5 sources of racial inequity in urban development

A panel of experts talked today about social and racial equity in urban revitalization and what to do about it as part of a conference in Detroit on fighting blight and rebuilding neighborhoods.

The conference, which is expected to end Thursday, drew about 1,000 people from across the country.

On the equity panel, experts looked at housing and community development policy, and talked about challenges and opportunities for the future.

"Denying land on the basis of race is something we've lived with for many years," said Sara Toering of the Center for Community Progress in Atlanta. "Acknowledging that history, and understanding how it exists in neighborhoods, is, in my view, a critical step in moving forward."

In addition to Toering, the the experts included: Leonard Adams Jr. of Quest Community Development, Christina Kelly and Regina Laurie of Genesee County Land Bank, June Manning Thomas of the University of Michigan and Paul Tulwiler of the Northwest Jacksonville, Fla., CDC.

Here are five takeaways from the discussion:

Are cities more -- or less -- racially segregated now? At first glance, data suggests they are less segregated, Manning Thomas said. But, a closer look indicates that's true for some cities -- especially new cities, and cities in the West. Older cities, such as Detroit and New York, are still very divided.

Racial prejudice plays a big role. Data from 1976 and 1992 indicates it may have diminished slightly, but is still a factor in where people live. It also suggested that as racial minorities move into a neighborhood, white residents feel less comfortable and expressed a greater desire to move away.

Lending institutions and real estate firms have creating inequity. Years of redlining, the practice of restricting or charging more for services to non-white residents, has led to segregation and inequality. Moreover, highways divided neighborhoods and made it easier for people -- especially white residents -- to move.

Tax policies have encouraged movement to the suburbs. Tax relief for mortgage interest and real estate taxes created a construction boom in the suburbs and drew residents from cities.

The financial crisis in the past decade continued to erode neighborhoods. In many cities, including Detroit, recent mortgage foreclosures have led to the collapse of sections of the city, leaving homes abandoned and vacant.

While the panelists had few solutions, they tended to agree that reversing years of inequality had to start with educating people about it, organizing for collective action and focusing on targeted gains.