Gentrification Analysis
Problem:
Gentrification has displaced thousands of NYC residents over the past couple of decades and continues to do so. In particular, the outer boroughs have seen rents skyrocket – while wages stagnate – leading to longer commutes, rent burdens, and a dearth of affordable housing. Over the past half century, property values around NYC have increased tremendously in part thanks to the decline of manufacturing’s influence and tourism and real estate filling that gap. As new developments pop up under “affordable housing” programs like 421-A and J-51, developers have looked to close the rent gap [define], the number of actual affordable units have fallen, and gentrification ensues.
Rent regulation (or control) provides a great way to stem this tide of gentrification and mass displacement. When buildings are redeveloped (as they should be!), landlords look to increase the rent to close the “rent gap” between the old rent and the area’s typical rent using the new “amenities” as justification. These rent increases can be devastating and often force tenants out and into new neighborhoods entirely. Comprehensive rent regulation can potentially stop that from happening.
I want to show the actual impact of gentrification in NYC and how areas with rent regulated units have stopped the gentrification and displacement from happening.
Analysis:
To determine the actual displacement from rising rents, I will zoom into the Bed-Stuy (and maybe Clinton Hill) neighborhood in Brooklyn. Bed-Stuy is a historically black neighborhood and Brooklyn has seen heavy gentrification in the past few decades, but I am also familiar with the neighborhood and the areas that I would like to analyze.
I will first choose a cluster of census blocks with a couple of them containing rent-regulated buildings. I will then gather key demographic information on these census blocks from the past few censuses. Essentially, I am taking snapshots of these areas’ demographics to see how they have changed over time. I am then planning to compare the demographic changes in census blocks with significant rent regulated units to those with fewer or none.
I don’t know if there will be any significant findings from this analysis but I think it may show the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of NYC rent regulation policies.
Findings
This is still ongoing! I will update soon enough.
Problem:
Gentrification has displaced thousands of NYC residents over the past couple of decades and continues to do so. In particular, the outer boroughs have seen rents skyrocket – while wages stagnate – leading to longer commutes, rent burdens, and a dearth of affordable housing. Over the past half century, property values around NYC have increased tremendously in part thanks to the decline of manufacturing’s influence and tourism and real estate filling that gap. As new developments pop up under “affordable housing” programs like 421-A and J-51, developers have looked to close the rent gap [define], the number of actual affordable units have fallen, and gentrification ensues.
Rent regulation (or control) provides a great way to stem this tide of gentrification and mass displacement. When buildings are redeveloped (as they should be!), landlords look to increase the rent to close the “rent gap” between the old rent and the area’s typical rent using the new “amenities” as justification. These rent increases can be devastating and often force tenants out and into new neighborhoods entirely. Comprehensive rent regulation can potentially stop that from happening.
I want to show the actual impact of gentrification in NYC and how areas with rent regulated units have stopped the gentrification and displacement from happening.
Analysis:
To determine the actual displacement from rising rents, I will zoom into the Bed-Stuy (and maybe Clinton Hill) neighborhood in Brooklyn. Bed-Stuy is a historically black neighborhood and Brooklyn has seen heavy gentrification in the past few decades, but I am also familiar with the neighborhood and the areas that I would like to analyze.
I will first choose a cluster of census blocks with a couple of them containing rent-regulated buildings. I will then gather key demographic information on these census blocks from the past few censuses. Essentially, I am taking snapshots of these areas’ demographics to see how they have changed over time. I am then planning to compare the demographic changes in census blocks with significant rent regulated units to those with fewer or none.
I don’t know if there will be any significant findings from this analysis but I think it may show the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of NYC rent regulation policies.
Findings
This is still ongoing! I will update soon enough.