Gentrification is sometimes thought of as a third-rail topic – touch it you die. Gentrification has become so controversial that the mere mention of it can elicit strong and passionate debate. Proponents of gentrification say it improves neighborhoods: by improving the physical environment of a neighborhood, gentrification also improves the quality of life for residents, new and old. Critics, however, see gentrification as a tool by wealthy developers and urban professionals to displace an undesirable bloc of the population – usually minorities. But in all the kerfuffle of debate, many are unwilling to look at the real causes of the problems they see. Studies are showing that gentrification doesn’t actually do all that critics have long accused it of. Additionally, critics of gentrification often are calling for it, just leaving out the name.
