Redlining and Gentrification in San Diego

Gentrification is the process of an urban area changing due to wealthier people moving into the area. Some of the changes that occur during gentrification are housing becoming more expensive, removal of buildings for new businesses, and people who are lower-income moving out of the area.

Redlining is a discriminatory practice by which banks, insurance companies, etc., refuse or limit loans, mortgages, insurance, etc., within specific geographic areas, especially inner-city neighborhoods.

Gentrification and redlining both prevent people from receiving the resources that are the most needed in their community. The people that are the most affected by this social issue is people who are lower income. People do not receive a good education, health centers, nutritious food, job opportunities, and affordable housing, etc

1. Expand the map and zoom in to the red line by pressing the map and then the "+" button at the bottom right
2. Click the legend

Notice how below Adams Ave there is lower income, more diversity, and more crime. While above Adams Ave, there is more money, less diversity, and less crime.

Zoom in very closely to the neighborhood below Adams Ave, all the buildings are homes which are apartments, small living spaces meant for lower-income families to live in.

Above Adams Ave, there are suburban neighborhoods, large and luxurious houses, that are meant for wealthy families to live in. Those houses with the same roofs are built for families who make a white family's income, enough to pay a 3,000 dollar mortgage.

People of color can't afford to live so lavishly so they are forced to live in crowded, unwanted living spaces, like the apartment building below Adams avenue. This leaves people of color at a disadvantage.

1. Expand the map and zoom in closer using the plus sign on the bottom right corner
2. Open up the legend using the button on the bottom left corner

In this map, gentrification is shown through the income levels in 2019, 2021, and 2026. The areas that had people with lower income in 2019 now have people with higher income. It is predicted for these areas to have people with middle to high income in 2026.

The people who were lower income in 2019 moved out of the area because it was no longer affordable to live in due to gentrification.

Companies should build middle to low-income housing. Housing in San Diego has gotten to an all-time high, with an average price of 829,000 dollars. This means the average person will need an income of 200,000 dollars, which is well below a median household income of 79,673 in 2019.

With companies building housing for low-income families, it allows the population to become more diverse and welcoming to all backgrounds no matter the income level, therefore decreasing the separation between ethnic groups.

Allowing the construction of a luxury project in at-risk neighborhoods, it will increase the value of the surrounding properties. These properties will have an increase in rent and home values and will force those at-risk families to leave the area.

Senior citizens are choosing to sell their properties because they cannot afford the rise in property taxes because the area they live in is being gentrified. The city should increase funding for home repair programs that focus on gentrified neighborhoods. San Diego is a beautiful place to be and as the community becomes gentrified the senior citizens are being kicked out.

Look back in time and study the history of the city, San Diego has a history of redlining and by going back in time, it allows citizens to look how the city would intentionally keep people out of certain neighborhoods.

By being educated about your cities redlining issue it allows you to spread awareness about the social issue. redlining is prominent in major cities all across the US and it puts minorities at a major disadvantage.

Redlining and gentrification are social issues that cause society to divide. Purposefully dividing the population into subcategories based on race and ethnicity spreads the people. We live in the United States where we are miles away from being United.

Both the issues cause disadvantages to marginalized communities , through mapping gentrification and redlining, we are able to see how society favors wealthy White people. If we can decrease the amount of redlining and gentrification it would positively impact our nation, instead of being separated, we would be more united.