Commentary On The Gentrification Phenomenon In U.S. Central Cities Within Metropolitan Areas

The term'gentrification'refers to the phenomenon whereby the middle class move into formerly deterioted central city neighborhoods, thereby causing the upgrading of physical and commercial environment, while at the same time displacing former lower-income residents, due to rising housing and other living costs. The gentrification phenomenon was first noticed by the media and the academic circle in the 1960s, up till now it has affected most large and moderately sized U.S. cities, and has played an ever important role in the reshaping of contemporary central city landscape. Combining multi-disciplinary theory and research methods, such as those used by history, geography, sociology etc, this thesis tries to present a clear picture of the gentrification phenomenon itself and its development in U.S. cities by expounding its contexts, general process and impacts.Part One first clarifies the definition of gentrification used by this thesis. Then it goes on to analyze the background of gentrification, mainly involving around four important aspects, as are the general decline of central cities and economic restructuring of central cities, the endeavor to revitalize them and the so-called post-modern consumption characteristics.Part Two gives a general exposition of gentrification process in American central cities. First it delineates the developmental history of gentrification nationally, then it tries to convey some regularities of the gentrification process by combining theory with some carefully chosen cases in point.Part Three assesses gentrification's effects mainly around two basic aspects, which are its actual impact on neighborhood revitalization and its social value.In the Conclusion Part, it restated some previous viewpoints, and in the end, it points out that gentrification has the positive effect of neighborhood revitalization and has the potential to realize social assimilation in affected areas. But in reality, most often than not, so far, it has failed to further social assimilation. And besides that, gentrification has the adverse effect of the displacement of original lower-income and poor residents.