[aaron38]

Gentrification would be much less of a problem if property taxes for existing homes didn't double every time a tear-down rebuild occurs or an empty lot gets a new building.
Just because my neighbor cashes out and someone with more money moves in doesn't mean I get a raise and can suddenly afford to pay hundreds more a month in taxes.

It's government that is pricing people out of gentrifying neighborhoods, not developers. And it's wrong to say that a neighborhood has to remain depressed and crumbling as the only way to keep it affordable, because that's the only way government will keep the taxes low.

Maybe that's why we see South side politicians putting zoning freezes on major arterials? If the city is going to say "there's a micro brewery and trendy Thai fusion restaurant around the corner from you, you must be rich and can pay double", then the only solution is to keep new businesses out of the area.