Sense of Place in a Gentrifying East Austin Neighborhood

Sense of place is the relationship a person or a group of people have with a place. A strong sense of place can promote strong individual and group identities, positive emotions, and have psychological benefits. This study investigates how sense of place in East Austin is changing and how this perception of change differs between residents. Sense of place in American neighborhoods is deteriorating due to the displacement of people and changes in infrastructure. Neighborhoods in East Austin have experienced significant changes over the past two decades due to gentrification, and as a result people may experience a changing sense of place. Sense of place in neighborhoods was examined through a literature review, interviews, and hand-drawn maps produced by the interview participants. The literature review analyzes and provides a framework for sense of place and neighborhood perceptions. Residents from an East Austin drew maps of their neighborhoods and were interviewed. This study finds that there is a conflicting sense of place for some people who feel like they belong in their neighborhood but are also not meant to be there and a sense of loss due to the many changes that have occurred in the neighborhood. A better understanding of sense of place can help urban planners, designers, and city officials create a stronger sense of place in changing areas, such as East Austin.Geography and the Environmen