Sprawl, Inequity and Sprawl, Inequity and Economic Opportunity in Economic Opportunity in

OhioOhio

Jason Reece, AICP Jason Reece, AICP

Senior ResearcherSenior Researcher

Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & EthnicityKirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity

The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

Presentation to: Presentation to: The McSweeney Ohio Land Use ConferenceThe McSweeney Ohio Land Use Conference

The Ohio State University Extension Land Use The Ohio State University Extension Land Use TeamTeam

September 14th 2007September 14th 2007

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Today’s DiscussionToday’s Discussion

►How does land use and sprawl impact How does land use and sprawl impact inequity in Ohio?inequity in Ohio?

►What is the societal cost of inequity and What is the societal cost of inequity and poor land use decisions in Ohio?poor land use decisions in Ohio?

►Urban and rural OhioUrban and rural Ohio Shared challenges and linked fatesShared challenges and linked fates

►Producing ChangeProducing Change Regional equity, cooperation and Regional equity, cooperation and

opportunityopportunity

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What’s at StakeWhat’s at Stake

Ohio is at a Ohio is at a crossroads: it can crossroads: it can either embrace a either embrace a

bold new bold new commitment to commitment to

regional cooperation, regional cooperation, sustainable land use sustainable land use policy, fairness, and policy, fairness, and opportunity for all, opportunity for all,

or continue on a path or continue on a path of inequitable of inequitable

growth—and risk growth—and risk being left behind in being left behind in

the 21st century the 21st century global economyglobal economy

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Unemployment rate is sixth Unemployment rate is sixth highest in nationhighest in nation

Significant job lossSignificant job loss Ohio leads the nation in Ohio leads the nation in

foreclosures and is second in foreclosures and is second in personal bankruptciespersonal bankruptcies

► Population in poverty increase Population in poverty increase from 12% to 17%from 12% to 17%

► Ohioans receiving food stamps Ohioans receiving food stamps rise 29%rise 29%

► Economic growth rate ranked Economic growth rate ranked 4545thth in the nation in the nation

The State’s Economic The State’s Economic Challenges: 2000 to 2005 Challenges: 2000 to 2005

Population and Job Growth: Ohio and the Nation 2000 to 2005

1.0%

-3.5%

5.3%

1.3%

-4.0%

-2.0%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

Population Growth Job Growth

Ohio Nation

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Comparative Regional Socio-Economic Comparative Regional Socio-Economic Health: Health:

Great Lake StatesGreat Lake States

Ranking calculated from a 8 indicator index measuring various economic, population and socio-economic conditions for the metropolitan regions.

Many Ohio regions fare poorly in

respect to socio-economic health

when compared to other large Midwestern

regions.

Metropolitan Area RankBest Conditions Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI MSA 1

Columbus, OH MSA 2Nassau-Suffolk, NY PMSA 3Indianapolis, IN MSA 4Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI MSA 5Chicago, IL PMSA 6Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN PMSA 7Akron, OH PMSA 8Philadelphia, PA-NJ PMSA 9Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI PMSA 10St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 11Rochester, NY MSA 12Detroit, MI PMSA 13New York, NY PMSA 14Gary, IN PMSA 15Pittsburgh, PA MSA 16Toledo, OH MSA 17Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH PMSA 18Dayton-Springfield, OH MSA 19Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 20

Worst Conditions Flint, MI PMSA 21

Index Factors: Business Starts, Job Change, Poverty, Educational Attainment, Unemployment, Population Growth, Housing Development, Vacancy

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Urban Ohio’s Problems Urban Ohio’s Problems are Everyone’s Problemsare Everyone’s Problems

► The health of Ohio is intricately tied to the The health of Ohio is intricately tied to the health of its metro regions & rural areashealth of its metro regions & rural areas

► …….and the health of its regions and rural areas are .and the health of its regions and rural areas are impacted by sprawling land use patterns and impacted by sprawling land use patterns and racial/social inequitiesracial/social inequities

► The fate of all Ohioans are linked together The fate of all Ohioans are linked together and we must collectively address Ohio’s and we must collectively address Ohio’s urban challengesurban challenges We will not have a healthy Ohio without We will not have a healthy Ohio without

equitable and vibrant cities/regions and equitable and vibrant cities/regions and sustainable rural areassustainable rural areas

► You can not save Ohio’s farms without saving its citiesYou can not save Ohio’s farms without saving its cities

How does land use and sprawl impact inequity

in Ohio?

