Urban Studies

3 articles

A diverse urban neighborhood street at dusk, showcasing a blend of historic and modern architecture with people interacting, symbolizing community and identity.

What Factors Shape Neighborhood Identity and Character?

The number of U.S. census tracts showing signs of gentrification skyrocketed from just 246 in the 1970s to 1,807 by the 2010s, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) . This

Derek Molina·July 4, 2026

Split image contrasting a gentrifying urban neighborhood with new development against a struggling low-income neighborhood with older housing.

Neighborhoods

Rethinking Gentrification's Impact on Neighborhoods

Between 2000 and 2016, an analysis of over six million court cases revealed that most evictions in 72 US metropolitan areas occurred not in gentrifying neighborhoods, but in low-income areas that did

Derek Molina·April 29, 2026

Split image showing a connected neighborhood versus a divided one, symbolizing the dual nature of hyperlocal apps.

Community

Hyperlocal Apps: The Double-Edged Sword of Local Engagement

Despite being marketed as tools for community connection, Nextdoor has been accused of fostering 'paranoid hysteria' in American neighborhoods, according to The Guardian .

Derek Molina·April 20, 2026