Finding the Gentrification Frontier Using Census Data: the Case of Portland, Maine Summary

GEO 362

January 26, 2012

Exercise #1

Authors Heidkamp, Patrick and Lucas, Susan case study, “Finding the Gentrification Frontier Using Census Data: The Case Of Portland, Maine”, describes the identity of the gentrification frontier. A case study in Portland, Maine combined with a census-derived analysis was used to determine the most apparent time period of the gentrification frontier. The authors propose the idea that the existence of a desirable place, such as a modernized urban waterfront can have a synergistic effect towards gentrification of neighboring urban spaces. This would create a gentrification frontier that affiliates with reinvestment in the waterfront. This is proven by the gentrification frontier located along the neighboring areas of gentrification along Portland’s waterfront. The background history that was included about Portland indicated as a relevant policy that buildings within three hundred feet of the harbor in Portland had to dedicate their first floor to waterfront-dependent business

The methodology used to obtain the results of this case was very precise. A field study was conducted of block groups within the city of Portland. The a priori classification was used to assign each individual block group into four categories: The first was not gentrified-high status, second was not gentrified-poor, third the gentrification frontier and the fourth was gentrified. The criteria that were used to determine a priori classification of block groups were the preliminary analysis, the interpretation of both the built environment and cultural environment formed from fieldwork.

The variable selected for for the analytical portion of the research was used to determine the appearance of gentrification in Portland, which was between the year 1980 and 2000. The change variables information was received from the 1980,1990, and 2000 United States Census. The stepwise discriminant analysis was used to determine where the...