Enhancing Urban Socioeconomics, Looking beyond Conventional Mixed-use Development Model

One of Urban planning foci is redevelopment of existing cities to improve their quality and efficiency. Many redevelopment programs has been applied through over 60 years ago in Illinois State, since the Housing Act of 1949 to New Urbanism, Smart Growth, which targeting transformation of the built environment on land already containing structures and has occurred under both national and local guidance. These programs perpetrate injustice even while their supporters claimed that they were intending to benefit the poor and people of color who increasingly were the occupants of inner-city neighborhoods. This research investigates how planners can implement successful mixed-use development, given Social justice fundamentally shaping urban development; social justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. Current housing policy favors high-density, mixed-use development on previously developed urban land. It is frequently cited as a development type that can address a variety of social problems and has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity in redeveloping cities by providing more affordable housing opportunities and choices, reducing auto dependency, and a longing for the sense of place and community. However, its physical design and affordability outcomes are highly variable. This paper outlines the development of a theory of social equity in relation to urban form and presents empirical research based on this to test the case of mixed-use urban form. We are particularly interested in whether and how the distribution of mixed used impact on the social and economic configuration of the built environment. Using multi-level data from 1382 zip code to 102 counties representing all Illinois State with contrasting implementation methods of mixed-use development and different cultural and historical backgrounds, this research proposes a novel graph-analysis framework in which mixed used patterns can be represented under realistic constraints of urban geometry, and land use distribution. The findings suggest that, in certain respects and with certain qualifications, the mixed use development has the potential to promote social equity. Likely benefits include reduced car dependency and lower levels of social segregation, while the main problem is likely to be a lack of affordable, decent-sized homes. Positive effects are emerging in response to cities which most support equity appear to be those that have a large proportion of medium-density housing and a large quantity of locally provided services and facilities.