The Los Angeles River Master Plan has an underlying problem: gentrification. Gentrification is the process in which wealthier people move into an urban neighborhood, causing the rising cost of living expenses and changes in the demographics and culture of the area. Gentrification is a common process that occurs in communities regularly. It appears when new infrastructure, businesses, and improved housing are implemented.
Gentrification is a process when the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, typically displacing current inhabitants in the process. When places like the L.A. Rivers go green and become naturalized, it could cause gentrification within our communities. Gentrification can also occur when people of higher status enter specific neighborhoods. Glamorous parks, recreational centers, and outdoor spaces sound nice, but numerous spots like these attract richer families who end up moving in. Even if the locals aren't driven out of their residences, the culture around them changes. Gentrification is a significant ongoing problem that poses a danger to many communities if we fail to prevent it.
This image shows anti-gentrification activists marching in Highland Park against the gentrification happening there.
An example of gentrification in a normal city inside LA.
After being rebuilt and turned into a luxurious tourist attraction, the New York Highline brought prices up for the surrounding buildings.