Equity Planning for the 21st Century

Benjamin Schneider writes to further the legacy of Norman Krumholz in centering considerations of equity in urban planning decisions.

A many Planetizen readers know, Krumholz brought an equity agenda to Cleveland while serving as director of planning for Cleveland, starting in 1969. "This philosophy, which came to be known as 'equity planning,' represented a major shift in a profession that had long been focused on technical problems like zoning and road design, as well as finding new ways to stimulate economic growth," writes Schneider.

Today's urban planning milieu requires a re-evaluation of the tools and outcomes of equity planning, according to Schneider. An evaluation of the successes and shortcomings of Krumholz's tenure follows, as well as an introduction to the idea of Portland, Oregon as a contemporary case study of equity planning, as laid out by Lisa K. Bates, a professor of urban planning at Portland State University.