Is there such a thing as smart development?

 

Gentrification is a topic that I have been interested in for a long time. In undergrad, I did a research project on the consequences of gentrification in Worcester. What we found in that research was that a lot of things were happening in Worcester that resembled gentrification but by definition wasn’t. Worcester had a lot of vacant properties that were bought up by developers and transformed into a young professional haven for the people that couldn’t afford to live in Boston. The specific areas we looked at were not experiencing gentrification because they were not displacing lower income families; however, the impoverished areas were nervous that these developments would soon spread into their hometowns.

            Unfortunately, we were researching at a time before we knew the full impacts of what these developments would cause. Part of our research was being done for city officials so that they could avoid gentrification and all its ramifications. So, what exactly did we take away from this project? I think what was important about this research was showing that gentrification was not an immediate cause for concern, but early identification of these potential problems was essential in informing the public of future city development. By marking the areas of concern and providing the officials with successful development case studies, we were able to provide them with research that they could make informed decisions to prevent displacement. It was the first step in creating a plan that could serve as a model for future smart development.

            At the end of the day, I don’t think demonizing development is the way to solve gentrification. I think it comes down to making smart decisions and coming up with a plan to keep the culture-rich areas from being displaced. I appreciated the effort that the officials in Worcester took to be smart with the growth of their city. I wish I had the results of their endeavors because it would be really cool to know if our research actually helped.