Lecture 17/18: Gentrification

Question 1

Barnsbury gentrification case study

Answer 1

Early 20th century- houses divided into separate rentable, cheap housing.
50s/60s- Artsy middle class saw the opportunity for cheap living space near central London to do up.
...starts becoming trendy and expensive

Question 2

When was the term gentrification first used?

Answer 2

Ruth Glass German émigré first used the term in 1964.

Question 3

Criticisms of gentrification

Answer 3

Tendency just to focus on middle-class Slater (2006).
Social fallout of gentrification amongst lower class forced to move out.

Can you apply term that was oringally just for London to all over the world Lees (2016)

Question 4

Culture vs production debate

Answer 4

Ley: changes in consumption behaviour have changed the way cities are lived in (1986)

Smith: changing land use structured by uneven investment and profit drive.
(1979)

“It does not matter whether production or consumption is viewed as more important in driving gentrification, so long as neither is completely ignored”
(Slater 2011:575)

Question 5

Brick Lane Case Study

Alexander (2011)

Answer 5

Brick lane has been home to a working class community, shaped by waves of migration. 
Cereal killer cafe targeted...

Question 6

Shoreditch Case Study

Harris (2012)

Answer 6

Light industry, warehouses, small factories in Shoreditch 80s/90s

Made it an environment which young artists could make in their own image

Question 7

Rise of the creative class

Florida (2002)

Answer 7

Developers and governments actively attempting to attract ‘creatives’

Question 8

Granville Arcade, now Brixton Village Market case study

Answer 8

Catered for a generation of Afro-Caribbean migrants who came to London in the late 40s and 50s….was not doing well.

Bought by LAP in the early 2000s…regenerate!

Rent gap (Smith 1979)

Question 9

Regeneration of Granville Arcade– Good intentions

Answer 9

Spacemakers- Artists and entrepreneurs given 3 months free rent.
Attracted new business and customers…

Question 10

Regeneration of Granville Arcade– Negative reactions

Answer 10

Accusations of racism

Locals priced out

Exploitation of businesses and artists

Question 11

Granville Arcade, now Brixton Village Market case study conclusion

Answer 11

Shops and high streets are very visible signs of gentrification

They can make people feel both culturally and economically excluded

Developers and local government have become wise to the importance of ‘authenticity’ to creative vanguard of gentrification