Black Homeowners, White Homesteaders, and Failed Gentrification in Detroit

In the minds of many, Detroit is undergoing a renaissance thanks to gentrifying urbanites drawn to the city by cheap housing and a thriving culture. But what happens when gentrification comes to one of the most depopulated neighborhoods in the country—a place where every other property is a vacant lot and every third house stands empty?

To find out, former Postdoctoral Fellow at the center Sharon Cornelissen, who is now the Director of Housing at the Consumer Federation of America, moved to the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit and became the owner of a $7,000 house. Her book, Last House on the Block: Black Homeowners, White Homesteaders, and Failed Gentrification in Detroit examines what happens when white homesteaders come to a predominantly Black community and whether gentrification is inevitable.

Toni Griffin, Professor in the Practice of Urban Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, will join her for a conversation about the book.