Sugie Lee

Intrametropolitan Spatial Differentiation and Decline of Inner-Ring Suburbs: A Comparison of Four U.S. Metropolitan Areas

This article examines the impact of metropolitan growth patterns on intrametropolitan spatial differentiation and inner-ring suburban decline in the four metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Portland, using longitudinal census data from 1970 to 2000. The findings of this study show that inner-ring suburbs were increasingly vulnerable to socioeconomic decline relative to other metropolitan subareas. In contrast, the outer-ring suburbs continued to thrive, drawing most of the new population and housing development in the context of intrametropolitan spatial differentiation. The downtowns and some parts of the inner city showed a gradual recovery from the pattern of deterioration. By recognizing the interdependence of all the subareas and applying sound, holistic policies, the public policy decision-making entities can ensure the future stability of the inner-ring suburbs as well as all the surrounding areas of a metropolitan region.

The Role of Inner Ring Suburbs in Metropolitan Smart Growth Strategies

Strengthening the effectiveness of metropolitan smart growth policies requires an understanding of the role and conditions of inner ring suburbs. Nevertheless, the issue of the deterioration of the inner ring suburbs has only recently received significant consideration by urban scholars and policy makers. In this article, the authors review the literature on metropolitan formation and the smart growth movement to critically assess how well it characterizes and explains the evolution of inner ring suburbs, as well as to emphasize the role that inner ring suburbs can play in metropolitan smart growth strategies. They next characterize the literature specifically focused on inner ring suburbs in terms of what it has to offer on defining such areas. After identifying the gaps in the literature, the authors offer a methodology for accurately defining inner ring suburbs and conclude with a discussion of policy for effectively addressing the socioeconomic needs of the inner ring suburbs within the context of metropolitan smart growth.

The Spatial-Temporal Impact of Residential Foreclosures on Single-Family Residential Property Values

As the home mortgage foreclosure crisis continues to spread, few households and geographic locations in the United States remain unaffected. This has led to a great deal of research on the causes and the impacts of the foreclosure crisis. This article focuses on the latter and specifically addresses the impact that residential foreclosures have on nearby single-family residential properties. Previous research has concluded that there is a negative impact. Although the hypothesis for this article has not changed, the authors offer a change in methodology. The study analyzes foreclosures’ impact based upon face blocks, not straight-line distances, and it also incorporates time and the use of spatial statistics. Findings from this study show a negative relationship between the length of time a property has been foreclosed and its effect on neighboring property values. The first negative impact is seen after one year, and sheriff sales have a greater negative impact than preforeclosures. Therefore, policy responses need to be as swift as possible to prevent any negative impact on neighboring property values and all the while must attempt to prevent properties from going to auction.

Operationalizing Jane Jacobs’s Urban Design Theory: Empirical Verification from the Great City of Seoul, Korea

Jane Jacobs’s The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) had an enormous influence on urban design theories and practices. This study aims to operationalize Jacobs’s conditions for a vital urban life. These are (1) mixed use, (2) small blocks, (3) aged buildings, and (4) a sufficient concentration of buildings. Jacobs suggested that a vital urban life could be sustained by an urban realm that promotes pedestrian activity for various purposes at various times. Employing multilevel binomial models, we empirically verified that Jacobs’s conditions for urban diversity play a significant role with regard to pedestrian activity.

Regional impervious surface estimation: an urban heat island application

This paper describes a GIS-based estimation method that can be used to forecast future amounts of impervious surface as a mitigation measure for urban heat island effect in a metropolitan region. The method is unique because it employs a regression model that links the existing amount of impervious surface to population and employment at the census tract level. This approach provides a means to forecast future amounts of impervious surface based on projected population and employment. The method also includes a detailed analysis of high-resolution aerial photography to divide impervious surfaces into different categories. Subdividing impervious surfaces is necessary to evaluate potential urban heat island mitigation policies for different types of impervious surface. The analysis here shows that the impervious surface in the metropolitan Atlanta region will increase to 2638 km2 in 2030, an increase of 45% from 2000. The most common type of impervious surface is dark-coloured pavement. Within this study area, the analyses showed that two-thirds of impervious surfaces are dark. Replacing dark pavement with light pavement materials, therefore, represents an important opportunity to mitigate the urban heat island effect in the Atlanta region.

