Led by: Bonnie Keeler and Kate Derickson
Past trends in US cities suggest that investments in urban nature may have contributed to the persistent and wide racial wealth gap. Careful attention to past patterns and causes of racial disparities, along with broad engagement with diverse urban communities, can ensure that future investments in urban nature benefit all urban residents and do not result in gentrification and displacement of vulnerable communities. Working with geospatial data and archival documents, we are collecting and synthesizing multiple lines of evidence that illustrate the coupled relationship between urban-nature investments and wealth inequality using property values as a proxy for wealth. Looking forward, we are investigating the efficacy of various policy interventions that can promote neighborhood stability in a changing urban landscape to promote green investment without displacement.