Gentrification in Cincinnati – the case of Over-the-Rhine neighborhood

Keywords: Gentrification, Over-the-Rhine, semi-structured interview, displacement, socioeconomic change, Cincinnati
Session Type: Virtual Poster
Day: Thursday
Session Start / End Time: 4/8/2021 09:35 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/8/2021 10:50 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 52

Abstract

Over-the-Rhine (OTR) is a neighborhood in Cincinnati known for its rich historical and architectural heritage. Big changes are happening in the neighborhood over the last 10-15 years. OTR was at the peak of its development right before the start of World War 1, after which the population started to leave the city center due to suburbanization. Also, the industries are relocating from the city center and this combination leads towards the economic decline of the neighborhood. These abandoned spaces are inhabited by population with lower socioeconomic backgrounds and with a boost in crime rates. Despite its location in the city center, OTR was outside of Cincinnati due to lack of security. The crimes culminated in 2001 during which riots happened in Vine street. A combination of NGOs, trust for preservation of historical heritage, real estate businesses, and the investment of big companies resulted in gentrification. This work illustrates the process of gentrification and gathers opinions about the process from key actors. The first part includes an introduction with overview of study area and main objectives, hypotheses, goals, and methods. Following is the theoretical explanation of term of gentrification as well as visual examples of changes from the neighborhood. The final part includes a detailed analysis of the neighborhood shown as the results of semi-structured interviews conducted with representatives from the academic, public, and private sector. Six main topics are formed from the interviews and therefore examined along with the quantitative analysis of the neighborhood from data provided by official sources.