Reinventing the Prosperous City
For generations, government policy, urban planning practice and real estate development patterns have combined to segment, segregate and isolate communities within cities across the country. Some of the policies and practices that led to this outcome include, but are not limited to:
Tax incentives favoring single family housing
Emergence of cul-de-sacs throughout neighborhoods
Infrastructure investments favoring car ownership at the expense of mass transit, pedestrian and bike facilities
Private covenants that reinforce exclusionary zoning by restricting neighborhoods to single-family detached dwellings
Discriminatory impact of the GI Bill after WWII
Highway construction that divided and isolated minority and low-wealth communities
Taken together, these policies and practices tended to concentrate poverty by cutting off convenient access to jobs, services and even grocery stores to certain neighborhoods. In other parts of cities, neighborhoods built around “all-inclusive” concepts reduced the need of residents to venture beyond their immediate area. Developers of these neighborhoods created a sense of “exclusivity” by limiting connections to external streets and adjacent neighborhoods, along with liberal use of cul-de-sacs. As a result, many middle- and upper-income neighborhoods were essentially sealed off from the surrounding community.
So, on one end of the economic spectrum low-income and minority communities were isolated by discriminatory government policies and unfair lending practices. On the other hand, wealthier communities were isolated by exclusionary zoning policies, intentional neighborhood design and buyer preferences.
Largely due to these policies and practices, cities evolved over decades into disconnected communities often segregated to varying degrees by income and race. And since we’re all products of the built environment around us whether by car dependency, lack of transit, limited housing options, reduced job opportunities, or lack of pedestrian and bike infrastructure. But the impact on low-income and minority communities has been particularly devastating because the prevailing built environment magnifies the effects of income inequality.
Studies show that health and longevity are directly linked to income. Families with higher incomes are generally healthier and live longer because they have access to healthier food options, reliable transportation, better schools, healthcare, employment and stable housing. Conversely, lower-income families tend to have more health challenges and lower life expectancy because they lack easy access to these same goods, services and opportunities. And while cities cannot solve all of the problems contributing to income inequality, they can start to break down the institutional, regulatory and physical barriers that contribute to the problems.
Recognizing the impact of these policies across Raleigh, the City is now developing and implementing policies to help stitch neighborhoods and communities back together. It will take years and robust political courage to continue building upon these policies so they become part of Raleigh’s DNA. But with time and political support, these policies will lead to more residents gaining access to jobs, stable housing, services and healthy food options, regardless of socioeconomic.
RaleighForward is eager to work with diverse communities and civic leaders to provide residents with accurate, timely and relevant information that will lead to more equitable policies through authentic community engagement.