DECODING THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT: AN ANALYSIS OF GREEN GENTRIFICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF RAILS-TO-TRAILS POLICY

Author

Lorin R. Carter

Graduation Semester and Year

2019

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Public Policy

Department

Urban and Public Affairs

First Advisor

Rod Hissong

Abstract

Recent urban public policies and planning initiatives have resulted in increased efforts to improve stewardship of our limited natural resources (sustainability), increase defenses against natural stressors (resiliency), while also seeking to prevent and remedy unequal environmental burdens placed on minority, elderly, and lower-income communities (environmental justice). This research seeks first to evaluate how the intersection of these policies combine to create the urban phenomenon of Green Gentrification, where the intended effect of these actions is to improve environmental characteristics and infrastructure, but they often result in the displacement of original citizens and culture the improvement sought to help (Gould & Lewis, 2017, p. 13; Wolch, Byrne, & Newell, 2014, pp. 234-235). The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework will be used to provide an explanation of the context within which Green Gentrification occurs (Polski & Ostrom, 1999, p. 5; McGinnis, 2011, p. 169: Schlager & Cox, 2018, p. 215). Subsequently, a quantitative analysis will be employed to analyze changes to the sociodemographic makeup of neighborhoods adjacent to the linear park before and after construction using Linear Hedonic Regression. The case study for this research will be The Katy Trail in Dallas, TX, a Rails-To-Trails project (16 U.S.C. § 1247(d)). Finally, possible solutions of practical planning applications and policy strategies will be presented to maximize environmental benefits, increase community ownership, and minimize displacement to move the field closer to making green infrastructure a reality for all communities.

Keywords

Green gentrification, Gentrification, Mixed methods analysis, Institutional analysis development framework, Linear hedonic regression, Displacement, Green infrastructure, Rails-to-trails, Race and parks

Disciplines

Public Affairs | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

Recommended Citation

Carter, Lorin R., "DECODING THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT: AN ANALYSIS OF GREEN GENTRIFICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF RAILS-TO-TRAILS POLICY" (2019). Public Affairs Dissertations. 199.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/publicaffairs_dissertations/199