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Land Use and InequityLand Use and Inequity

► What is sprawl? What is sprawl? Uncoordinated, disjointed, low density and Uncoordinated, disjointed, low density and

inefficient development/land use policyinefficient development/land use policy► Sprawl is not natural but a reflection of poor and Sprawl is not natural but a reflection of poor and

outdated policyoutdated policy

A disorganized movement of the state’s A disorganized movement of the state’s investment from existing communities to a few investment from existing communities to a few select communitiesselect communities

► The favored quarterThe favored quarter

A government subsidized/supported A government subsidized/supported redistribution of Ohio’s wealth and resourcesredistribution of Ohio’s wealth and resources

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The Side Effects of Sprawl The Side Effects of Sprawl ►Sprawl has many Sprawl has many

documented side effectsdocumented side effects Environmental degradationEnvironmental degradation Displacing agricultureDisplacing agriculture Quality of life impactsQuality of life impacts Segregation and inequitySegregation and inequity

►By pushing good jobs, stable By pushing good jobs, stable housing, and educational housing, and educational opportunities further into the opportunities further into the suburbs, sprawl creates suburbs, sprawl creates segregated, impoverished segregated, impoverished areasareas

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Segregation, Inequity & Segregation, Inequity & SprawlSprawl

► Sprawl actively works to disconnect Sprawl actively works to disconnect marginalized communities from opportunitymarginalized communities from opportunity Pushing limited resources away from existing Pushing limited resources away from existing

communitiescommunities Segregating people from opportunitySegregating people from opportunity

► ““Space is how race plays out in American society-and Space is how race plays out in American society-and the key to solving inequities in housing, transportation, the key to solving inequities in housing, transportation, education, and health care…Sprawl is the new face of education, and health care…Sprawl is the new face of Jim Crow.” -- john powellJim Crow.” -- john powell

This is not a natural phenomena or just the free This is not a natural phenomena or just the free market in action, it is a result of policymarket in action, it is a result of policy

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Policies Enforcing Inequity:Policies Enforcing Inequity:Historical Government RoleHistorical Government Role

““If a neighborhood is to retain If a neighborhood is to retain stability, it is necessary stability, it is necessary that properties shall that properties shall continue to be occupied by continue to be occupied by the same social and racial the same social and racial classes. A change in social classes. A change in social or racial occupancy or racial occupancy generally contributes to generally contributes to instability and a decline in instability and a decline in values.” values.”

––Excerpt from the 1947 Excerpt from the 1947 FHA underwriting FHA underwriting manualmanual

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Policies Enforcing Inequity: Policies Enforcing Inequity: Contemporary Government RoleContemporary Government Role

► The exclusion and segregation produced by The exclusion and segregation produced by sprawl is not natural or neutral; it results from sprawl is not natural or neutral; it results from government policies, such as: government policies, such as: Zoning laws prevent affordable housing in many Zoning laws prevent affordable housing in many

growth areasgrowth areas Housing policies concentrate subsidized housingHousing policies concentrate subsidized housing Municipalities subsidize the relocation of businesses Municipalities subsidize the relocation of businesses

out of the cityout of the city Transportation and infrastructure spending favoring Transportation and infrastructure spending favoring

highways, metropolitan expansion and urban sprawlhighways, metropolitan expansion and urban sprawl Court decisions prevent metropolitan school Court decisions prevent metropolitan school

desegregationdesegregation School funding is tied to property taxesSchool funding is tied to property taxes

► These factors support racial/social segregation These factors support racial/social segregation and isolation from opportunityand isolation from opportunity

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Why Care About Why Care About Segregation?Segregation?

► Because neighborhoods conditions impact our Because neighborhoods conditions impact our lives in significant ways…lives in significant ways…

► Where you live is more important than what Where you live is more important than what you live in…you live in… Housing, in particular its location, is the primary Housing, in particular its location, is the primary

mechanism for accessing opportunity in our societymechanism for accessing opportunity in our society

Housing location determines the quality of schools Housing location determines the quality of schools children attend, the quality of public services, access to children attend, the quality of public services, access to employment and transportation, health risks, access to employment and transportation, health risks, access to health care and public safetyhealth care and public safety

For those living in high poverty neighborhoods these For those living in high poverty neighborhoods these factors can significantly inhibit life outcomesfactors can significantly inhibit life outcomes

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Housing location determines access Housing location determines access to schools….to schools….

