Exploring the Diversity of Gentrification in Three Chicago Cultural Districts - Differences in the Artist Class As First Wave Gentrifiers
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EXPLORING THE DIVERSITY OF GENTRIFICATION IN THREE CHICAGO CULTURAL DISTRICTS - DIFFERENCES IN THE ARTIST CLASS AS FIRST WAVE GENTRIFIERS By Cristina Ramona Benton A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Geography – Doctor of Philosophy 2014 i ABSTRACT EXPLORING THE DIVERSITY OF GENTRIFICATION IN THREE CHICAGO CULTURAL DISTRICTS - DIFFERENCES IN THE ARTIST CLASS AS FIRST WAVE GENTRIFIERS By Cristina Ramona Benton The paper explores the diversity of gentrification that exists in three cultural districts that are the recipients of the public investment in the city of Chicago between the years 1970 and 2000. The research advances a broader analysis of gentrification consistent with the approaches advanced by Rose (1984), Beauregard (1990), Clark (2005), and Podagrosi, Vojnovic, and Pigozzi (2011). A principal components analysis and k-means cluster analysis generated a grouping of 123 census tracts in Chicago experiencing similar upgrading trajectories. A qualitative analysis was conducted on three neighborhoods captured from this one cluster, with all three neighborhoods being nodes of the public investment in the infrastructure of play in Chicago. The three case studies experienced similar trajectories of gentrification, but with considerable internal diversity. The paper suggests that the specific characteristics in the diversity of cultural professionals, and the diversity in their 'artistic-infused' districts, can provide insight into the nature of subsequent gentrifiers. Within this context, the study also explores the role of the public sector in driving gentrification in Chicago’s arts and cultural districts. ii Copyright by CRISTINA RAMONA BENTON 2014 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ x Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. Theoretical Background ................................................................................................ 9 2.1. Gentrification ....................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.1. Supply versus Demand Side Approaches to Gentrification .......................................... 9 2.1.2. The Diversity of Gentrification ................................................................................... 12 2.1.3. Defining the Two Key Elements of Gentrification ..................................................... 17 2.1.3.1. The Nature of Capital Investment and Physical Upgrading ..................................... 18 2.1.3.2. The Role of Government in Capital Reinvestment .................................................. 20 2.1.3.3. Displacement and Social Upgrading ........................................................................ 23 2.1.4. The Diversity of the Gentrifier .................................................................................... 26 2.1.5. Commentary on Gentrification Theory ....................................................................... 29 2.2. Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Gentrification ............................................................... 29 2.2.1. The Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play .................................................... 29 2.2.2. The Role of Artists and Cultural Professionals in Gentrification ................................ 32 2.2.3. Summary on Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Gentrification .................................... 34 2.3. The Profile of Chicago, IL ................................................................................................. 34 2.4. Concluding Commentary ................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3. Research Problem, Data, and Quantitative Analysis ................................................... 42 3.1. Statement of Problem and Research ................................................................................... 42 3.2. Research Questions, Objectives, Hypotheses, and Research Methods .............................. 44 3.2.1. Hypothesis ................................................................................................................... 45 3.2.2. Methods of Analysis .................................................................................................... 45 3.3. Quantitative Analysis and Research Data .......................................................................... 47 3.3.1. Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play ........................................................... 48 3.3.2. Gentrification Data ...................................................................................................... 50 3.3.3. Study Census Tracts and Boundary Standardization ................................................... 54 3.3.4. Data Processing: Census Variables ............................................................................. 61 3.4. Overview of Chicago's Physical and Social Upgrading Between 1970 and 2000 ............. 66 3.5. Quantitative Analysis: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and K-means Clustering ... 75 3.5.1. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) ......................................................................... 76 3.5.2. K-means Clustering Analysis ...................................................................................... 79 3.6. Concluding Commentary ................................................................................................... 83 Chapter 4. Analysis of the Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play ................................. 85 4.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 85 4.2. The Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play in Chicago ........................................ 86 4.2.1. Overview of the Infrastructure of Play in Chicago ...................................................... 86 4.2.2. The Public Investment in the City’s Infrastructure of Play ......................................... 88 iv 4.3. The Analysis of the Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play ................................. 92 4.3.1. General Overview ........................................................................................................ 92 4.3.2. The Analysis of the Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play Aggregated at the Census Tract Level of Analysis ............................................................................................. 97 4.3.3. Analysis of the Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play Aggregated at the Community Area Level of Analysis .................................................................................... 102 4.4. The Selection of the Three Cultural Districts for Qualitative Analysis ........................... 108 4.5. Concluding Commentary ................................................................................................. 111 Chapter 5. Wicker Park ............................................................................................................... 116 5.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 116 5.2. West Town Gentrification and Arts and Culture ............................................................. 118 5.3. Gentrification and the Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play in Wicker Park .. 126 5.4. Wicker Park Socioeconomic and Housing Profile, 1970 - 2000 ...................................... 145 5.5. Concluding Comments ..................................................................................................... 150 Chapter 6. Central Lakeview ...................................................................................................... 155 6.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 155 6.2. Overview of the Infrastructure of Play and Gentrification in Lakeview .......................... 156 6.3. Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play and Gentrification in Central Lakeview 167 6.4. The Socioeconomic Profile of Central Lakeview, 1970 - 2000 ....................................... 177 6.5. Concluding Comments ..................................................................................................... 182 Chapter 7. Pilsen East ................................................................................................................. 186 7.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 186 7.2. Gentrification and the Public Investment in Culture in the Lower West Side ................. 187 7.3. Gentrification and the Public Investment in the Infrastructure of Play in Pilsen East ..... 202 7.4. The Socioeconomic and Housing Profile of Pilsen East, 1970-2000 .............................. 213 7.5. Concluding Comments ..................................................................................................... 217 Chapter 8. Conclusions