What is it called when neighborhoods in big cities are torn down (projects) and rebuilt for wealthier people?

Answer 1

It's called "gentrification."

Answer 2

"urban renewal"

Edited to add: I see some people referring to it as "eminent domain." Eminent domain is a constitutional term which allows government (city, state or federal) to appropriate personal property (like a house and lot) for the betterment of society - ie., when an interstate needs another exit because a town has grown large, or a phone company needs 500 feet of a person's lot to run a cable. The individual is compensated for the "fair market value" of their loss.

Recently, and wrongly IMV, the Supreme Court has ruled that *personal property* (and therefore not the same as you hypothetical of "projects, so their answers are incorrect) may be subject to eminent domain for the betterment of a corporation - which the Court has held is in eminent domain because it's "better" for the community.

For example, a corporation decided to build an office building in a "run-down" part of town. They were able to buy up all but an old house (a home this couple had lived in for dccades). The couple that lived there just said, "We don't want to sell. We love our house, go away."

The USSC said that for the betterment of the community, the house was to be sold at "fair market value."

Historically speaking, this is brand new. It used to be that ONLY things that were "necessary" to the betterment of the government (and hence society), like electric company easements and gas and phone etc...were considered "eminent domain" arguments. Now? It's unholy - a corporation can come in and claim it, and that is SCARY - but your question does not actually involve eminent domain because "the projects" are already government property (because they're not private property). Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I like all the answers: ridiculous, gentrification, immanent domain, urban renewal...

The "projects" aren't all that wonderful for the people who are forced to live in them, so tearing them down isn't the issue. Building better and more afordable housing is. One of the things I find I enjoy the most about living in a city is the mix of income, types, attitudes, ethnicity, etc.

Answer 4

a nice name is urban renewal-or for the urban revitalization--which is ironic-because it mostly takes the life out and strilizes the area-- with prim and proper codes etc---which means get the people who can't afford it out and drive the prices up-- and lets squeeze them out and in.--gentrification is true--to gentrify--which means to clean -make respectable--sanitze--take out the soul-- true to gentrify is to take out the substance--it is a lot of fake stone walls instead or real stones---prefabrication---another name-- which is not used so much is --social conflict-- which is when you have two or 3 groups fighting for the area-- what normally happens in these areas--is they have been previously owned by immigrants or industrial areas or the cheap hotels-- after a while with the immigrants and the like-business start popping up- then the young people -artists- and stuff start moving in to the places and start giving it that urban look and some gallaries start emerging and little cafes--etc-- than as the hotels or warehoses begin to get sold--normally about 10 to 20 years has passed or 30-- and now it has the infrastructure of neighbourhood--so developers buy up the lots -start the condo thing-hike the prices--put prefab--fake urban living up so that people can feel like they are in the in thing--the artists get pushed out along with the immigrants and the like-- and it becomes a fake little bopper town--for people who have money but no class or character or personality--little rich parasites--without culture--except what they buy or steal or fake--

another name for it is vacuous living
anyway-thats the scene
ps-and if you watch a city--normally you will one prized area---perhaps a dirty main street with lots of problems but protected because of government buildings AND housing etc- and the developers--- start to encircle it slowly and slowly-
it causes lots of problems--mainly because the people(or the not so rich or immigrants have to find new projects or governmet areas--but then that begins a fight with other boroughs--no not here- no not here-- so they keep going up and down -and this causes instabilty- to the surrouning areas-- and the people living there--some cities are smart though--they designate these areas with about 40%protected government or subsidized housing--this keeps things in balance and keeps prices at stable price -keeps the character of the place and makes the city diverse and more open--it happened innew york--vancover cannda-- a little bit of london england -montreal--toronto--no- nor san francisco(i don't think) --anyway -that s what it s called
basically its a restructuring of the city-- with the middle class to upper moving in and the lower middle poorer out--- chicago and some cities though--built such massive suburbs with intergrated business and the like the centre doesn;t ebven get this renewal--it decays-- so there are good things to it--as long as it is kept in balance
however--i thing its in a cycle and its a fad-- 20 years it;ll be over-maybe 30--
cheers

Answer 5

It isn't eminent domain that term applies only when a government body takes private property for a greater use.

Although urban revitalization (that most correct term in that it is used by city planners) may include the use of eminent domain it is by no means its only use.

Answer 6

Its called building condos that no one is going to buy. They did that to my city, knocked down businesses, took over parking lots, homes and apartment buildings and turned them into abunch of condos and so far no buyers.

The next city from me they knocked down abunch of houses and kicked out a company that employed 3 thousand people and built what was suppose to be a resort community. So far no one moved in

Answer 7

eminent domain. Sounds like South Park in LA

Answer 8

It's called a smart city person. Build homes for people that can actually pay for them. Wonderful.

Answer 9

Its what we call urban renewal.It's illegal of course.The government has been doing it for years.Lately they are running into snags.You see people they are now attempting to take the well to do's property.In life what goes around comes around.

Answer 10

I like to call that neighood beautification! It is the natural progression!