Pushing Back on Displacement: Community-Based Redevelopment through Historically Black Churches

Branden Born, Rachel Berney, Olivia Baker, Mark R. Jones, Donald King and Dylan Marcus
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Branden Born: Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Rachel Berney: Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Olivia Baker: Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Mark R. Jones: Sunyata Agency, Inc., Maple Valley, WA 98038, USA
Donald King: Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Dylan Marcus: Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

Societies, 2021, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Gentrification and subsequent displacement are common problems in cities, and result in the removal of poor communities and communities of color from urban areas as they move to cheaper locations in the metropolitan region. Here we describe a community-based approach to redevelopment by historic Black churches that seeks to counter such displacement and cultural removal. We explain the history of a historically Black neighborhood in Seattle and the founding and rationale for a church-led project called the Nehemiah Initiative. Our perspective is that of participants in the work of the Nehemiah Initiative and as faculty and students from a local university partner supporting it. We conclude with policy strategies that can be used to support such redevelopment in Seattle, with understanding that some may be broadly applicable to other cities.

Keywords: black churches; community based; displacement; equitable development; faith based; gentrification; housing affordability; redevelopment; university–community partnership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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