VICTIMS OR VICTORS? THE EFFECTS OF FORCED RELOCATIONS ON HOUSING SATISFACTION IN DUTCH CITIES

Urban restructuring is changing the face of many Western European cities. Old, relatively cheap dwellings are being demolished and replaced by new, more expensive ones. The spatial effects of this process have been extensively studied, but little is known about the residents who are forced to relocate so that their dwellings can be demolished or updated. We therefore studied how satisfied forced movers are with their current housing situation, and what factors contribute to this. Using data from four Dutch cities, we found that most displaced residents were quite satisfied with their new dwellings and neighborhoods. However, those with low incomes and those from ethnic minority groups were less satisfied with their homes and neighborhoods. We can explain their lower level of neighborhood satisfaction by the fact that they move to less desirable neighborhoods—for example, neighborhoods with higher concentrations of ethnic minorities.     

OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. ROOFING INDUSTRY

AfterthreeverysoftyearstheU.S.roofingindustryappearstobegainingstrengthasitheadsinto2004.IntheU.S.thehousingmarkethasbeenrobustforthelastseveralyearswithhousingstartsexceeding1.5millionperyearandre-saleofexistinghomesatrecordlevelsmostlybecauseofverylowinterestrates.Thecommercialindustrialcon-structionsectorhoweverhasbeenverysluggishasaresultofseveralim-portantfactors.Oneisageneralslow-ingoftheU.S.economythatbeganinthefirstquarterof2000andisonlynowshowingsignsofrevival.Anotheristheafter-sho…     

WHO BENEFITS FROM NONPROFIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? EXAMINING THE REVENUE DISTRIBUTION OF TAX‐EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AMONG U.S. CITIES

ABSTRACT: Questions surrounding the distribution of benefits have served as the focus for much research on local economic development. While nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs) emerged in the 1960s as one means of redistributing economic development benefits by targeting job training and business growth programs toward the urban poor, CDCs now represent only a portion of all nonprofit economic development organizations (NEDOs) in the United States. Newer forms of these organizations have emerged in recent years, carrying out diverse economic functions. This evolution of the nonprofit economic development subsector raises a critical question: Do nonprofit economic development activities remain concentrated today in poorer cities, or do wealthier cities also have high levels of nonprofit economic development activity? This study aggregates finance data for several types of NEDOs to the city level, for all U.S. cities with population 50,000 and over, in order to examine this question. Multivariate regression is used to estimate the effects of city‐level demographic, institutional, and fiscal explanations on the level of NEDO revenues per capita. The findings demonstrate that revenues from some types of NEDOs, such as CDCs, remain concentrated in higher‐poverty cities. However, wealthier cities have higher concentrations of revenue generated by nonprofit business assistance organizations and nonprofit real estate organizations. This paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for current federal and local policies related to tax‐exempt organizations.     

DO TRANSIT‐DEPENDENT NEIGHBORHOODS RECEIVE INFERIOR BUS ACCESS? A NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS IN FOUR U.S. CITIES

ABSTRACT: Intrajurisdictional delivery of publicly provided services often results in observable service level differences that vary by spatial subunit (neighborhood). These variations are related to the sociodemographic characteristics of neighborhoods and have been hypothesized in prior literature to be the result of bias against or favoritism toward certain neighborhoods. Using path regression, this paper examines publicly provided bus service in four cities—Asheville, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; and Richmond, Virginia—to examine whether the socioeconomic character of a neighborhood is related to the share of municipal bus service it receives. With this analysis, we test an expanded version of Lineberry's underclass hypothesis. Specifically, do transit‐dependent neighborhoods, or those with a high percentage of non‐Caucasian, low‐income, elderly, or student residents receive inferior bus service? Findings confirm prior research that both standard rules and bias are present in service delivery decisions.     

