Zombie property: What research says about abandoned buildings
This sampling of research examines urban renewal efforts and how vacant and abandoned buildings affect local property values, crime and health.
gentrification
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Racially divided communities, voting patterns and new research on threat perceptions
2015 study from Harvard showing how removing a large racial minority population from proximity with a nearby white group can produce different voting patterns and outcomes.
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The power and perspectives of mayors: Data from a survey of more than 70 U.S. officials
2014 report from Boston University’s Initiative on Cities based on interviews of more than 70 mayors of cities across the United States. Topics discussed include policy priorities, gentrification and income inequality.
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Increasing spatial and economic polarization in America’s older industrial cities
2014 study in Urban Affairs Review analyzing trends in inequality in 10 cities whose economies once centered around heavy industry and that have been striving to reinvent themselves.
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How “gentrification” in American cities maintains racial inequality and segregation: Research brief
2014 research brief on the growth of middle-class urban neighborhoods and their impact on inequality and poverty, by Jackelyn Hwang, Harvard University and the Scholars Strategy Network.
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Gentrification, urban displacement and affordable housing: Overview and research roundup
2014 literature review of major studies on gentrification of neighborhoods in America, with a focus on benefits and drawbacks for low-income residents.
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Postindustrial cities and explanations of order‑maintenance policing
2013 study from the University of Kansas on the law enforcement practices of “new economy” cities that promote “creative class” pursuits and cultural tourism.
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Gentrification and low-income neighborhoods: Entry, exit and enhancement
2011 study from the United States Census Bureau and New York University’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy on gentrification and displacement.
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Economic and social change in U.S. cities: Research roundup
2013 review of studies relevant to reporting and coverage of U.S. cities, including research on economics, environment, crime, health and demographics.
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What is a tree worth? Green-city strategies and housing prices
2008 University of Pennsylvania study published in Real Estate Economics on the relationship between curbside tree plantings and property-value changes.
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