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The back-to-the-city movement: Neighbourhood redevelopment and processes of political and cultural displacement

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  • Derek Hyra

Abstract

While certain US cities are still depopulating, others have experienced a reversal of aggregate out-migration patterns. Some scholars, politicians and real estate boosters celebrate this urban population influx, as it will likely increase property values and municipal tax bases; however, we know little about the social costs associated with the back-to-the-city movement. This study investigates the consequences of the back-to-the-city movement through a four-year (2009–2012) ethnographic case study of the revitalisation of Washington, DC’s Shaw/U Street neighbourhood. The redevelopment of this African-American neighbourhood is associated with the city’s 5.2 percent population increase, which occurred between 2000 and 2010. While affordable housing efforts help to keep a portion of long-term, low-income residents in place, political and cultural displacement is occurring as upper-income newcomers flock into this neighbourhood. This article contributes to the urban literature by highlighting that population influx, and associated neighbourhood revitalisation, can have important social implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Derek Hyra, 2015. "The back-to-the-city movement: Neighbourhood redevelopment and processes of political and cultural displacement," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(10), pages 1753-1773, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:52:y:2015:i:10:p:1753-1773
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098014539403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lisa A. Sturtevant & Yu Jin Jung, 2011. "Are We Moving Back to the City? Examining Residential Mobility in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 48-71, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kemeny, Thomas & Osman, Taner, 2017. "The wider impacts of high-technology employment," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101854, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Kemeny, Tom & Osman, Taner, 2018. "The wider impacts of high-technology employment: Evidence from U.S. cities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9), pages 1729-1740.
    3. Flora Lindsay-Herrera, 2019. "One City for All? The Characteristics of Residential Displacement in Southwest Washington, DC," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-14, February.

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