Gentrification is when a lower income area is transformed into a more prosperous and "appealing area." I had never heard of this term specifically, but I am aware of situations involving it. When thinking of the definition, it sounds like a great idea - let's make the area look better and make more money. Problems arise when the people that live and work in these lower income areas are bought off, some thinking they are getting a good deal, and told to relocate. There are businesses and people that have been in that area since before they can remember and now they have to leave. Due to the economy, it's not always easy for businesses to relocate, especially for the same rent that they were paying in their previous location. What can be particularly upsetting is that lower income areas, tend to be culturally influenced. As these areas become transformed, the culture is left behind; those little restaurants with the great food and the house with the flowers not usually found in this area are forgotten and culture is lost. It takes life out of the area. On the other side of the argument, property value and local retail income usually increases as these areas "improve." The area can become safer and decrease in family size which might bring in a more "sophisticated" clientele. Being an architect, urban planner, construction worker, etc. gentrification comes with many ethical issues. Is it okay to "improve" an area, while costing other people their homes/businesses and most likely a large sum of money? Depending on your position in the industry, it can be a personal choice or something you have no control over. Most likely it is a choice, because anything you do has your name attached to it someway or somehow, and you have to decide if you want that.
As a student, this ethical dilemma sparks a little bit of interest cross disciplinary. In school, choices are often made for where fund raising/money will go such as will the money go to the football team or the fine arts department? Is it okay to give more money to the department that is doing better, when the other departments needs that money and can benefit from it? When I begin to write my research paper, there will be a lot of different sources that I will pull from to my paper and I am sure that I will have to make decisions on the validity of certain information, because ethically it would be wrong to present incorrect facts. Ethics seem to be everywhere, and gentrification is a touchy subject, but one that certain professions have to choose a stance on.
As a student, this ethical dilemma sparks a little bit of interest cross disciplinary. In school, choices are often made for where fund raising/money will go such as will the money go to the football team or the fine arts department? Is it okay to give more money to the department that is doing better, when the other departments needs that money and can benefit from it? When I begin to write my research paper, there will be a lot of different sources that I will pull from to my paper and I am sure that I will have to make decisions on the validity of certain information, because ethically it would be wrong to present incorrect facts. Ethics seem to be everywhere, and gentrification is a touchy subject, but one that certain professions have to choose a stance on.