Which process involves improving rundown areas to attract a high-end market?

Gentrification is the process that specifically involves the transformation of rundown areas into attractive neighborhoods for higher-income residents, often resulting in the displacement of lower-income individuals. This process typically includes the renovation and upgrading of properties, the introduction of new businesses, and the overall enhancement of infrastructure and services, which serve to raise property values and attract wealthier demographics.

In urban planning and sociology, gentrification is often seen as a controversial phenomenon due to its dual impact: while it can rejuvenate neglected areas and boost local economies, it can also lead to social displacement and loss of the community's original character. The phenomenon is driven by various factors, including investor interest, urban aesthetics, and changes in the demographics of the areas in question.

Urban renewal, while related and often overlapping with gentrification, focuses more broadly on the revitalization of urban spaces and can sometimes incorporate both policies that benefit existing residents as well as those that displace them. Invasion and rehabilitation do not specifically capture the essence of the process of attracting a high-end market to rundown areas in the way that gentrification does. Thus, the choice of gentrification accurately reflects the aim of improving these areas predominantly for a wealthier demographic.