Environmental gentrification, also known as ecological gentrification or green gentrification, is a process by which increasing the availability of green spaces such as parks and LEED certified buildings and improving environmental conditions increases property values and attracts wealthier residents to historically disenfranchised neighborhoods of color. Over time, historical residents and businesses in these areas are displaced due to hikes in property values and shifts in dominant lifestyles and cultural values. It is necessary for urban areas to give people the right to live in green, healthy spaces and lower carbon emissions. However, we must also understand how actions made under the guise of sustainability may harm low-income residents both unintentionally and intentionally. Urban sustainability and gentrification are typically studied as separate entities, but it is now necessary for us to develop a greater understanding of the intersection between these two fields. As this phenomenon becomes prevalent in an increasing number of cities around the world, it is critical to gain a deeper understanding of how this process works and impacts people. In this thesis, I examine how the process of environmental gentrification has unfolded in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, two of the fastest growing cities in the nation. San Antonio and Austin represent an ideal pair of cities to compare and contrast the process of environmental gentrification because they are located near each other geographically and are frequently compared to each other in terms of growth and appeal. I use case studies from each city, including the Riverwalk and Pearl Brewery district in San Antonio, and Seaholm District and Mueller Development in Austin, as the basis of my research.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Sustainability","Environmental gentrification","Texas"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 24208