Environmental Equity in Central Cities: Socioeconomic Dimensions and Planning Strategies

Abstract

This study presents the case of a neighborhood in South Phoenix, Arizona, where latent feelings of inequity in the community were heightened by a serious contamination incident. The incident amplified perceptions of environmental risk and reinforced perceptions of distributional, procedural, and process inequities. Housing prices within the affected area continue to reflect a risk-induced discount when compared to those in adjacent and similar neighborhoods. The property value diminution in the affected area has occurred despite assurances of governmental agencies that residual contaminants are within safe limits. The article concludes with a number of strategies for planners, which should help strengthen planning processes that involve environmental equity considerations in the central areas of our major cities.