24: New regionalism

Question 1

What is New Regionalism?

Answer 1

Return to focus on Equity in the sustainability
triangle/ three E’s:
“Coordinated central-city and suburban economic
development that is geared to reducing disparities in
the income/employment, tax bases, and public
services across a metropolitan region”

Question 2

DEFINING THE URBAN REGION: MSA

Answer 2

metropolitan statistical area
geographic region with high pop density at core and close economic ties and interaction with counties throughout metro (adjacent suburban or edge cities)

Economic integration is measured by spatial analysis,
especially of commuting patterns.
Ø Such regions are not based on legal jurisdictions (e.g.,
divisions of city, county, state, etc.) As such, the
precise definition of any given metropolitan area can
vary depending on spatial analysis.

Question 3

THE PROBLEMS OF POSTMODERN CITIES

Answer 3

have a “hollowed out” the urban
core, they are auto-dependent, and development is
like a “checkerboard” with marked inequities in
neighboring communities.

Question 4

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW REGIONALISM

Answer 4

Ø Focuses on specific territories and spatial
planning
Ø Tries to address problems created by the
growth and fragmentation of postmodern
metropolitan regions
Ø Takes a holistic approach to planning that
integrates many disciplines
Ø Emphasizes combination of physical and social/
economic planning
Ø Often adopts a normative or activist stance

Question 5

EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
VS.
EQUALITY OF RESULTS (CONDITIONS)

Answer 5

Ø Social equity brings more economic opportunities
to regions
Ø Is important to forming coalitions to support
ecological goals (blue/green or labor/
environmental
Ø Necessary for political power to transform for
the three E’s

Question 6

EVIDENCE OF EQUITY’S BENEFITS

Answer 6

Study over time of 85 of the
largest metro regions in the U.S.
Ø Compares spatial equity with
region’s economic performance
Ø Health, education, and welfare in
poor neighborhoods raises
overall economic performance
Ø Faster growth does not benefit
inner city more than suburbs,
but the rising tide lifts all boats
Ø Large disparities drag down
regional economic performance

Question 7

KEY NEW REGIONALIST POLICIES

Answer 7

Ø Compel each municipality to
zone for and carry its fair
share of affordable housing
Ø Living wage ordinances
(region-wide)
Ø Work to equalize school
funding across a region
Ø Regional revenue sharing (of
sales and property taxes)
Ø Focus transit policies on
needs of the poor rather
than just freeways or
commuter rail

Question 8

**AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES**

Answer 8

Issue: When regions grow wealthy, homeowners get
ensconced and resist development of additional housing.

Some Solutions:
Ø Direct subsidy of non-profit
housing builders
Ø Inclusionary zoning
requirements for affordable
units with for-profit builders
Ø Zoning changes to spur
more units (allow for
multifamily units in more
places)

Question 9

IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL GOVERNANCE

Answer 9

Ø Presenting a unified front to capital
interests (e.g., developers, industrialists,
etc.) increases bargaining leverage
Ø Takes away incentive for individual
localities to manipulate land use
plans for the growth machine
Ø Coordinate environmental
planning across bioregional zones