Gentrification in Harlem

Gentrification; loosely interpreted, is a process that involves transformation of something physical into something better looking and better in terms of what it is. This process of restorations and beautification. One place where the gentrification processes are ongoing is in Harlem. There is a spatial arrangement of buildings and places of business that attracts people and show the use of and expansion of the economy. On the roads there is resurfacing work and other actions to aid transportation. With all of this work being done there are things and places of different values; use value and exchange, to attract and help people become more aware of what Harlem has to offer. The growth machine in Harlem is on in full force and has become a force to be reckoned with. There are politicians abound which bring the media and there are different companies and services offered which people happen to need. It is also a place of the arts, home of the famous Harlem Renaissance, with places of artistic interest such as museums and theatres among which the most famous may be the Apollo. Among all these ongoing changes there are numerous social changes which are attributed to what goes on within Harlem and what attracts the tourist trade into this place.

Harlem, with its cultural history, oversized brownstone town houses, and convenient transport, has evolved past its dangerous reputation into a more desirable hotspot for many wealthy young professionals, families, and ambitious developers to invest and relocate. People are drawn to Harlem for its beautiful housing stock, with numerous family-sized residences that are not as readily available in other locations. Other factors may include the strong rising property values and long history. There is now excellent transportation by the highways, buses and trains to gain easy access into Harlem. There is also mainstream attention due to the revamping of the area as well as Bill Clinton’s recently move of his offices there. Other celebrities such as Roberta Flack and Samuel L Jackson have town houses there, and now The Marriott; one of the hotel giants, is planning to build a hotel complex with retail outlets, condos, parking and spa facilities in Harlem within the near future.

When discussing the area of Harlem and its renewal, the term gentrification is new; but the original idea is old. Throughout history, cities have grown, become stagnant, and then died. In many cases the residents and others have rebuilt and revitalized these places in order to survive and make back what was once theirs. Harlem, by the end of the nineteenth century and most of the twentieth century has faced growing slums and areas that were shunned in older portions. The decline included neglect and abandonment of public and private buildings and growth of poverty of the remaining residents, often recent immigrants, minorities, and the elderly.