Final answer:
Redevelopment is a general term for improving urban areas, while gentrification is a form of redevelopment where affluent individuals move to working-class neighborhoods, leading to displacement of existing residents. Gentrification, which became prominent in the 1970s, can improve areas but often results in significant social changes and sometimes adverse effects for original residents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is redevelopment gentrification? This is a nuanced question, as while both terms involve changes to urban neighborhoods, they do not necessarily mean the same thing. Redevelopment is a broader term that refers to the process of renovating and improving an area, which can include both residential and commercial spaces. Gentrification, on the other hand, is a specific type of redevelopment that occurs when middle and upper-class residents move into formerly working-class neighborhoods, often resulting in the displacement of the existing residents as rents and property values rise beyond their ability to pay.
In the 1970s, gentrification became notable as investors purchased property in urban centers, renovated it, and attracted more affluent individuals, thereby changing the neighborhood's demographic and economic landscape. This process can often lead to increased tension and conflict, such as the Tompkin’s Square Park Riot in New York City, fueled by the economic and social shifts that gentrification introduces into a community. Despite some examples of gentrification leading to improved situations for long-term residents, it frequently results in displacement of the original community members who can no longer afford the heightened costs of living.