What term describes the phenomenon where land uses characteristic of an inner city zone begin to encroach on an outer zone?

The phenomenon where land uses characteristic of an inner city zone begin to encroach on an outer zone is referred to as invasion. This term is often used to describe urban dynamics where established uses in a city begin to spill into adjacent areas, leading to changes in the economic and social landscape of those outer zones. As inner-city characteristics, such as commercial developments, residential changes, or cultural shifts, make their way into outer areas, they can disrupt the existing land use patterns, signifying an encroachment of one area into another.

This process is a part of the broader discourse on urban change, highlighting how cities evolve over time and how different neighborhoods can influence each other. It stands distinct from concepts like gentrification, which more specifically refers to the process of wealthier individuals moving into and improving an area, often leading to the displacement of lower-income residents. Thus, invasion provides a foundational understanding of urban encroachment dynamics, marking changes in land use and community characteristics that result from the flow of societal and economic trends from city centers into peripheral areas.