The Legacy of a Rustbelt City: Addressing Vacancy in Rochester New York
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Date
2020
Authors
Luckin, Zachary
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
Economic decline has plagued the American Rustbelt for over 60 years, resulting in significant population loss and an abundance of vacant and abandoned properties. These properties are known to be a detriment to communities, negatively impacting property values and quality of life, and fueling a vicious cycle of decline. Rochester, New York is no exception to this. The city has experienced prolonged issues of vacancy following major economic restructuring and suburbanization. With chronically low incomes and persisting spatial patterns of racial and socioeconomic segregation, Rochester’s vulnerable residents are disproportionately left to suffer with the effects of vacancy and the new and existing social issues it exacerbates. While the City of Rochester has made recent progress in addressing vacancy, the benefits of many of their policies and programs are not equally felt by all residents, with those most in-need receiving less assistance. These programs are mostly applied in Rochester’s stronger market areas and have eligibility requirements that are not attainable for many residents, catering to neighborhoods that have higher incomes and less diversity. In an attempt to develop more equitable and effective solutions, recommendations are provided that work to improve existing efforts and propose new ones that are tailored to the needs and barriers faced by the City’s vulnerable residents. By moving away from market-based strategies, this research offers a comprehensive, human-centered approach to addressing vacancy that engages residents and improves quality of life.
Description
86 pages
Keywords
Rochester, Vacancy, Vulnerable Populations