Gentrification’s Impact on Georgia’s Communities
For sustainable travel, we must ask :
Who is at the heart of a place?
What’s important or needed for Georgians?
I’ve walked through neighborhoods that once told stories of resilience only to see them transformed into rows of cafes, condos, and rising rents almost overnight.
Gentrification isn’t just about new coffee shops, boutiques, co-working places or luxury apartments. It’s about the slow erasure of communities, identities, and cultural roots. When property values rise and longtime residents are pushed out,
What remains of a city’s soul?
In 2021, I was lucky to live in Batumi, Georgia for a real estate project. I spent a year exploring Georgia’s old towns and countryside, rich in natural beauty, history, and human warmth. Batumi, like many growing cities, faces a delicate challenge.
To ensure stable development and national security, the country needs more resources, infrastructure, and international capital. I understand the rationale behind expanding the city, inviting developers, businesses, foreign investors, and more affluent residents. But this also comes with consequences:
Rising costs, housing pressures, and cultural shifts that threaten to displace the very communities that make Georgia so irreplaceable.
For many Georgians, these changes are a mix of hope and uncertainty. After all, they’ve lived under the shadow of Russian influence for decades.
Increased tourism, digital nomads, and global attention bring new opportunities and a chance for international recognition, biodiversity, and cultural exchange.
As a digital nomad who deeply values the spirit of community, I believe in
Protecting Cultural Spaces that tell the true story of a neighborhood.
During my time in Georgia, I had the privilege of connecting with people who are devoted to preserving their heritage