influx of commercial and residential living areas increases the development of an area (Lee, Slater and Wyly, 2007). Most of the newcomers into a socially low class area usually have extra money to spend, consider themselves technologically conscious, and are politically savvy. Therefore, it can be expected that these people will want to improve the outlook of the community in which they live. As already stated, gentrified communities are usually low class, and as can be expected, of low standards. The influx of image conscious people into these kinds of communities will result in an increase in positive social changes for the communities. Some of the changes that can be expected in these areas include the development of socially acceptable areas, affluent mix of population, and the beautification of the area. The transport and industrial infrastructure of these areas is also expected to improve by a considerable margin. However, the process of gentrification in downtown Toronto has also been accompanied by several negative, social effects. The first major effect of the gentrification process is the accompanying social conflict, where the native inhabitants of the region resist the advances of the socially affluent entrants to the community (Hackworth and Rekers, 2005). As can be expected, there is a difference in the statuses of the current inhabitants and the entrants into the communities, therefore, social conflicts are expected to occur. Some of the entrants into the communities usually move in to a community and try to introduce their own cultural values into the community. However, the resistance from the current members of the community usually results in long-lasting conflicts in the region. The conflicts in the community will result in exclusion, social tension, and a sense of hostility between the current members of the community (low class), and the new members of the community (middle class). The main causes of the social tension and conflict in the community are cultural differences and income differences. The other negative effect of the gentrification process is commercial, industrial, and ethnic displacement (Teixeira, 2007). Most of the members of downtown Toronto are people who have lived in the area for as long as they remember, and in the process, they have established some businesses. However, the business and residential housing established by the original members of the community cannot rival the influx of money from the new members of the community; therefore, the old members have to give way to the new members. The existing businesses in the community are usually destroyed and new business put up for the new members to take over. This is usually not done forcefully; the new members cause an increase in property rates and, as a result, the poor members of the community are not able to afford the new costs. The negative effect of this is that the displaced people usually have to move to lower class areas than the ones they are used to, leading to an increase in crime rates and homelessness. As already stated, most of the current members of the current community are ethnically divided. Another fact about the old members of the community is that they contain aged members, members who acquired their property long time ago and just want to live out the rest of their lives in peace with themselves and familiar territory (Hackworth and Rekers, 2005). These members of the community usually own the housing they live in, and cannot afford to buy any other housing in any other locations. However, the influx of cash-rich members of a different social class forces these people to move out of their comfort zones, which is equitable to punishment since these people will have to move to different communities in their old age. The increase in housing prices and maintenance costs is a factor that accompanies the influx of rich members into the society; therefore, the current members of the community have no choice but to move out of their housing and communities. The last negative effect of the gentrification process is the loss of affordable housing in the community, which tends to lead to the development of ghettos and crime infested areas (Hackworth and Rekers, 2005). The main cause of gentrification is the influx of rich members of a society into a socially lower class community. Therefore, it can be expected that the competition for housing will cause a drop in supply for the housing, leading to a leap in housing prices. This will effectively lead to a loss in affordable housing, and the original inhabitants of the area face barriers to acquisition of housing. This will lead to a generation of a part of the community without housing, which leads to a development of ghettos and related housing areas. The development of very low class housing places inevitably leads to an increase in crime levels and associated ills in the society, which is the most negative social effect of gentrification. The factors discussed above can be related to the concentric zone model theory, which indicates the division of a city according to social grouping. The model suggests that the lower classes o a population live closer to the city where the commuting costs are lower, therefore, the gentrification process is essentially an extension of the model. The main weakness of the concentric zone model theory model as applied to this paper is that the lower class lives in the inner parts of the city, therefore, the gentrification process will effectively take the middle class to the inner zones instead of taking them to the outer zones. The concentric theory identifies the outermost zones in he city as the abode of the extremely wealthy, since they can afford the commuting costs. This means that, instead of the middle class advancing in social status, they are moving closer to the lower class people in the society. After the above analysis, it can be concluded that the gentrification process is an ever continuing process; a process that stops only when the affected neighborhoods become completely high class. The social effects identified above usually balance out, indicating that there is no overall positive or negative effect of the gentrification process. It can, therefore, be concluded that the gentrification process is inevitable in every community, and it eventually leads to the social and economic development of any region. References Atkinson, R. (2004). The Evidence on the Impact of Gentrification: New Lessons for the Urban Renaissance? European Journal of Housing Policy. Vol. 4(1). Pp. 107–131. Bunyi, J. (2010). Concentric Zone Model. Retrieved on November 03, 2011 from: Freeman, L. (2006). There Goes the ’Hood: Views of Gentrification from the Ground Up. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. Hackworth, J. and Rekers, J. (2005). Ethnic Packaging and Gentrification: The Case of Four Neighborhoods in Toronto. Urban Affairs Review. Vol. 41(2). Pp. 211–236. Lees, L., Slater, T. and Wyly, E. (2007) Gentrification. New York: Routledge. Teixeira, C. (2007). Toronto’s Little Portugal: A Neighborhood in Transition. Research Bulletin Number 3. Read More