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FEATURE
Redeveloping Mumbai Definitions and theories of gentrification have evolved along
In the past decade, gentrification has emerged as a point for with the process itself. Smith (2002) discusses gentrification
as not only residential rehabilitation but also economic,
discussion in urban, social, and economic literature. The social, cultural, and spatial restructuring. Gentrification
term gentrification was first coined in 1964 by Ruth Glass, a was initially understood as the rehabilitation of decaying
sociologist, for explaining the replacement of the working- and low-income housing by middle-class outsiders in the
1
class community by middle-class individuals in London. densly populated areas of any city. In the late 1970s, a broader
Ever since, there have been discussions around the causes conceptualization of the process began to emerge, and by
2
and effects of gentrification. Lees L defines gentrification the early 1980s, new scholarship had developed a broader
as ‘the transformation of a working class or vacant area meaning of gentrification, linking it with processes of spatial,
of the central city to a middle-class residential and/or economic, and social restructuring. Gentrification, generally
5
commercial use’. Of late, gentrification has been a major topic speaking, is not inclusive and is, therefore, considered to be
of discussion in the western countries. It is only in the last a negative process. It also has social and cultural impacts
decade that a wave of interest has emerged in documenting on a community due to displacement and changes in land
3
the gentrification process across cities in the Global South. use, ranging from residential to commercial. In a way,
6
Different theories have evolved around the causes and
working models of gentrification. Neil Smith (2002) proposed gentrification defines the direction of urban growth in an
unfair manner.
the ‘production-side theory’ for the causes of gentrification, Since gentrification is an urban process, which takes
stating the capitalist movement as the reason. Different place over a significant period of time, it is difficult to assess
theories of the gentrification working model classify it into the same. Therefore, in order to identify and trace the
four broader categories: gentrification with reinvestment process, certain indicators should be involved. The report
(retrofitting/back to the city), gentrification by complete of Southwest Housing Committee in 2002 by the Urban
demolition in public/private land (redevelopment), vacant Institute, Columbia Policy Forum, 2011, had identified five
gentrification (green/brown field development), and indicators, namely, low-priced areas adjacent to high-priced
forced gentrification. areas, low-priced areas with good metro access, low-priced
4
areas depicting the historic architecture of that region,
1 Hamnett, Chris. 1997. ‘The Blind and the Elephant: The Explanation of low-priced areas with large housing units, and low-priced
Gentrification’. areas with recent appreciation. Canadian census indicators,
2 Lees, L. 2012. ‘The Geography of Gentrification: Thinking through
Comparative Urbanism’. Progress in Human Geography 36: 155–71. such as changes in neighbourhood income, changes in social
3 Smith, N. 2002. ‘New Globalism, New Urbanism: Gentrification As Global
Urban Strategy’. Antipode, 77(3): 427–50. 5 Sassen, S. 1991. The Global City: New York, London and Tokyo. Princeton:
4 Eldaidamony M and Shetawy A. 2015. ‘Gentrification Indicators in Princeton University Press.
the Historic City of Cairo’. Conservation of Architectural Heritage, 6 Ocejo, R E. 2011. ‘The Early Gentrifier: Weaving a Nostalgia Narrative on
225: 107–118. the Lower East Side’. City & Community, 10: 285–310.
| 50 |
Redeveloping Mumbai Definitions and theories of gentrification have evolved along
In the past decade, gentrification has emerged as a point for with the process itself. Smith (2002) discusses gentrification
as not only residential rehabilitation but also economic,
discussion in urban, social, and economic literature. The social, cultural, and spatial restructuring. Gentrification
term gentrification was first coined in 1964 by Ruth Glass, a was initially understood as the rehabilitation of decaying
sociologist, for explaining the replacement of the working- and low-income housing by middle-class outsiders in the
1
class community by middle-class individuals in London. densly populated areas of any city. In the late 1970s, a broader
Ever since, there have been discussions around the causes conceptualization of the process began to emerge, and by
2
and effects of gentrification. Lees L defines gentrification the early 1980s, new scholarship had developed a broader
as ‘the transformation of a working class or vacant area meaning of gentrification, linking it with processes of spatial,
of the central city to a middle-class residential and/or economic, and social restructuring. Gentrification, generally
5
commercial use’. Of late, gentrification has been a major topic speaking, is not inclusive and is, therefore, considered to be
of discussion in the western countries. It is only in the last a negative process. It also has social and cultural impacts
decade that a wave of interest has emerged in documenting on a community due to displacement and changes in land
3
the gentrification process across cities in the Global South. use, ranging from residential to commercial. In a way,
6
Different theories have evolved around the causes and
working models of gentrification. Neil Smith (2002) proposed gentrification defines the direction of urban growth in an
unfair manner.
the ‘production-side theory’ for the causes of gentrification, Since gentrification is an urban process, which takes
stating the capitalist movement as the reason. Different place over a significant period of time, it is difficult to assess
theories of the gentrification working model classify it into the same. Therefore, in order to identify and trace the
four broader categories: gentrification with reinvestment process, certain indicators should be involved. The report
(retrofitting/back to the city), gentrification by complete of Southwest Housing Committee in 2002 by the Urban
demolition in public/private land (redevelopment), vacant Institute, Columbia Policy Forum, 2011, had identified five
gentrification (green/brown field development), and indicators, namely, low-priced areas adjacent to high-priced
forced gentrification. areas, low-priced areas with good metro access, low-priced
4
areas depicting the historic architecture of that region,
1 Hamnett, Chris. 1997. ‘The Blind and the Elephant: The Explanation of low-priced areas with large housing units, and low-priced
Gentrification’. areas with recent appreciation. Canadian census indicators,
2 Lees, L. 2012. ‘The Geography of Gentrification: Thinking through
Comparative Urbanism’. Progress in Human Geography 36: 155–71. such as changes in neighbourhood income, changes in social
3 Smith, N. 2002. ‘New Globalism, New Urbanism: Gentrification As Global
Urban Strategy’. Antipode, 77(3): 427–50. 5 Sassen, S. 1991. The Global City: New York, London and Tokyo. Princeton:
4 Eldaidamony M and Shetawy A. 2015. ‘Gentrification Indicators in Princeton University Press.
the Historic City of Cairo’. Conservation of Architectural Heritage, 6 Ocejo, R E. 2011. ‘The Early Gentrifier: Weaving a Nostalgia Narrative on
225: 107–118. the Lower East Side’. City & Community, 10: 285–310.
| 50 |
