Equitable Development: Equitable Development: Untangling the Web of Urban Untangling the Web of Urban

Development Through Collaborative Development Through Collaborative Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Carlton C. EleyCarlton C. Eley

U.S. Environmental Protection U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyAgency

Topics to be AddressedTopics to be Addressed

Historic PerspectiveHistoric Perspective

What is Equitable Development What is Equitable Development Policy, Principles, and PracticePolicy, Principles, and Practice

Equitable Development is ‘Smart’ - - Equitable Development is ‘Smart’ - - Rebuilding America’s Neighborhoods Rebuilding America’s Neighborhoods

ConclusionsConclusions

Historic Perspective (1840 – Historic Perspective (1840 – 1920)1920)

Effective physical planning requires Effective physical planning requires understanding social diversity and understanding social diversity and responding to social change.responding to social change.

City development in the U.S. grew out of City development in the U.S. grew out of several professions: design, engineering, several professions: design, engineering, and social reform. and social reform.

The profession of social work also left an The profession of social work also left an imprint on the budding profession of city imprint on the budding profession of city planning. planning.

Timeline: Parallel InitiativesTimeline: Parallel Initiatives

Advocacy Planning (1965)Advocacy Planning (1965) Equity Planning Practice (1969 – 1979)Equity Planning Practice (1969 – 1979) Tenant of Social Planning Incorporated Tenant of Social Planning Incorporated

into AICP Code of Ethics (1981)into AICP Code of Ethics (1981) Equity Development (1983 – 1987)Equity Development (1983 – 1987) Fair Growth (2000)Fair Growth (2000) Equitable Development (2000)Equitable Development (2000)

Smart Smart GrowthGrowth

Needs of Needs of underserved underserved communitiescommunities

Equitable Equitable

DevelopmentDevelopment Smart Smart GrowthGrowth

Needs of Needs of underserved underserved communitescommunites

Defining Equitable Defining Equitable DevelopmentDevelopment

Defining Equitable Defining Equitable DevelopmentDevelopment

Equitable development is an approach to meet the Equitable development is an approach to meet the needs of underserved communities and individuals needs of underserved communities and individuals through projects, programs, and/or policies that through projects, programs, and/or policies that reduce disparities while fostering places that are reduce disparities while fostering places that are healthy, vibrant, and diverse. healthy, vibrant, and diverse.

(2006 Smart Growth Awards Application)(2006 Smart Growth Awards Application)

Equitable Equitable

DevelopmentDevelopment Smart Smart GrowthGrowth

Needs of Needs of underserved underserved communitescommunites

Comparing Approaches Comparing Approaches

Smart Growth PrinciplesSmart Growth Principles Mix land usesMix land uses Take advantage of compact Take advantage of compact

building designbuilding design Create a range of housing Create a range of housing

opportunities and choicesopportunities and choices Create walkable neighborhoodsCreate walkable neighborhoods Foster distinctive, attractive Foster distinctive, attractive

communities with a strong communities with a strong sense of placesense of place

Preserve open space, farmland, Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical natural beauty, and critical environmental areasenvironmental areas

Strengthen and direct Strengthen and direct development towards existing development towards existing communitiescommunities

Provide a variety of Provide a variety of transportationtransportation choices choices

Make development decisions Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost predictable, fair, and cost effectiveeffective

Encourage community and Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in stakeholder collaboration in development decisionsdevelopment decisions

Source: Smart Growth NetworkSource: Smart Growth Network

Equitable Development Equitable Development PrinciplesPrinciples

Housing choiceHousing choice Transportation choiceTransportation choice

Personal responsibilityPersonal responsibility Capacity buildingCapacity building

Healthy communities Healthy communities Heritage preservationHeritage preservation

Stewardship (environmental)Stewardship (environmental) EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship

Sustainable wealth creationSustainable wealth creation Civic engagementCivic engagement

From Good to Great Through From Good to Great Through Planning/Design, Standard of Planning/Design, Standard of ExcellenceExcellence

Source: Carlton Eley, U.S. EPASource: Carlton Eley, U.S. EPA

Heritage Preservation -Heritage Preservation -1818thth and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City,

MOMO

Healthy Communities -Healthy Communities -The City Project in Los Angeles, CAThe City Project in Los Angeles, CA

