Gentrification in London and New York: An Atlantic gap?

This paper is concerned with differences and similarities between gentrification in England and the United States. The central argument is that processes of gentrification are context specific. Three aspects of local contexts that are crucial to gentrification are explored: (1) the institutionalisation of property transfer; (2) the capitalisation of property, and (3) urban conservation practices. These are illustrated with reference to two examples of gentrification: in Barnsbury, part of the inner London borough of Islington and in Park Slope, part of the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The analysis demonstrates that differences between the English and the US land and housing markets and urban conservation practices have important effects on the gentrification process, and that concepts which are relevant in one national setting are not necessarily appropriate in another national setting.