A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING ON THE URBAN EDGE ELIJAH PROBST THESIS 499T Urban Rim Communities

Context of Project Displacement is occurring in Portland Results in movement of people to either suburbs or urban-fringes Social effects are being studied, not so much environmental effects Bates, Lisa: Gentrification and Displacement Study: implementing an equitable inclusive development strategy in the context of gentrification. Bureau of Planning and Sustainablity(2013) Coalition for a Livable Future: Regional Equity Atlas 2.0

Portland Plan Portland Plan: Gentrification and displacement, whether the result of large infrastructure investments or the cumulative effect of smaller investments, have disrupted communities and resulted in serious questions about the motivations behind government investments in Portland. Today's challenge is to figure out how to provide all Portlanders with quality of life and other improvements and programs without the negative consequences of gentrification and displacement, all while improving trust and confidence in local government (70). tl;dr: Government admits gentrification is an issue.

Significance Possibility to expose environmental impacts of social movement Relevant to many cities beyond Portland

Preliminary Questions What are the changes in consumption of resources that arise from shifts in the population of the Portland region? Why are there changes in consumption in these areas if the municipal infrastructure of outer rim neighborhoods remains relatively constant?

Potential Env. Impacts of Gentrification if displaced individuals still work in urban center, longer commutes bigger houses being built on old lots-more heating necessary, but also room for more efficiency Increasing impermeable surfaces^ Occupational density increases/decreases depending on level of immigrant/non-immigrant families Less access to transit for those relying on it Low economic opportunity leads to less concern for environment Less access to environmental services, greenspace, and community gardens, etc.

Possible Frame Gentrification as a form of environmental injustice? Displaced people being pushed to places where the built environment is simply not meeting basic needs? EJ: “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies” (Bullard and Johnson 2002) Built environment?

Env. Effects of Suburbanization Widely studied Geography of Nowhere James H. Kunstler Woven in with effects of gentrification/displaced populations, but also dimension of affluence

Potential Gaps Is gentrification an environmental issue? Hard to pin down the actual issues that are different from non-gentrification Transit access lowering fossil fuel consumption? -affluent people in more walkable communities -displaced people in “transit-deserts”

Self-Criticism So Far Plenty of studies on gentrification/suburbanization Gentrification/suburbanization can be seen as inherent environmental issues due to their social nature, but how will my study distinguish itself from other literature on the subjects?

Moving Forward Finding more clear environmental impacts of gentrification Meet with Bob, other LC professors to see if ideas need revision

Thanks Questions/Constructive Comments?