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Abstract
The attendant inequities of the poor, people of color, brownfields distribution, and redevelopment has not received a meaningful empirical or sociological analysis. This research assesses whether the poor and people of color receive the benefits of brownfields revitalization projects or become gentrified. The study reviews the intersection of urban settlement, segregation, racism, brownfields, environmental justice, urban planning and gentrification literature. It first locates U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfields pilot sites residing in environmental justice communities. Second, a pre-post demographic study evaluates gentrification variables at the selected locations. Finally, statistical analyses determine whether environmental justice populations experience displacement. Results find that widespread displacement occurs in conjunction with brownfields revitalization projects. Discussion offers environmental justice methodologies able to produce more equitable outcomes and promote sustainability.
Introduction
A new crop of U.S. mayors is tirelessly working to attract middle and upper-income residents back to their cities to bolster their tax bases, foster neighborhood viability, invigorate their downtown areas, and integrate high-poverty neighborhoods with higher income families (Kennedy & Leonard, 2001). Often, these priorities focus on urban core areas comprised of the poor, Blacks, and Latinos, who usually reside in economically and physically degraded neighborhoods, including unused and abandoned properties. As a result, brownfields are increasingly being considered as potential redevelopment sites. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines brownfields as "abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination." The abandoned properties represent both lost revenues and marginalized use of municipal infrastructure (Bartsch & Collaton, 1997) and a rich potential resource for reconstituting many of America's older cities. Consequently, brownfields redevelopment is becoming a political priority to restore localities' economic vitality. Accomplishing this can often require collaboration between federal, state, and local interests, who institute planning strategies to increase regional attractiveness to private industry and affluent families.
How then does brownfields redevelopment and the greater urban revitalization project impact inner-city groups economically, socially, and environmentally? Does their quality of life improve? Do they continue to reside in the region or are they gentrified? This study refers to gentrification as a process whereby lower-class residents of degraded residential neighborhoods are displaced by higher income, White inhabitants, who invest in local infrastructure rehabilitation. Anecdotal evidence gives...