Gentrification: The name of the game
Gentrification? Developers prefer to call it regeneration. But critics say people who have lived in target suburbs for many years are being pushed out by developers because they cannot afford the rising rents
Gentrified neighbourhoods have long been a haven for the middle class and a home to hipsters but there are also the forgotten people — families who have been around for many years who suddenly find themselves homeless or threatened. In Braamfontein, in Johannesburg’s CBD, the streets are scummy and KFC packets clog up drains. But there’s a distinct buzz. On one side you can buy a knock-off branded cap for R20 from a street vendor, on the other is the Neighbourgoods market where you can buy Nutella samosas, vintage clothes and freshly made paella. It’s not far off its Cape Town counterpart in Woodstock, home to the artisanal Old Biscuit Mill market. The target for gentrification is a slightly scruffy neighbourhood — character being the preferred adjective — that’s centrally located and historically relevant. Add a charming coffee shop or a weekend market and students and young professionals on the hunt for cheap rentals come flocking. Alexandra Appelbaum, a researcher at the SA Resea...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.