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jobs…jobs…

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neighborhood amenities…neighborhood amenities…

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How Does Sprawl and Segregation How Does Sprawl and Segregation Impact Marginalized Populations?Impact Marginalized Populations?

►Sprawl and segregation cause Sprawl and segregation cause detrimental impacts to urban detrimental impacts to urban marginalized communities in multiple marginalized communities in multiple waysways EducationEducation Disinvestment & neighborhood qualityDisinvestment & neighborhood quality Economic OpportunityEconomic Opportunity

►Producing opportunity deprived Producing opportunity deprived neighborhoodsneighborhoods

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50 years after the 50 years after the Brown Decision, Brown Decision,

America’s schools America’s schools have re-segregated have re-segregated into affluent white into affluent white districts and poor districts and poor

under-funded under-funded African American African American

and Hispanic and Hispanic districtsdistricts

SprawlProduces Dysfunctional Schools

Segregation

Sprawl, Inequity & Sprawl, Inequity & EducationEducation

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Economic Segregation and Racial Segregation

in Public Schools:

Cleveland and Akron

High Poverty Schools (Red and Yellow) are

Concentrated in African American

Neighborhoods (Areas in Gray)

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Cycle of School SegregationCycle of School Segregation

Lower EducationalOutcomes for Urban

School Districts

Increased Flightof Affluent

Families fromUrban Areas

Neighborhood (Housing)

Segregation

SchoolSegregation(Economic)

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Sprawl and Disinvestment in Sprawl and Disinvestment in Urban CommunitiesUrban Communities

► Decades of suburban Decades of suburban flight have drained flight have drained low income inner city low income inner city neighborhoods of neighborhoods of people, business and people, business and investmentinvestment

► High vacancy rates High vacancy rates and poor investment and poor investment harms the quality of harms the quality of life for inner city life for inner city residents and limits residents and limits the resources (tax the resources (tax base) for low income base) for low income communitiescommunities

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Sprawl without GrowthSprawl without Growth

► Ohio is developing Ohio is developing rapidly without the rapidly without the population growth to population growth to justify the rapid justify the rapid expansionexpansion

► This creates too This creates too much surplus much surplus housing and further housing and further exacerbates the exacerbates the vacancy problemvacancy problem

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Measures of Ohio’s sprawl Measures of Ohio’s sprawl

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Disinvestment and Disinvestment and AbandonmentAbandonment

► In Ohio’s 6 largest regions In Ohio’s 6 largest regions the average African American the average African American neighborhood has neighborhood has approximately 2x the amount approximately 2x the amount of vacant housing than the of vacant housing than the average white neighborhoodaverage white neighborhood

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Jobs have moved away from the labor pool in Jobs have moved away from the labor pool in many metropolitan areas, making connecting many metropolitan areas, making connecting job-seekers with jobs a challenge which is job-seekers with jobs a challenge which is compounded by poor public transportationcompounded by poor public transportation

► 40% of all suburban jobs cannot be reached by 40% of all suburban jobs cannot be reached by public transportationpublic transportation

► Public investment disproportionately favors Public investment disproportionately favors highways over public transportationhighways over public transportation

► Over half of the African American population is Over half of the African American population is physically segregated from employment physically segregated from employment opportunitiesopportunities

Sprawl, Inequity and Economic Sprawl, Inequity and Economic OpportunityOpportunity

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Projected Job Growth Franklin County Projected Job Growth Franklin County AreaArea

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Quantifying and Mapping Quantifying and Mapping Communities of OpportunityCommunities of Opportunity

►We understand what is indicative of a We understand what is indicative of a high quality community or high quality community or neighborhoodneighborhood Employment opportunitiesEmployment opportunities Stable, safe environmentsStable, safe environments Good schoolsGood schools

►We can also look at this with data and We can also look at this with data and map out areas of high and low map out areas of high and low opportunity in our Stateopportunity in our State

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Similar Similar Trends Can Trends Can Be Seen in Be Seen in

the the Columbus Columbus

AreaArea

What is the cost of inequity and poor land use policy in

Ohio?

