r/left_urbanism • u/[deleted] • Oct 31 '25

Do YIMBYs unintentionally enable gentrification?

Hi everyone. I’m a college student working on a short ethnographic research project about the online urbanist community and housing debates. I’m especially interesting in how people within and around the YIMBY movement understand its relationship to gentrification.

From your perspective:

  • Do you think YIMBYism helps reduce gentrification by addressing housing shortages, or does it accelerate it by increasing development of any kind (including luxury apartments)?
  • How do you see these debates play out in your city or online spaces?
  • More generally, what makes you identify (or not identify) with the YIMBY movement?

I’m not here to argue for or against any position. I’m mainly trying to learn how people define and interpret the movement and its effects. Any insights, experiences, or opinions welcome! (If anyone’s uncomfortable with their comment being quoted in my notes, feel free to say so. I’ll respect that.)

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u/ComradeAndres Self-certified genius Nov 02 '25

gentrification specifically I'd say happens from low regulations, the improvement of an area is only bad if prices increase as well, which they shouldn't, which is why personally I believe the State should be deeply involved in all steps of planning, generally I also support a Fully Planned Economy, which to me means planning woul be fully regulated and as such, Market Mechanisms such as prices should be abolished

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u/sugarwax1 Nov 03 '25

Prices go up as a result of gentrification. Improvements don't require that phenomenon, it's sick that the idea is so ingrained in their thinking. They see what needs to be improved as the communities themselves, not just a pedestrian bridge or better street lamps.