Actually there is a reason, at least in NYC, why artists were the advanced guard of gentrification. There was a zoning ordinance passed that made it legal to us

Actually there is a reason, at least in NYC, why artists were the advanced guard of gentrification. There was a zoning ordinance passed that made it legal to use former industrial buildings as residences if the tenant was an artist. So, in order to transmute old industrial buildings into residences, developers needed artists in a transitional stage. I remember reading a journal article on urban history that had all the gory details, and that it was deliberately passed with the intent of gentrifying these artist districts or zones. After some quick Googling I think it was the rezoning in 1976 which is just in time to set up the gentrification and yuppie wave of the 80s.