Who has the right to the neighbourhood? - A case study of the revitalization of Grønlandskvarteret
Author
Andersen, Stine
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-11-10
Pages
80
Abstract
This thesis examines the risk of gentrification in social housing linked to a planned revitalization of Grønlandskvarteret, a socially challenged suburban neighborhood in Aalborg, Denmark. Here, gentrification is understood as a process in which upgrades attract higher‑income residents, rents rise, and existing residents may be displaced. Revitalization refers to actions such as renovations and improvements to the physical environment. The study asks two questions: 1) how the neighborhood’s historical development has shaped its current reputation, and 2) whether revitalization could lead to gentrification. To address the first question, a document analysis traced how local newspapers described the neighborhood from 1960 to 2020. To understand today’s reputation, local residents were interviewed about their perceptions. Possible futures were explored through scenario building, producing four scenarios based on two critical uncertainties: rent levels (high/low) and reputation (good/bad). These axes were chosen using a theoretical framework on gentrification and informed by the document analysis and interviews. Findings show that the negative reputation established in the 1970s still influences how the area is viewed today. Early signs of gentrification are already visible, and the two scenarios judged most likely could both lead to gentrification, albeit in different ways.
Denne afhandling undersøger risikoen for gentrificering i almene boliger i forbindelse med en planlagt revitalisering af Grønlandskvarteret, et socialt udsat forstadskvarter i Aalborg. Gentrificering forstås her som en udvikling, hvor opgraderinger af et område tiltrækker mere ressourcestærke beboere, huslejer stiger, og nuværende beboere kan blive presset ud. Revitalisering dækker over tiltag som renoveringer og forbedringer af de fysiske omgivelser. Undersøgelsen søger at besvare to spørgsmål: 1) hvordan kvarterets historiske udvikling har formet dets nuværende omdømme, og 2) om en revitalisering kan føre til gentrificering. For at belyse det første spørgsmål er der gennemført en dokumentanalyse af, hvordan kvarteret er blevet omtalt i lokale aviser fra 1960 til 2020. For at forstå den nuværende opfattelse er lokale beboere blevet interviewet om deres syn på området. For at undersøge mulige fremtider er der opstillet fire scenarier ved hjælp af scenariebygning. Scenarierne varierer langs to kritiske usikkerheder: huslejeniveau (høj/lav) og omdømme (godt/dårligt). Valget af disse akser bygger på en teoretisk ramme om gentrificering samt resultaterne fra dokumentanalysen og interviewene. Resultaterne viser, at den negative omtale, kvarteret fik i 1970’erne, fortsat præger opfattelsen i dag. Der ses allerede tidlige tegn på gentrificering, og de to scenarier, der vurderes som mest sandsynlige, kan begge føre til gentrificering, om end på forskellige måder.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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