Jackelyn Hwang's research on gentrification in Stanford News
Tight housing, immigration are shifting pressure onto Seattle’s black neighborhoods, Stanford sociologist finds
A Stanford sociologist found that recent Asian immigrants moving to neighborhoods with more Asians explains the lack of redevelopment in these areas and contributes to the gentrification of areas with a higher African American population.
A competitive housing market combined with the rapid rise of immigration is driving gentrification in Seattle’s low-cost black neighborhoods, according to a new study by Stanford sociologist Jackelyn Hwang.
While gentrification – which Hwang defines as an influx of investment and middle/upper-income residents into previously low-income neighborhoods – is more likely to occur in areas with higher populations of African Americans, areas with higher populations of Asians have not seen that same level of redevelopment in Seattle – a divergence Hwang’s data suggests is attributed to immigration. Her findings have been published in City & Community.