Capacity Building -Capacity Building -PBCD Technical Assistance Project in PBCD Technical Assistance Project in

Gary, INGary, IN

Equitable Development is Equitable Development is ‘Smart’‘Smart’

(EPA Examples) (EPA Examples) Bethel Center (Chicago, IL)Bethel Center (Chicago, IL)

ReGenesis Project (Spartanburg, SC)ReGenesis Project (Spartanburg, SC)

Fall Creek Place (Indianapolis, IN)Fall Creek Place (Indianapolis, IN)

Rebuilding America’s Rebuilding America’s Neighborhoods:Neighborhoods:Bethel Center Bethel Center

Rebuilding America’s Rebuilding America’s Neighborhoods:Neighborhoods:

ReGenesisReGenesis

Fall Creek Fall Creek Place 1956Place 1956

Fall Creek Fall Creek Place 1999Place 1999

Fall Creek Place - - Fall Creek Place - - Before and After Urban Before and After Urban RenewalRenewal

Rebuilding America’s Rebuilding America’s Neighborhoods:Neighborhoods:

Fall Creek Place Fall Creek Place

Julia Carson (1938 – 2007) Julia Carson (1938 – 2007) U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. House of Representatives

Indiana’s 7Indiana’s 7thth Congressional District Congressional District

What Equitable What Equitable Development “Is” and “Is Development “Is” and “Is

Not”Not”Holistic approach for Holistic approach for neighborhood revitalizationneighborhood revitalization

NotNot an affordable an affordable housing strategyhousing strategy

Reinvestment, redevelopment, Reinvestment, redevelopment, and broad community and broad community participation are encouragedparticipation are encouraged

NotNot anti-gentrification anti-gentrification approachapproach

Well-planned growth that Well-planned growth that improves quality-of-lifeimproves quality-of-life

NotNot an initiative to an initiative to maintain the status quomaintain the status quo

Livable, healthy and Livable, healthy and distinctive communitiesdistinctive communities

NotNot inconsistent with inconsistent with smart growthsmart growth

For More Information…For More Information… PBCD Technical Assistance Report for Gary, IN (PBCD Technical Assistance Report for Gary, IN (June 29, June 29,

20092009) ) Vision for BroadwayVision for Broadway

Equitable Development: Untangling the Web Through Equitable Development: Untangling the Web Through Collaborative Problem Solving (2008) Collaborative Problem Solving (2008) http://law.gsu.edu/metrogrowth/index/homehttp://law.gsu.edu/metrogrowth/index/home

EPA Smart Growth Awards (2006, 2007, & 2008)EPA Smart Growth Awards (2006, 2007, & 2008)

EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model (2006)Model (2006)

Environmental Justice, Urban Revitalization, and Environmental Justice, Urban Revitalization, and Brownfields: The Search for Authentic Signs of Hope (1996)Brownfields: The Search for Authentic Signs of Hope (1996)

ConclusionsConclusions““So, let us not be blind to our differences--but let us also direct attention to ourSo, let us not be blind to our differences--but let us also direct attention to ourcommon interests and to the means by which those differences can be common interests and to the means by which those differences can be

resolved.resolved.And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is thatsafe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is thatwe all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish ourwe all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish ourchildren's future. And we are all mortal.”children's future. And we are all mortal.”

President John F. Kennedy, June 1963President John F. Kennedy, June 1963

Equitable development isn’t a peripheral issue. Equitable development isn’t a peripheral issue.

We can incorporate equitable development into our work. We can incorporate equitable development into our work.

We need to build new partnerships, beyond mainstream We need to build new partnerships, beyond mainstream audiences.audiences.

EPA HeadquartersEPA HeadquartersCarlton Eley – 202-566-2841Carlton Eley – 202-566-2841

WebsitesWebsiteswww.epa.govwww.epa.gov

www.planningandtheblackcommunitwww.planningandtheblackcommunity.orgy.org

www.noma.netwww.noma.net

www.policylink.orgwww.policylink.org

Equitable Development: Equitable Development: Untangling the Web of Untangling the Web of Urban Development through Urban Development through Collaborative Problem SolvingCollaborative Problem Solving

Issue 21 of Sustain MagazineIssue 21 of Sustain Magazine