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Denver Gentrification Grows During A Pandemic. Now What?
DENVER — A report from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) ranks Denver as the second-most gentrified city in the United States. Denver ranks second, just behind San Francisco & Oakland, with 27% of its eligible neighborhoods gentrifying during that period.
“Our report found that most cities in the U.S. are suffering from a lack of investment and not gentrification. This is not the case in Denver,” said Jesse Van Tol, CEO of NCRC. “In a previous report, we ranked Denver as the 18th-most intensely gentrified city from 2000-2013. Now, it is second. With COVID-19 causing economic hardships for millions of Americans, the work of Urban Land Conservancy is even more vital for low- and moderate-income communities facing displacement in and around the city.”
Big Picture:
- Colorado has been struggling with rapid gentrification over the last ten years. Denver despite its ranking has less actively gentrifying neighborhoods compared to cities like New York (ranking seventh)
- This report was compiled by looking at which neighborhoods were actively gentrifying between 2013 and 2017, according to a release from the Urban Land Conservancy (ULC).
- Jesse Van Tol, CEO of NCRC stated: “In a previous report, we ranked Denver as the 18th-most intensely gentrified city from 2000-2013. Now, it is second. With COVID-19 causing economic hardships for millions of Americans, the work of Urban Land Conservancy is even more vital for low- and moderate-income communities facing displacement in and around the city.”
- During The Great Recession of 2008 many of Denver’s already vulnerable neighborhoods were left exposed to what’s called an ‘investor grab’; displacing many families and jobs to make way for dismal lunchbox modernism and boring brushed concrete.
What’s Next:
- The concern amongst experts is that the ever-worsening economic disruption caused by COVID-19 and the imminent housing crisis that is on the horizon will be disastrous for the heart and soul of Denver.
- The downturn and the ‘investor grab’ that will inevitably come when foreclosures start to become more commonplace will push affordable housing further out of reach.
- We need to revisit the conversation about Community Land Trusts and other methods of affordable housing. The pandemic has exposed how weak the system is when it comes to housing security in this country. We are in the opening phases of the Coronavirus Pandemic and to maintain some level of community and stake we need to “suspend and maintain”.
Get Involved:
- Join the multitude of Facebook groups that have come into existence over the last three months dealing with rent strikes, mutual aid, and community support.
- Read up on and/or get involved with NDC Collaborative which is a coalition of Denver non-profits working to establish genuine affordable housing in Denver.