Identifying the relationship between the objectively measured built environment and walking activity in the high-density and transit-oriented city, Seoul, Korea

There has been a great deal of research on the relationship between the built environment and walking activity, but many studies have produced inconclusive or conflicting results. In this research we aim to enrich the association of the built environment with walking activity by examining its impact in Seoul, a Korean megacity characterized by high-density development and a well-equipped public transportation system. The results show that neighborhoods with a relatively higher land-use mix and relatively greater access to public transportation have a significantly positive association with walking activity for destinations that are within a 500 m radius of residences. However, no positive association was found between development density by land use and walking activity. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the relationship between the built environment and walking activity differs by neighborhood scale and the urban built environment in terms of density and public transportation across countries.

Race, class and spatial dimensions of mortgage lending practices and residential foreclosures

The American dream of homeownership for low‐income minority households has been sustained by reliance on a complex web of public programs and private institutions during the past several decades. This paper explores the racial, class and spatial dimensions of mortgage lending practices and residential foreclosures for underserved neighborhoods in Cuyahoga County, Ohio using multiple regression analysis with a spatial‐lag model. This paper shows different spatial dimensions of subprime and government‐backed loans. It reveals that subprime loans are the most influential factor explaining neighborhood foreclosure rates. This paper also demonstrates that neighborhoods with low‐income and minority households have a higher likelihood of experiencing higher rates of foreclosure. We recommend introducing targeted government programs in areas avoided by traditional lenders. These programs could reduce the foreclosure rate for homeowners that have the ability to sustain their homeownership.

Smart growth characteristics and the spatial pattern of multifamily housing in US metropolitan areas

This paper examines the relationship between smart growth policies and other social and physical characteristics and the supply of multifamily housing units in 202 core-based metropolitan statistical areas (CBSAs) in the USA. Data for this study were gathered from the GeoLytics Neighborhood Change Database for the 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 US Census. The smart growth characteristics of each CBSA are determined by a smart growth index and a catalogue of urban containment rankings, while other social and physical characteristics are obtained from the US Census. This allows us to examine potential differences in development patterns between CBSAs with varying levels of sprawl and growth containment policies. Two regression models are used to determine statistically significant relationships between multifamily development patterns and growth management policies, as well as other social and physical characteristics. The results indicate that high levels of sprawl are associated with relatively fewer multifamily units, especially in suburban areas. In addition, several population demographics that may potentially benefit from multifamily units, such as senior citizens, the population in poverty and smaller households, are less likely to live in areas with higher rates of multifamily units. These findings indicate that planners and policymakers should consider the needs of more diverse communities when planning for housing, especially in suburban areas, where housing diversity is constricted.

Illuminating the impacts of brownfield redevelopments on neighboring housing prices: Case of Cuyahoga County, Ohio in the US

This paper examines the impact of brownfield redevelopments on neighboring housing prices in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. We examine the levels and trends in housing prices before and after the remediation of brownfields in neighborhoods based on parcel-level housing sales data from 1996 to 2007. We use the Adjusted Interrupted Time Series-Difference in Differences model to explain the causal direction of impacts of brownfield redevelopments. We explore impacts on nearby property values from the remediation of brownfield sites countywide and in neighborhoods stratified by family income. This paper also specifies how the impact of brownfield redevelopments varies under different land use upon completion of remediation. Our countywide model shows that brownfield sites have a negative impact on surrounding housing prices. However, after brownfields are redeveloped, the negative impacts of contaminated sites on neighboring housing prices are removed. It is notable that brownfield redevelopment in commercial and recreational land use has positive impacts on nearby property values. Our findings also show that there are significant positive impacts on surrounding housing prices in low- and middle-income neighborhoods. These results will help policymakers better understand how the remediation of brownfields affects neighborhoods and develop policies to reap the maximum economic benefit from brownfield redevelopments.

Are perceived neighbourhood built environments associated with social capital? Evidence from the 2012 Seoul survey in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study examined the association between the perceived neighbourhood built environment and social capital in Seoul, South Korea, using the Seoul 2012 survey data collected by the Seoul city government. The survey polled 49,758 Seoul citizens from 20,000 households about their demographic and socioeconomic status, living environment, housing, and social environment. Multilevel regression models were used to analyze the relationships between the perceived neighbourhood built environment factors and three elements of social capital: trust, network, and participation. First, the analyses showed that statistically significant relationships existed between the perceived neighbourhood built environment and social capital. Second, social trust and social network showed significant positive relationships with most of the perceived neighbourhood built environment variables. This finding indicates that a walkable and safe community environment was a strong indicator of a high level of social trust and social network. In contrast, volunteer participation showed a different association with walkability and safety from crime. Finally, housing characteristics such as housing type showed statistically significant associations with the perceived built environmental variables. In particular, residents dwelling in high-density apartments showed a lower level of social trust and higher levels of social network and social participation than those in single-family housing.