Editing Gentrification (section)

== Causes and Patterns ==

Gentrification in Philadelphia emerged from the intersection of several factors. The [[Ed Rendell|Rendell administration's]] revitalization of Center City created demand for urban living that spilled into adjacent neighborhoods. Young professionals priced out of Manhattan and other expensive cities found Philadelphia affordable while accessible to New York via transit. Universities including Penn, Temple, and Drexel expanded, creating pools of educated young adults familiar with city neighborhoods. The city's abundant housing stock—rowhouses that could be renovated, former industrial buildings that could be converted to lofts—provided opportunities for investment. Tax abatements for new construction and renovation provided financial incentives.<ref name="kromer">{{cite book |last=Kromer |first=John |title=Fixing Broken Cities: The Implementation of Urban Development Strategies |year=2010 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York}}</ref>

The pattern of gentrification in Philadelphia has generally moved outward from Center City and universities. Northern Liberties, the neighborhood north of Old City, transformed from industrial decay to trendy destination during the 1990s and 2000s. Fishtown, adjacent to Northern Liberties, followed. Graduate Hospital and Point Breeze in South Philadelphia, Brewerytown in North Philadelphia, and University City in West Philadelphia have all experienced gentrification in varying stages. The process is uneven: some blocks transform rapidly while adjacent areas remain impoverished, creating sharp boundaries between gentrified and non-gentrified spaces.<ref name="smith"/>