This reminds me of another Atlantic article, In Defense of Gentrification. Essentially, Syracuse has segregated itself by income level. Areas with a high density of poverty continue to suffer. The gentrification of neighborhoods generally elevates the quality of life of for its lower income residents. Those that are displaced are more likely to move to a neighborhood with a higher median income than their own.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/in-defen...