An investigation into green gentrification in the Silo District, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Despite the plethora of studies on gentrification, knowledge about green gentrification is limited, especially in a South African context. Green gentrification is the process in which providing green amenities and cleaning up pollution attracts wealthier residents or tenants to a previously rundown neighbourhood, thereby increasing property values. This paper explores whether the characteristics of green gentrification can be identified in the transformation of the Silo District of the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, and therefore its effect on the perception of 'green gentrification', if it is found to occur in the area. The research was based on a single case study with three sources of data collection - a critical literature review, photographic and documentary evidence and semi-structured interviews. The findings show that the transforming of the Silo District, by implementing green and environmental amenities, attracted wealthy individuals and organisations to the area. The findings show that green gentrification occurs in the Silo District, and its transformation had a limited influence on this perception. The study reveals an inadvertent insidious phenomenon in redevelopment initiatives, especially with growing consciousness of sustainability issues. However, the limitations of a single case study research makes further research imperative, and results tested using contextually relevant methods.