Housing, Population Change and Displacement in a Neighborhood in Process of Gentrification. The Case of Sant Antoni (Barcelona)

Abstract

The conditions of access to housing in large Spanish cities have worsened since 2015, especially because of a dramatic increase in housing prices. This trend has especially affected areas of high centrality but that had remained unaltered to previous episodes of urban and sociodemographic transformation. In this article, we approach the recent gentrification process of Sant Antoni, a neighborhood in Barcelona, through a mixed methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis. This approach allows us to dissect the mechanisms of neighborhood change underlining the leading role of the housing market. Sant Antoni is a relevant case because emerging dynamics that are largely unexplored are taking place in the neighborhood, such as tourism or qualified international migration, elements that are increasingly necessary to incorporate to understand gentrification processes in southern Europe.