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Inequities Impact EveryoneInequities Impact Everyone

► The health of our cities, the sustainability of The health of our cities, the sustainability of the regions/rural areas, and the wellness of the regions/rural areas, and the wellness of its people are all relatedits people are all related

► Gaps in educational attainment impair the Gaps in educational attainment impair the State’s competitiveness in the new global State’s competitiveness in the new global skill-based economyskill-based economy Unjust policies and racial and economic isolation Unjust policies and racial and economic isolation

deplete opportunities for residents in our citiesdeplete opportunities for residents in our cities The competition between cities and suburbs The competition between cities and suburbs

produces an economically dysfunctional Stateproduces an economically dysfunctional State

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Inequities Impact EveryoneInequities Impact Everyone

► How do disparities harm our State? How do disparities harm our State? Wasted Creative CapacityWasted Creative Capacity. The wasted creative . The wasted creative

capacity associated with a lack of social, capacity associated with a lack of social, economic and educational opportunity drags economic and educational opportunity drags down the competitive strength of the entire Statedown the competitive strength of the entire State

Fragmented Economic VoiceFragmented Economic Voice. To attract . To attract investment in the global economy, regions/States investment in the global economy, regions/States must act collectively to promote themselves, and must act collectively to promote themselves, and they must align key infrastructure and assets to they must align key infrastructure and assets to be more innovative, efficient and competitivebe more innovative, efficient and competitive

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Inequities Impact EveryoneInequities Impact Everyone

► How do disparities harm our State?How do disparities harm our State? Paying for ExclusionPaying for Exclusion. The residential segregation . The residential segregation

in our metropolitan regions is fueled by in our metropolitan regions is fueled by exclusionary housing policies, but these policies exclusionary housing policies, but these policies come at a price for all residentscome at a price for all residents

Inefficient Infrastructure and Government Inefficient Infrastructure and Government ServicesServices. Regions that are highly fragmented into . Regions that are highly fragmented into hundreds of local governments are often hundreds of local governments are often inefficient with respect to infrastructure and inefficient with respect to infrastructure and government services government services

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Inequities Impact EveryoneInequities Impact Everyone

► How do disparities harm our State?How do disparities harm our State? Sprawl and Quality of LifeSprawl and Quality of Life. As the State becomes . As the State becomes

more polarized between opportunity-rich and more polarized between opportunity-rich and opportunity-poor communities, residents keep opportunity-poor communities, residents keep moving in order to chase the elusive moving in order to chase the elusive opportunities left in the Stateopportunities left in the State

► The environmental impact of greenfield development, The environmental impact of greenfield development, and increased traffic congestion (and fuel cost) impairs and increased traffic congestion (and fuel cost) impairs the quality of life for everyone in the region the quality of life for everyone in the region

The Central City’s Untapped PotentialThe Central City’s Untapped Potential. Urban . Urban areas are often our cultural, educational and areas are often our cultural, educational and medical centers and a signpost of regional health medical centers and a signpost of regional health and identityand identity

Urban and Rural Ohio:

Shared Challenges and Linked Fates

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Rural and Urban OhioRural and Urban Ohio

►Rural and Urban OhioRural and Urban Ohio Different symptoms, shared challengesDifferent symptoms, shared challenges

►Urban communities are not the only areas Urban communities are not the only areas dealing with disinvestment or being disrupted dealing with disinvestment or being disrupted by the dynamics of sprawl (examples)by the dynamics of sprawl (examples)

Growing rural areas which are being disrupted by Growing rural areas which are being disrupted by growth and developmentgrowth and development

Rural areas facing disinvestment and limited access Rural areas facing disinvestment and limited access to opportunities such as: jobs, high quality to opportunities such as: jobs, high quality education, infrastructureeducation, infrastructure

►This presents a unifying theme to build This presents a unifying theme to build coalitions to address the State’s dysfunctional coalitions to address the State’s dysfunctional land use and development patternsland use and development patterns

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Shared Shared Challenges: Challenges:

Viewing Areas of Viewing Areas of Educational Educational

Opportunity in the Opportunity in the State of OhioState of Ohio

The following map presents areas of high (dark colors) and low

(light colors) educational opportunity in the State.

(Based on index of school quality and

assessment of barriers to educational attainment).

