UNIT 9
Neighborhood Change:
Gentrification

OBJECTIVES 1) Understand the concept of gentrification 2) Understand how policy decisions impact everyday life 3) Understand the importance of compromise in formulating public policy

TOOLS and MATERIALS 1) Web access for online projects and research 2) Surveys and handouts

ACTIVITIES 1) Group Activity 1: "Where Do I Stand on Gentrification?"

SUMMARY of the LESSON

Many local changes can have a great impact on our community and our daily lives. A democratic nation seeks to serve the majority of its citizens, but in many cases the economic interests of few people can hurt those with less economic and political power. One of those complex and controversial changes is that of neighborhood change known as gentrification. Many urban neighborhoods that once suffered from a lack of investment are now places where new homeowners and businesses are moving in. Yet the renewal of the urban landscape is not without cost. Many of the older, long-term residents and low or middle-income renters find themselves squeezed out of their homes because of higher property taxes and rents. What does gentrification mean and how does it affect community life? What role should the government play in encouraging reinvestment without displacement of one group for another? This lesson will explore various issues raised by this often difficult issue.