A System For Identifying the Opportunity Zones Most Likely to Deliver on the Triple Bottom Line

Responding to abundant concerns that the federal government's new Opportunity Zones programs could exacerbate problems of gentrification and displacement in some locations, a new report by non-profit advocacy organization LOCUS identifies the federally designated Opportunity Zones in Illinois "with the best potential to incentivize smart growth and deliver a triple bottom line," according to a post by Steven Vance.

"LOCUS measured walkability, job density, housing diversity, and distance to the nearest central business district, to create each Opportunity Zone's 'Smart Growth Potential' score," explains Vance. "LOCUS's report also measured transit accessibility, how much people pay for housing + transportation, diversity of household renters and owners, and social vulnerability to create each Opportunity Zone's "Social Equity + Social Vulnerability" (SEVI) score."

Following the report, Vance and company at MAP Strategies mapped the high potential opportunity zones in Illinois, including four in the city of Chicago.