BEYOND ETHNIC ENCLAVES? EXPLORING THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF LATINO‐OWNED EMPLOYER FIRMS IN TWO U.S. IMMIGRATION GATEWAYS

The Latino population in the United States has increased dramatically during the past several decades. However, Latino‐owned businesses have been understudied. Even less is known about these firms’ spatial distribution. Built on an interdisciplinary literature on industrial locations and ethnic economies, this study examines how the development of ethnic minority–owned businesses is contingent on the local neighborhood as both a work site and habitat. Using a confidential national survey of ethnic minority–owned businesses in the United States, this study compares the spatial distribution of Latino‐owned employer firms in the Miami and Atlanta metropolitan areas. Consistent with previous research, results from this study strongly reinforce the importance of a connection between ethnic population concentration and emergence of ethnic businesses. A concentration of local businesses and co‐locating with other businesses, regardless of ethnicity, are very important as well. Such agglomeration effects seem particularly important for new immigration destinations like Atlanta where a favorable entrepreneurial environment is still being developed for ethnic minority businesses. However, the positive effects from co‐locating with local businesses are not linear. A threshold effect and small count preferences are detected in the two study areas.     

THE LOCATION CHOICES OF PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS DISPLACED BY REDEVELOPMENT: MARKET CONSTRAINTS,PERSONAL PREFERENCES,OR SOCIAL INFORMATION?

ABSTRACT: Since the early 1990s, federal housing policy in the U.S. has become increasingly concerned with the confluence of the neighborhood quality and location of assisted housing residents, and the HOPE VI program is one within this family of programs. Yet a lack of dispersal has characterized HOPE VI and other efforts to relocate public housing residents. Using one HOPE VI site in Seattle, Washington, as a case study, this article fits a conditional multinomial logit model to examine how ethnically diverse relocatees make relocation decisions. The postrelocation neighborhood's minority composition, poverty concentration, and distance from the original public housing site interact with market characteristics, personal preferences, individual characteristics, language proficiency and information based in social networks to influence eventual location outcomes. Results suggest that personal preferences and information available through close social relationships may play an important role in determining location outcomes, and that some social network contacts may enable moves to neighborhoods of lower poverty. Once these factors are taken into account, the housing market conditions do not determine location decisions of relocatees. Implications for HOPE VI and other similar relocation programs are discussed.     

ARE CENTRAL CITIES MORE CREATIVE? THE INTRAMETROPOLITAN GEOGRAPHY OF CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the location and growth of creative industries within metropolitan areas. In recent years, the creative industries have been increasingly sought after as potential engines of metropolitan economic growth. Although some research has been done on the location decisions by such firms and workers, it has primarily focused on interregional and intermetropolitan disparities. We use establishment‐level data to investigate intrametropolitan (central city versus suburban) location and growth for creative industry establishments in 40 of the top 101 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). We compared the number of employees and total annual payroll in each location, and categorize them by region, population size, and creative employment growth. Findings suggest that although creative industries are more centralized, they are decentralizing faster than other industries in general, but this rate, and even the direction, varies widely across MSAs.     

PRIMARY, RETURN AND ONWARD MIGRATION IN THE U.S. AND CANADA: IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

"Using microdata sources available from the U.S. Census Bureau and Statistics Canada, this paper contrasts primary, return and onward migration in the two countries. These classifications are based on information on the region (state or province) of birth and region of residence at the start and end of the census period. To study the propensities to make a primary, return or onward migration, rates are calculated...and compared with previous census periods. Analysis reveals that both countries have experienced similar temporal patterns, and that primary, return and onward migration patterns tend to be similar. Analysis using a nested logit model further reveals that return and onward migration in both countries can be similarly explained." Data are from the Public Use Micro Sample (PUMS) for the United States and the Public Use Micro File (PUMF) for Canada.     

SOCIAL REFORM AND SEGREGATION: TENANT HOUSING IN THE ISLE OF LEWIS, 1795–1900

Abstract

During the nineteenth century, working-class dwellings in Britain became the focus of a series of reports which served to highlight poor living conditions in both town and countryside. Sub-standard housing was believed to be responsible for a variety of physical and social ills. Until the late nineteenth century, rural housing reforms were addressed by individual landowners who sought to provide or encourage improved tenant housing. An important aspect of housing reform involved the introduction of various types of physical segregation. These included the segregation of byre and dwelling, of working and domestic areas, of living and sleeping spaces, and of males and females. This paper examines the role of segregation in rural housing reform in the Isle of Lewis during the nineteenth century, and considers the reasons why attempts at housing reform during this period were generally unsuccessful.     

