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Gentrification & The Housing Market

Class Description: “Gentrification” has become a catch-all term that sometimes does not refer to anything specific. Nevertheless, as a word, it has become a helpful touchpoint for multiple problems under capitalism. Displacement, racism, exploitation, and growing inequality are only a few symptoms that the word gentrification calls attention to. This class will be an introduction to the general problem of the housing market. 

How the Class Works: Each session will be “led” by at least two people who sign up the previous week. By “led” we mean they will make a very short presentation at the start, which can just be their thoughts or, if they want, an argument about the reading, and then a set of questions to help move conversation along. Aside from learning the material, leading discussions will give everyone practice with public speaking and to amass the confidence necessary to lead meetings. 

How to sign up: Fill out form below!

Texts and Schedule

  • Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State, Samuel Stein. PDF / ePub
  • The New Urban Frontier: Gentrification and the Revanchist City, Neil Smith. PDF / ePub
— Week 1, May 14, 2020:
  • Introduction and Chapter 1, “The Rise of the Real Estate State,” in Capital City.
  • Chapter 1, “‘Class Struggle on Avenue B’ The Lower East Side as Wild Wild West,” in The New Urban Frontier.
—Week 2, May 28, 2020:
  • Chapter 2, “Planning Gentrification,” in Capital City.
  • Chapter 2, “Is Gentrification a Dirty Word?”, in The New Urban Frontier.
—Week 3, June 4, 2020:
  • Chapters 3, New York’s Bipartisan Consensus,” in Capital City.
  • Chapter 4, “The Developer President and Private Side of Planning History,” in Capital City.
—Week 4, June 11, 2020:
    • Chapter 5, “Unmaking the Real Estate State,” & Conclusion, in Capital City.