| Harlem, New York, has historically been an area of working class residents. The majority of the population is composed of Blacks and Puerto Ricans. Its main street is the 125th Street corridor, which illustrates Harlem's identity through the arts, many ethnic shops and historic buildings. In the past 10 years, Harlem has become the center of attraction for development and capital investment as part of economic development policies by the public sector in Manhattan, NY. Neighborhood change literature states that a percent increase in the population's socioeconomic characteristics such as bachelor degree, professional and executive occupations and higher income, of a neighborhood's profile is an indication of the process of gentrification. This research examines the demographic, socioeconomic, commercial and housing characteristics of Harlem from 1990 to 2010. Specifically, this research focuses on the institutional influences to the changing state and continuing process of gentrification in Harlem, New York. |