Note that many rural and urban communities face similar education

challenges. Map Prepared by the Kirwan Institute for The

Ohio State Economic Access Initiative

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EducationEducation

►Better educational attainment can Better educational attainment can benefit all Ohioan’s by increasing the benefit all Ohioan’s by increasing the state’s ability to attract and retain state’s ability to attract and retain economic investment and spurring economic investment and spurring innovation from Ohio’s populationinnovation from Ohio’s population Structural impediments (funding, Structural impediments (funding,

concentrated school poverty) reduce the concentrated school poverty) reduce the educational outcomes for many Ohio educational outcomes for many Ohio students, impacting the entire statestudents, impacting the entire state

►A diverse coalitions will be needed to A diverse coalitions will be needed to create the political will needed to create the political will needed to reform Ohio’s educational structurereform Ohio’s educational structure

Producing Change:An Opportunity

Oriented Model of Land Use Policy and

Community Development

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What is the Alternative?What is the Alternative?

► A number of policies and models could A number of policies and models could improve the future of Ohio by addressing improve the future of Ohio by addressing racial/social inequity and guiding growth racial/social inequity and guiding growth and developmentand development Expanding our view of the problemExpanding our view of the problem

► Understanding the linkage between Ohio’s urban and Understanding the linkage between Ohio’s urban and rural areasrural areas

► Understanding the “linked fate” of all Ohio communitiesUnderstanding the “linked fate” of all Ohio communities► Looking at factors outside of land use (ex. Education)Looking at factors outside of land use (ex. Education)

Regional cooperation and regional equityRegional cooperation and regional equity An opportunity oriented model of developmentAn opportunity oriented model of development

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► Regional efforts must be fair – advocate for Regional efforts must be fair – advocate for equitable investments in all people, in all equitable investments in all people, in all communitiescommunities Combat segregation, isolation, disconnection Combat segregation, isolation, disconnection

from opportunityfrom opportunity► Regionalism does not require regional Regionalism does not require regional

government (municipal consolidation) but government (municipal consolidation) but requires regional foresight and cooperationrequires regional foresight and cooperation What is the “opportunity cost” of doing What is the “opportunity cost” of doing

nothing? Continued sprawl, disinvestment, nothing? Continued sprawl, disinvestment, economic and educational disparities – all of economic and educational disparities – all of which make our State unattractive to which make our State unattractive to knowledge workers and companiesknowledge workers and companies

Regional cooperation and Regional cooperation and growth growth

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Principles for Equitable Principles for Equitable RegionalismRegionalism

► The success of equitable regionalism for The success of equitable regionalism for Cleveland rests on the following principles: Cleveland rests on the following principles: Create and grow communities of opportunity in Create and grow communities of opportunity in

distressed areasdistressed areas Work to reduce the destructive, inefficient Work to reduce the destructive, inefficient

competition among communities in the Statecompetition among communities in the State Cooperatively manage sprawling development so Cooperatively manage sprawling development so

as not to subsidize dysfunctional growth patternsas not to subsidize dysfunctional growth patterns Improve the educational outlook for all of the Improve the educational outlook for all of the

State’s children State’s children

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Examples of Smart Growth or Regionalism Examples of Smart Growth or Regionalism that Promotes Racial and Regional Equity that Promotes Racial and Regional Equity

(1)(1)► Housing InitiativesHousing Initiatives

Inclusionary zoning, opportunity based Inclusionary zoning, opportunity based housing, workforce housinghousing, workforce housing

► Growth Control InitiativesGrowth Control Initiatives Growth management (that preserves Growth management (that preserves

affordable housing in areas of opportunity)affordable housing in areas of opportunity)► Tax Sharing InitiativesTax Sharing Initiatives

Tax base sharing, income tax strategiesTax base sharing, income tax strategies► Public Infrastructure InitiativesPublic Infrastructure Initiatives

Reinvestment in existing communitiesReinvestment in existing communities Removing subsidies associated with sprawlRemoving subsidies associated with sprawl

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Examples of Smart Growth or Regionalism Examples of Smart Growth or Regionalism that Promotes Racial and Regional Equity that Promotes Racial and Regional Equity

(2)(2)► Transportation InitiativesTransportation Initiatives

Equitable transportation spending, public Equitable transportation spending, public transit investments transit investments

► Public Education InitiativesPublic Education Initiatives Regionalized school districts, economic Regionalized school districts, economic

integration, magnet schools, school mobilityintegration, magnet schools, school mobility Reducing reliance of property taxes for schoolsReducing reliance of property taxes for schools

► Inner City RedevelopmentInner City Redevelopment Land bank programs, increasing Land bank programs, increasing

homeownership, minority and small business homeownership, minority and small business developmentdevelopment

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