The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines gentrification as the transformation of neighborhoods from low value to high value. This process can lead to displacement of long-time residents and businesses due to rising rents, mortgages, and property taxes.
 

In 2017, Realtor magazine rated Charleston the "fastest-gentrifying" city in the US. The north end of the peninsula, which was once home to many black neighborhoods and communities, has become ‘gentrification central’. Though the root causes of gentrification remain a complex issue, the main drivers in Charleston include the city's growing tourism industry, increasing demand for housing in desirable areas, and a lack of affordable housing options. As a result of these factors, many long-time residents, particularly those from low-income and minority communities, have been pushed out of their neighborhoods as property values and living costs have risen. Since the 1990s, the demographic makeup of the area has shifted from roughly two-thirds Black to two-thirds White, resulting in a 55% decrease in the Black population. This evidence is bolstered by a 2020 Stanford study, which found that minority communities are disproportionately affected by the negative effects of gentrification compared to their white counterparts.
 

Overall, while the city of Charleston is experiencing economic growth and prosperity, it is important to consider the impact of gentrification on the residents and communities who have been there for a long time. The loss of historical and cultural sites that are significant to the city's African American community, as well as the displacement of residents from these communities, has resulted in a loss of community identity, as well as cultural heritage, which is part of the city's history. Efforts to address this issue must include the creation of affordable housing options, preservation of historical and cultural sites, and the protection of the rights of long-time residents.