The Limits of Chicago's Back-to-the-City Movement

The back-to-the-city movement continues to be a hot-button issue among urbanists. On one side, some applaud it as source of talent, jobs, and revenue. On the other, critics deplore the unaffordable housing prices, gentrification, and displacement that has come along with it. That said, one thing has become increasingly clear: In the U.S., the back-to-the-city movement tends to be limited to young, skilled, and affluent residents in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Seattle.

Where does Chicago fall on this list? Neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, River North, and Wrigleyville are noted examples of gentrification. But how extensive has the city’s urban revival really been? A recent study from William A. Testa of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and William Sander of DePaul University takes a detailed look, examining the extent of Chicago’s back-to-the-city movement from 1990 to 2010.