Philadelphia is one of several major U.S. cities highlighted in a new report tracking gentrification across various neighborhoods throughout the nation, writes Racquel Williams for KYW Newsradio.
The new report was conducted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and is titled, “Displaced by Design.”
The report found that gentrification throughout the United States in the past half-century has been relatively rare, impacting about 15 percent of urban neighborhoods.
However, that number is increasing.
In Philadelphia, 10 out of 18 gentrifying neighborhoods between 1980 and 2000 shifted from majority-Black to majority white or other races.
“This led to the displacement in those areas, of over 11,000 Black residents. In fact, Philadelphia is ranked number six in terms of the number of majority black neighborhoods that turned over and became a majority white or other race,” Bruce Mitchell, principal researcher with the NCRC, explained.
According to the study, Center City was the starting point of the gentrification. It then trickled out to parts of West Philadelphia and beyond as the decades went on.
Between 2000 and 2010, Northern Liberties and Fishtown started showing signs of gentrification. This then expanded into Kensington by 2020.
This leads to displacement, transforms the culture of the neighborhoods, changes the profile of its small businesses, and impacts resident affordability.
Read more about the report highlighting gentrification in Philly and other cities at KYW Newsradio.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in May 2025.
