Abstract

Small-scale social hierarchies change during urban densification. This chapter observes three central neighborhoods experiencing high-rise residential renewal in Santiago, Chile. A Panel Survey (considering two annual waves in 2015 and 2018) shows the proliferation of high-rise residential buildings affecting local inhabitants in several ways, with attraction (pull) and expulsion (push) forces at play. We conducted a simple bivariate descriptive analysis to see independent variables of each neighborhood's physical and demographic changes, housing costs, people's socioeconomic profile, and the type of dwelling they occupy. Dependent variables are intention to emigrate, perceived cost of remaining in the place, evaluation of the material and immaterial elements of the neighborhood (like public spaces or security), and pull and push forces (considering economic, symbolic, and psychological perceived components). We stratified the sample into four clusters considering a) the type of dwellings used (apartment or house) and b) the tenancy (owner or tenant) - the second axis reflecting structural socioeconomic divisions in the city. As the four groups internalize the push forces differently, these are more crucial for low-income tenants; however, some pull forces are specifically internalized by low-income tenants, like stronger social cohesion and attachment to the neighborhood. Centrality is a spatial attractor for all groups, and losing it is worse for low-income tenants.