Urban Patterns Urban Patterns Inner City Social Issues
Urban Patterns
Urban Patterns Inner City Social Issues
Inner Cities Face Distinctive Challenges – Most significant = deteriorating housing • Filtering – subdividing larger homes into small apts. » successive waves of immigrants, minority groups, powerless » absentee landlords neglect buildings and they fall into disrepair » abandoned when real estate taxes/upkeep > rents received • Redlining (review definition) – banks refuse to loan money in certain areas » now illegal but difficult to enforce (they can find “other” reasons) » poorer/ “riskier” areas unable to gets loans to maintain buildings • White flight – middle class takes their $ to the suburbs – Often the result of blockbusting (review definition) » Unscrupulous real estate practice intended to scare white homeowners about “pending” racial/ethnic change • Impact of the 2008 recession (housing market collapse) » Foreclosure (bank seizes home for non payment of mortgage) » “under water” (mortgage higher than home value → walk away) • Eroding tax base » cities have to either reduce services or raise taxes
• 2000 – 2010 – Chicago lost 200, 000 African Americans – Mostly aged 1 – 10 and 31 – 40. Who are they? • Families (Middle Class? ) with children
• Social issues Inner City Challenges – The underclass • people caught in an unending cycle of social and economic issues • homelessness • culture (or cycle) of poverty
• Social issues Inner City Challenges – The underclass • people caught in an unending cycle of social and economic issues • homelessness • culture (or cycle) of poverty – poverty leads to behavior which reinforces or continues poverty – out-of-wedlock children/absentee fathers → govt. dependence – ghettoized “often isolated from positive influences”, job opportunities, etc. – gangs, violence, crime, drugs – frequent incarceration, recidivism – political debate on how to solve social problems • Economic development? Education? (left) • Need to teach better values (religion/adult role models)? ? ? (right)
– Economic Facing Challenges? Two examples from your life • TIF districts (part of real estate taxes are taken from budget to help with economic development) – Diverts money from other public services » Garbage collection, libraries, schools, police – TIFS are most effective in already wealthy areas (the Loop). » Viewed as a give away to already successful businesses. » Controlled by aldermen, the mayor (ahem, cough!) – Education • Charter schools (public schools run by private organizations) – Allows parents choice on where to send kids to school » Avoid problems of local schools (violence, gangs, etc. ) » Break cycle of poverty – Successful? » Test scores mixed yet …. » exclude difficult students, English Language Learners, SPED » Public $$$$ funneled into admin. costs, private accounts » NEOLIBERALISM = privatization!!!!
Redevelopment – Govt repurposes/redevelops industrial land • Land must be re-zoned – “zoning” – planning/restrictions on what can be built where, what kind of activity can happen in that area or on that piece of land – zoning trend today = “mixed use” » combine higher density residential and commercial (offices/retail) » goal is to create walkable, interactive communities » Go to walkscore. com to see how walkable your home or community is. • “brownfield” – a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination. » Finkl Steel, US Steel Southworks
US Steel Southworks
Facing Housing Challenges? – Urban renewal (government intervention) • Govt. removes blight → gives to developers/public agencies
Facing Housing Challenges? – Urban renewal (government intervention) • Govt. removes blight → gives to developers/public agencies – Public housing (1950 s/1960 s = Cabrini-Green, Robt. Taylor Homes)
Facing Housing Challenges? – Urban renewal (government intervention) • Govt. removes blight → gives to developers/public agencies – Public housing (1950 s/1960 s = Cabrini-Green, Robt. Taylor Homes) » results in concentrated poverty, segregation, isolation and ghettoization » lack of pride in ownership » falls into disrepair (ex. broken elevators), become crime-ridden » mostly demolished since 1990 s
Where have the residents of demolished public housing gone?
Facing Housing Challenges? – Urban renewal (government intervention) • Govt. removes blight → gives to developers/public agencies – Public housing (1950 s/1960 s = Cabrini-Green, Robt. Taylor Homes) » results in concentrated poverty, segregation/isolation and ghettoization » Lack of pride in ownership » falls into disrepair (ex. broken elevators), become crime-ridden » mostly demolished since 1990 s • TODAY: 125, 000 people on waiting list for CHA – $500 million surplus on books
Lathrop Homes
Lathrop Homes
Facing Housing Challenges? • Gentrification (market intervention) – Middle-class/wealthy move into inner city, why? • renovate vintage housing • proximity/access to CBD = work/cultural activities – singles or couples w/out children = don’t care about schools • enjoy “walkability” of city life – Results? • Crime ↘, property values ↗ • What could possibly be the problem? • Poor are displaced, ethnic patterns altered – Rents and other prices/services become too expensive! » Driven from areas they lived in for years (elderly on fixed inc. ) » Pushed from amenities (rapid transit, areas w/access to jobs) » Pushed into ghettoized areas (cycle of poverty, underperforming schools, food deserts, etc. )
What other pattern can you identify from these maps? Connect this to other units!
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