Mixed-Income Development in Chicago:Research Findings and Strategic Implications

Mark L. JosephCase Western Reserve University

Neighborhoods of Choice and Opportunity ForumHUD-PD&R/CLPHA

March 16, 2011

The East Cleveland Partnership

Outline

1) Preview main conclusions and implications

2) Highlight key research findings

3) Highlight implications for strategic decisions

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Conclusions

• Mixed-income development has unique promise as a poverty deconcentration strategy

• Implementation deeply complicated• Benefits to residents exist, but not clear cut• Physical revitalization is just the beginning• Building community and changing life trajectories will

require sustained, comprehensive, strategic effort

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Research on Implementation Process

• Complexity of development process• Strength of early market demand• Impact of current housing market crisis• Challenge of relocating/recruiting public

housing residents

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Research on Resident Experiences

Positive• High satisfaction with physical environment• Reductions in stress associated with safety and

social disorder• Some articulation of increased aspirations

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Research on Resident Experiences

Challenges• Increased stress: rules, monitoring, norms• Low social interaction, some self-isolation• Public space, unsupervised children• Sense of stigma, perceptions of difference:

“us vs. them dynamics”

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Key Strategic Decisions

• Promoting social and economic mobility: “housing plus”

• Who benefits? Screening v. inclusion• Is raising return rates a goal?

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Key Strategic Decisions

• Promoting and sustaining well-functioning developments• Stimulating market demand: seeking “right” mix• Safety and social control: whose responsibility? whose rules?• Neighborhood amenities: often a missing piece• Inclusive governance: voice and representation for all

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Key Strategic Decisions• From building housing to building community

• Goals• Clarify goals, expectations and roles• Identifying shared interests, countering “us vs. them”

• Strategies• Design: Buildings and open space• Property management• Inclusive services and amenities• Support for “positive neighboring”