The Mapping Inequality website documents how the liberal ideals of the New Deal devolved into discrimination and inequality.
"The maps in this post are part of a grim history," according to an article by Greg Miller. "They were created by a government program in the 1930s and played a role in keeping African Americans and other minorities from owning property in American cities, thereby leaving an indelible mark on the racial and economic history of the United States."
The Mapping Inequality project has gathered these maps and documents, the work of the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) during the Great Depression, and placed them online.
Miller explains more of the redlining history of the HOLC, while also sampling specific case studies from cities included in the Mapping Inequality archive—cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Wichita, and Portland.
As acknowledged on the Mapping Inequality website, the project combines the work of researchers and students at the University of Richmond, the University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Johns Hopkins University.
FULL STORY: Newly Released Maps Show How Housing Discrimination Happened
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Study: Historical Redlining Maps No Longer a Proxy for Black America
Black Americans have moved on from formerly redlined neighborhoods, and other minorities and whites have moved in. The wave of presidential campaigns that have based housing policy proposals on redlining maps might be misguided as a result.
Seattle Exhibit Grapples With Redlining Past and Present
A creative exhibit highlights how redlining and racist exclusion persist today.
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As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
Tacoma Developing New Housing Policy
The city’s Home in Tacoma plan is designed to address the region’s growth and rising housing prices, but faces local backlash over density and affordability concerns.
Green Alleys: A New Paradigm for Stormwater Management
Rather than shuttling stormwater away from the city and into the ocean as quickly as possible, Los Angeles is now—slowly—moving toward a ‘city-as-sponge’ approach that would capture and reclaim more water to recharge crucial reservoirs.
Orange County Project Could Go Forward Under ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The nation’s largest home builder could receive approval for a 530-unit development under an obscure state law as the city of La Habra’s zoning laws hang in limbo after the state rejected its proposed housing plan.
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