Gentrification and displacement of long-term residents in post-industrial neighbourhoods of Tallinn
Date
2021-04-28
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Abstract
Käesolev doktoritöö uurib endiste tööstusasumite gentrifikatsiooni ehk keskklassistumist. Gentrifikatsiooni on klassikaliselt defineeritud kui kohalike kauaaegsete üürnikest elanike väljatõrjumist kinnisvarahindade tõusu tagajärjel. Keskendutakse üürnikutele, sest omanikele reeglina otsene hinnasurve ei avaldu. Viimasel ajal on proovitud teooriat rakendada ka väljaspool selle esialgset konteksti. Näiteks on täheldatud, et paljudes Ida-Euroopa linnades toimub samalaadselt kõrgema sotsiaalmajandusliku staatusega elanikkonna sisse- ja kauaaegse elanikkonna väljaränne. Samas Ida-Euroopas on üürituru osakaal tunduvalt väiksem. See on tekitanud debati, kas teooria algupäraseid lähtekohti peaks muutma ning millistel tingimustel ja millises vormis surve väljakolimiseks avaldub. On teoretiseeritud, et surve väljakolimiseks ei avaldu ainult läbi elukalliduse ja üürihinna tõusu, vaid kohalikud pikaajalised elanikud tunnetavad väljatõrjumise survet läbi kohaliku arenguga kaasneva identiteedi teisenemise, muutuste kohalikus ettevõtluses ja kogukonnaelus ning ajalooliste traditsioonide katkestamise. Käesolev doktoritöö keskendub eluaseme- ja kinnisvaraturul aset leidvale väljatõrjumise protsessile Tallinna endistes tööstusasumites. Töö eesmärgiks on selgitada, kuidas endiste tööstusasumite eluasemefondi uuenemine on seotud ettevõtluskeskkonna teisenemise ja kohalike sotsiaalsete muutustega ning seletada, kuidas toimub elanike väljatõrjumine suure eraomandi osakaaluga eluasemeturul. Doktoritöö tulemustest selgub, et endiste tööstusasumite ettevõtluskeskkonna teisenemine on tihedalt läbi põimunud elanike vahetuse protsessiga ning nende ühiseks nimetajaks on elustiili- ja ökotooted, trenditeadlikkus ning taotlus autentsele elukeskkonnale. Need arengunarratiivid on valdavalt uuemate elanike ja ettevõtjate loodud ning on viinud kohaliku kogukonnaelu, kooskäimiskohtade ja kaubanduse teisenemiseni. Omades elupinda „võidavad“ kohalikud kauaaegsed elanikud kinnisvara väärtuse kasvades, kuid kaotavad olulise osa oma ajaloolisest sidemest, suhtlusvõrgustikust ning võimalusest kohalikes arengutes kaasa rääkida. Kuigi selline (välja)tõrjumine ei ole otsene ja „vägivaldne“, vajab see tähelepanu, sest viib erinevate elanike gruppide sotsiaal-ruumilisele eraldumisele ning võib mõjutada pikaajaliste elanike hilisemat väljakolimist.
This thesis focuses on the process of gentrification in post-industrial neighbourhoods. Gentrification is classically defined as the displacement of long-term local residential tenants as a result of rising property prices. The focus is on tenants because owners are not usually subject to price pressures when they own their own property. Recently, a growing number of scholars have taken up the challenge of applying the theory outside its initial context. For example, it has been observed that in many Eastern European cities the similar processes of in-migration of people with a higher socio-economic status and an out-migration of long-term residents subsequently take place. The share of the rental market in Eastern Europe, however, is considerably smaller. This has led to a debate about whether there is any need to re-consider the mechanisms behind and causes of gentrification. It has been theorised that displacement pressures also apply indirectly to long-term residents as a result of local identity changes, or changes in local business and community life, and the disruption of historic connections. This thesis focuses on the process of housing and property market-induced indirect displacement in the post-industrial neighbourhoods of Tallinn. The aims of this thesis are therefore twofold. Firstly, it aims to understand the commercial and social mechanisms that are applied by the housing revitalisation of post-industrial neighbourhoods and their relation with the process of gentrification; and secondly the process of displacement in the housing market for home owners. The results of this thesis show that the commercial transformation of a residential neighbourhood is closely related to local residential changes. Local neighbourhood change is driven largely by active place-making narratives which are related to lifestyle and eco-friendly products, modern urban living, and a search for an authentic environment. The dominant narratives of change which are created by new residents and entrepreneurs have changed local community life, meeting places, and local commerce. Long-term residents benefit from the increasing value of property but lose their historical connection with place, social networks, and legitimacy in terms of place-making. Although such a form of displacement is not ‘violent’ it needs attention because its outcome is the socio-spatial exclusion of various population groups. It also can lead to the later out-migration of long-term residents.
This thesis focuses on the process of gentrification in post-industrial neighbourhoods. Gentrification is classically defined as the displacement of long-term local residential tenants as a result of rising property prices. The focus is on tenants because owners are not usually subject to price pressures when they own their own property. Recently, a growing number of scholars have taken up the challenge of applying the theory outside its initial context. For example, it has been observed that in many Eastern European cities the similar processes of in-migration of people with a higher socio-economic status and an out-migration of long-term residents subsequently take place. The share of the rental market in Eastern Europe, however, is considerably smaller. This has led to a debate about whether there is any need to re-consider the mechanisms behind and causes of gentrification. It has been theorised that displacement pressures also apply indirectly to long-term residents as a result of local identity changes, or changes in local business and community life, and the disruption of historic connections. This thesis focuses on the process of housing and property market-induced indirect displacement in the post-industrial neighbourhoods of Tallinn. The aims of this thesis are therefore twofold. Firstly, it aims to understand the commercial and social mechanisms that are applied by the housing revitalisation of post-industrial neighbourhoods and their relation with the process of gentrification; and secondly the process of displacement in the housing market for home owners. The results of this thesis show that the commercial transformation of a residential neighbourhood is closely related to local residential changes. Local neighbourhood change is driven largely by active place-making narratives which are related to lifestyle and eco-friendly products, modern urban living, and a search for an authentic environment. The dominant narratives of change which are created by new residents and entrepreneurs have changed local community life, meeting places, and local commerce. Long-term residents benefit from the increasing value of property but lose their historical connection with place, social networks, and legitimacy in terms of place-making. Although such a form of displacement is not ‘violent’ it needs attention because its outcome is the socio-spatial exclusion of various population groups. It also can lead to the later out-migration of long-term residents.
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Keywords
gentrification, population, industrial areas, Tallinn