>We had several areas of Toronto that had fallen into significant disrepair. People of average means would buy one of the dipalidated houses, fix it up reasonably, and live there (in an otherwise 'lousy' neighborhood). Others of similar means followed, and pretty soon the neighbourhood would improve significantly. Then the neighbourhood would "gentrify" - people of better means would move in the remainder of the old homes and fix them up quite classily. BUT the property taxes for the folks of average means stayed tied to the 'old' value of the house they owned. They were free to sell, and many did at a handsome profit.
>But now the owner of average means has been driven out by radically increased property taxes.
>To me that's sad too.

Happened here too in several areas, and there's a provision in the city code now (not sure if it's there in each city in the area, though) that there's a tax relief for families on fixed income, i.e. retirees who'd be priced out from the neighborhoods where they lived for decades.

But that's an exception which was made probably because local TV channels found it good for their ratings. Others, whose stories aren't so heart-tearing (or who are on unfixable income) may still have to move.