Gentrification is the process by which real estate becomes more desirable and, consequently, more expensive. Rising prices displace long-time residents, replacing them with higher-income newcomers. This should not be confused with the forced removal of citizens through eminent domain or forced evictions. Evicting residents by official decree is a different issue altogether.
A classic example of gentrification is Greenwich Village in New York City. Originally, the neighborhood was occupied by wealthy residents. Later, it became the city's red-light district, triggering an exodus of the upper-middle class.
