Gentrifieringsprocessen
Omvandlingen av nedgångna till attraktiva stadsdelar
Title: The process of gentrification ?the transformation of declined neighbourhoods into attractive ones Gentrification = ?A social process of change where people with high socioeconomic status move into neighbourhoods which traditionally has been dominated by people from the lower classes or from ethnical minorities.? (Nationalencyklopedin 2010).In many cities around the world, disinvested neighbourhoods become the place to be, where everything happens. This usually occurs when different social groups, such as bohemians, homosexuals and artists, move into a declined and disinvested neighbourhood. After a while, people from the middleclass move in to the area due to its increased attractiveness, and start to renovate their properties. This usually leads to higher rents, which force some of the original inhabitants to leave the neighbourhood. This is what you can call a process of classic gentrification.The phenomenon also starts its process due to economical elements and urban renewal. Politicians are often very favourably disposed to the process of gentrification, since the city turn more attractive and the incomes of the new residents greatly increase. But since gentrification?s class related signification and political charge, they often use other words instead, such as urban renewal, social mixing and urban renaissance.Even if there are some urban planners who try to control this process, for example by subsidies, it seems like the process have a life of its own. Or does it? And what does it really mean for cities on the long run?This is a study, which examines theories and underlying factors about the process of gentrification, its gentrifiers and its future.