SAFETY ＆ SECURITY ASIA 2007 UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY IN BOTH PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS

Singapore, 27August 2007 - From the 31 st of October to 2nd November 2007, leading event organizer, Conference ＆ Management Exhibition Services （CEMS） will be holding the 9th Safety ＆ Security Asia 2007 （SSA） at the Suntec Singapore International Convention ＆ Exhibition Centre. The main event for security professionals this year will also incorporate the 7th Fire ＆ Rescue Asia 2007 （FRA） and the 2nd Homeland Security Asia 2007 （HSA）. These exhibitions will feature breakthroughs in advanced technological safety ＆ security equipment and devices, intelligent systems, fire prevention management and products.     

ACHIEVING MIXED INCOME COMMUNITIES THROUGH INFILL? THE EFFECT OF INFILL HOUSING ON NEIGHBORHOOD INCOME DIVERSITY

This study analyzes whether residential infill development promotes mixed income communities in the Orlando metropolitan area from 1990 to 2009. Compact development and more diverse housing options realized through infill can alleviate spatial segregation and promote social diversity in communities by attracting diverse new residents into the neighborhood. However, as infill housing reflects neighborhood conditions, the impacts of infill housing on neighborhood income diversity vary depending on neighborhood types. The results show that infill development is only positively associated with neighborhood income diversity in gentrifying communities. Therefore, a more direct guideline or incentive program for infill, which can ensure a broad range of housing prices in infill development, should be implemented to promote mixed income communities through infill.     

BLUE CITY … RED CITY? A COMPARISON OF COMPETING THEORIES OF CORE COUNTY OUTCOMES IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, 2000–2012

The Red/Blue dichotomy describing presidential elections, while criticized, is ubiquitous: Red states vote Republican, Blue states Democratic. Locally, suburban and rural counties are often Red, urban counties Blue. This overgeneralization misses the Republican share of urban centers.  This study analyzes the 2000–2012 presidential elections in core counties of metropolitan areas with populations over 250,000. Possible explanations for urban election outcomes cover three theoretical groupings: sociodemographics, culture, and economics. Several prominent explanatory variables from each are compared. Changes from 2000–2004 to 2008–2012 are highlighted given the 2008 economic crash and President Obama's race and urban identity, which permitted him to cut President Bush's core county share in half. Regression analyses find that sociodemographic and cultural features account for most variation for all elections, while economic indicators add little explanatory power. In contrast to conventional thinking, economics mattered most in 2004, culture increased in importance in 2008–2012, and urban foreclosures positively influenced McCain in 2008.     

ESCAPING THE LOCAL TRAP? THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY‐REPRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS IN URBAN GOVERNANCE

ABSTRACT: This article explores the potential dangers of parochialism in using community‐based associations to represent community interests and the role of these organizations in advising on citywide policies in urban governance. Based on recent theoretical debates on citizen participation at the local level, we analyze whether community‐based participation potentially leads to parochial pursuit of community interests at the expense of broader regional goals by investigating the effect of organizational and community characteristics. Using Los Angeles neighborhood councils as an empirical case, this exploratory analysis finds that the nature of neighborhood council members’ civic activities is related to the degree to which they may potentially pursue parochial interests. A similar relationship is found between the geographic location of communities and such pursuits. Lastly, neighborhood council members’ civic activities and other community characteristics also influence their activities concerning advice on citywide policies. These findings suggest ways that neighborhood councils might play a greater role in advising on citywide policies in urban governance.     

ANALYZING THE ACTIVITY SPACES OF LOW‐INCOME TEENAGERS: HOW DO THEY PERCEIVE THE SPACES WHERE ACTIVITIES ARE CARRIED OUT?

