Exploring Park induced Changes in Retail Business in Gentrifying Communities: The Case of Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Urban parks could contribute to revitalize neighborhoods when the park improves the image of distressed areas and attracts people and investment like the case of High Line Park, New York. Opening of a new park could be a trigger for the revitalization, and lead to drastic change in retail business: opening of new entrepreneurial retail capital—boutiques, trendy restaurants, and café as well as the replacement of local retail store and services. This study explores recent gentrification in the districts near Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Seoul, Korea. Gyeongui Line, which had been underutilized railways, was converted into a linear urban park three miles long and 10 to 60 meters wide. The neighborhoods near Gyeongui Line have been in the process of gentrification, and the opening of Gyeongui Line Forest Park has accelerated and expanded gentrification. In order to explore the mechanism by which the park affects gentrification process, this study analyzes the trajectories of retail business before and after the opening of the park. Spatial and temporal characteristics of retail business are analyzed based on the birth and death information of various small business. The analysis for the trajectories of retail business confirms that displacement of retail services for residences was promoted by the opening of the park. The results and findings of this study provide a better understanding of neighborhood change.