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Light rail development with or without gentrification?: Neighborhood perspectives on changing sense of place in Denver, Colorado

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  • Jackson, Sara L.
  • Buckman, Joshua

Abstract

The growing and continued popularity of light rail transit systems in major United States metropolitan areas is leading to growing research on land use impacts, value generation, and contributions to gentrification. While various studies explore the fiscal and environmental influences of light rail transit development in the Denver Metropolitan Area, only recently have scholars turned their attention to gentrification and social influences. This paper analyzes how one station shapes residents' sense of place, providing more nuanced understandings of the role light rail and transit-oriented development affects perceptions of neighborhood character and place attachment. We argue that gentrification can be measured and understood not only quantitatively, but also by how people feel light rail influences their attachment to place. Residents within half a mile of the Evans Light Rail Station were randomly and anonymously surveyed with a series of demographic questions and asked to provide their experiences, observations, and opinions. With 166 household responses, we examine residents' perceptions of Evans Station and sense of place to investigate relationships between factors such as race, age, income, education, length of residency, and walking distance from the light rail station. Analysis of their responses creates a more nuanced understanding of the ways that light rail contributes to positive, neutral, and negative emotions associated with gentrification ranging from appreciation of increased accessibility, younger residents, increased property values, and new commercial development to complaints about increased density, higher rents, traffic, noise, and loss of community.

Suggested Citation

  • Jackson, Sara L. & Buckman, Joshua, 2020. "Light rail development with or without gentrification?: Neighborhood perspectives on changing sense of place in Denver, Colorado," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:84:y:2020:i:c:s0966692319306337
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102678
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kwoka, Gregory J. & Boschmann, E. Eric & Goetz, Andrew R., 2015. "The impact of transit station areas on the travel behaviors of workers in Denver, Colorado," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 277-287.
    2. Bardaka, Eleni & Delgado, Michael S. & Florax, Raymond J.G.M., 2018. "Causal identification of transit-induced gentrification and spatial spillover effects: The case of the Denver light rail," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 15-31.
    3. Lin, Jeffrey, 2002. "Gentrification and Transit in Northwest Chicago," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 41(4).
    4. Kate S. Shaw & Iris W. Hagemans, 2015. "‘Gentrification Without Displacement' and the Consequent Loss of Place: The Effects of Class Transition on Low-income Residents of Secure Housing in Gentrifying Areas," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 323-341, March.
    5. Bhattacharjee, Sutapa & Goetz, Andrew R., 2012. "Impact of light rail on traffic congestion in Denver," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 262-270.
    6. Landis, John & Guhathakurta, Subhrajit & Huang, William & Zhang, Ming, 1995. "Rail Transit Investments, Real Estate Values, and Land Use Change: A Comparative Analysis of Five California Rail Transit Systems," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt2hf9s9sr, University of California Transportation Center.
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    Cited by:

    1. Houston, Douglas & Zuñiga, Michelle E., 2021. "Perceptions of neighborhood change in a Latinx transit corridor," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    2. Nilsson, Isabelle & Schuch, Johanna C. & Delmelle, Elizabeth C. & Canales, Kristine L., 2020. "Should I stay or should I go? A survey analysis of neighborhood change and residential mobility concerns around new light rail stations in Charlotte, NC," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

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