ABSTRACT: This study models the relationship between adolescents’ perceived safety of places where they engage in their daily activities, socioeconomic characteristics, and the actual crime rates of corresponding activity places. The Teen Activity and Transportation Enterprise (TATE) project was an exploratory research and outreach project carried out at Feinstein High School in Providence, Rhode Island. Students developed activity lists that revealed how they spent their time outside of school and home, and used activity mapping techniques to differentiate urban areas perceived to be safe and unsafe. A mixed regression model was developed to measure perceived safety as the dependent variable. The independent variables included place‐based characteristics such as crime rates, distance of an activity from home, time of day the activity took place, and gender. The researchers found that all factors except race and income were significantly related to perceived safety. Independent of time of day, females felt significantly less safe. Frequency of visits, duration, and distance from home were positively correlated with safer locations. Travel by car was associated with unsafe locations. Students were aware of and affected by the level of crime in public spaces in their communities. This sensitivity and awareness should lead researchers and planners to include teenagers’ views when planning and designing public places.     

WHAT ABOUT CULTURE FOR THE ORDINARY WORKFORCE? A STUDY ON THE LOCATIONAL PREFERENCES OF THE CREATIVE CLASS IN PRENZLAUER BERG,BERLIN

Richard Florida's creative class concept hardly needs introduction, neither in academic nor in urban and regional policy circles. The essence in a nutshell: the economic future of cities depends on their ability to attract creative people; and these creatives are attracted most to places that are tolerant, diverse, lively, and amenity‐rich. Florida assigns these locational preferences specifically to the creative class, implying that they are of less importance to the “ordinary” workforce. With the help of a survey we compare the reasons why people moved to or stayed in Berlin's most bohemian neighborhood, Prenzlauer Berg. We make a distinction between those who are categorized as “creative class” and others. Our results indicate that despite its unique character the creative class is not predominantly driven by the locational preferences Florida specifically assigned to them. Remarkably, these locational preferences appear more important drivers of residential choices for the ordinary workforce.     

Advancing Manufacturing?: Blinkered Visions in U.S. and Australian Urban Policy

ABSTRACT

Advocates argue that urban manufacturing holds potential to promote locally distinctive enterprises, quality employment and more socially-inclusive forms of urban development. However, little is known how urban policy actually supports manufacturing. This paper documents the policy response to urban manufacturing in the U.S. and Australia. We determine how policy documents conceptualise manufacturing and define goals and strategy around land use, business development and workforce development. The analysis demonstrates that manufacturing policy is situated between entrenched visions of deindustrialisation and emerging notions of a renewed, advanced manufacturing sector and that most cities struggle to address the inherent challenges of this condition.     

Hoping for more: redeveloping U.S. public housing without marginalizing low-income residents?

Urban restructuring policies have uprooted residents and dismantled communities. Previous studies focus on housing redevelopment that minimizes the fraction of housing units left for poor residents and on interviewing residents only once the redevelopment has been announced. By contrast, this paper examines how residents over time experienced the HOPE VI redevelopment of the Orchard Park public housing project in Boston, which sought to preserve a low-income community. Using official records and a unique set of interviews with residents before and after redevelopment, we find marked declines in crime and increased residential satisfaction, which are attributed to changes in tenant composition. The redevelopment process reduced the total number of public housing units yet maintained the vast majority of housing for poor families while creating a new social mix. The findings suggest that to more fully capture the impacts of restructuring, existing theory must be expanded to consider who is displaced and how poverty is deconcentrated.     

The "clean break" revisited: is U.S. population again deconcentrating?

"The Hoover index, calculated across counties and larger spatial units, is again declining--signalling a renewal of population deconcentration in the United States. After increasing for several decades, the index declined in the 1970s when nonmetropolitan population growth surged past metropolitan-area growth, but the index rose in the 1980s as metropolitan population growth recovered and surpassed nonmetropolitan growth. We update these trends, introducing careful controls for changes in metropolitan-area boundaries, and we incorporate a ?functional urban region' approach. Although the nonmetropolitan population growth rate is still below the metropolitan rate, we conclude that in the 1990s some features of the ?turnaround' of the 1970s have returned."