Achieving Mixed Income Communities through Infill? The Effect of Infill Housing on Neighborhood Income Diversity

ABSTRACT:

This study analyzes whether residential infill development promotes mixed income communities in the Orlando metropolitan area from 1990 to 2009. Compact development and more diverse housing options realized through infill can alleviate spatial segregation and promote social diversity in communities by attracting diverse new residents into the neighborhood. However, as infill housing reflects neighborhood conditions, the impacts of infill housing on neighborhood income diversity vary depending on neighborhood types. The results show that infill development is only positively associated with neighborhood income diversity in gentrifying communities. Therefore, a more direct guideline or incentive program for infill, which can ensure a broad range of housing prices in infill development, should be implemented to promote mixed income communities through infill.

Notes

Minnesota Population Center, National Historical Geographic Information System: Version 2.0. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2011.

The number of census block groups within the infill areas is 252. Two census block groups having less than 100 households in 1990 are merged with adjacent census block groups. Thus, the total number of neighborhoods in this study is 250.

In Florida, when a housing unit is substantially renovated, property appraisers assign a new built year (effective built year) as a base year for the value depreciation of the unit. In the Orlando MSA, property appraisers visit each property at least once every three (Seminole County) to five (Orange County) years. Accordingly, at least a six-year difference between an actual built year and an effective built year is a reliable indicator. Therefore, in this study renovated units are defined as the properties having at least a six-year difference between an actual built year and an effective built year.

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Notes on contributors

Jeongseob Kim

Jeongseob Kim is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Environmental Engineering at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). He earned his doctoral degree in Design, Construction and Planning from the University of Florida and has worked for the Inter-American Development Bank as a consultant. His research interests include sustainable communities, infill development, housing policy, residential segregation, and social diversity, as well as applications of spatial analysis and quantitative techniques for urban planning.