Urbanization has many advantages like giving people in the community access to medical care, family planning and coordinating community efforts like recycling. Although there exists a level of benefit, urban planning comes at a price. As cities grow so does the impacts they bring about. With populations being in close proximity, resources in those areas can be easily exhausted. Dense populations tend to generate more air and water pollution. Cities with more gray spaces such as buildings and paved roads prevent rainwater from slipping through creating runoffs which tend to lead to more flash flooding.
As cities expand it causes people to move further from their jobs and push people to spend more time in their cars emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Since 2009 Worcester has been able to reduce greenhouse emission from the building sector. In 2019 greenhouse emission from commercial buildings were down 10 % and for residential buildings were down 7%.
How does this connect back to urban planning? How can sustainable urban planning reduce greenhouse emissions? C40.org states that “sustainable land use planning measures help cities avoid and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change, and promote spatial equality”
When we look at the City of Worcester’s greenhouse gas emissions, we can see that emissions from commercial buildings make up 39% of greenhouse gases and transportation makes up 27%. By focusing on sustainable urban planning that is how the city will continue to lower these rates, creating walkable areas, safe and accessible public transportation, electing to use cleaner energy sources, and incorporating green infrastructure we can create a more sustainable and resilient city.
Equity in Urban Planning
Environment, economy, and equity are the three E’s of environmental sustainability. Far too often the third E gets overlooked. Equality cannot be an afterthought when it comes to climate justice and urban planning. When we do not take equity into account we are not providing people with fair access to the benefits and resources of urban development, we are further marginalizing already marginalized groups.
What can be done to mitigate gentrification in urban planning?
Gentrification refers to the transformation of a low-income or working-class area through increased investment and urban development, resulting in rising property values and the displacement of established residents. The revitalization of Worcester has been pushing out low income groups for years now, and rent prices are continuing to rise having seen a 7.6% rent increase between 2022 and 2023. Some organizations and the city are working to address these concerns.
Worcester Community Housing Resources (WCHR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to create and maintain affordable housing for the City of Worcester for low income families and individuals. WCHR assists with finding rentals, obtaining loans, development projects, downpayment assistance, and a variety of other programs that make affordable housing accessible for people in need.
Worcester Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) was created in 2021 to address the communities affordable housing needs. AHTF seeks to finance and promote development projects that have the purpose of creating new affordable rental or homeownership housing units. The types of new affordable housing units AHTF finances includes:
- Housing units constructed where none had existed previously.
- Vacant, abandoned or fire-damaged residential units to be returned to residential use.
- Non-residential or non-residentially-zoned property converted to residential use.
- Rental or ownership housing where the number of affordable units is increased.
Part of the requirements for these developments is that at least 10% of the units and the building entrances are wheelchair accessible, with hopes to further affordable and accessible housing. AHTF will contribute up to 25% of total development costs.
Collage by Isabella Piedrasanta