This session, as a part of the two-part session proposal (along with “Vacancy as Opportunity in Legacy Cities”), examines the potentials of Green Infrastructure (GI) implementation in legacy cities by exploring various case studies. Vacant or blighted properties in the city are often associated with various negative outcomes, including depressed property values, loss of the tax base, environmental hazards, public safety concerns, and overall decline of morale in the area. This problem is most acute in cities that have long suffered with the abundance of blighted properties, such as so-called “legacy cities” or “shrinking cities.” These cities grapple with the short- and long-term consequences of having thousands or tens of thousands of underutilized properties across cities experiencing little to no population growth. With the extensive amount of vacant land and little demand for formal redevelopment efforts, there has been excitement over the potential of converting blighted or vacant lots into green spaces, such as parks, community gardens, or urban farms, with anticipated positive outcomes of such conversion. The panel aims to explore the opportunities and challenges in implementing green infrastructure programs and policies.
Staying cool in the green city: What vacant land can do for spatial injustices in urban heating Hamil Pearsall, Temple University
Activating Capacities: Eco strategies for vacant land in St. Louis Patty Heyda, Washington University in St. Louis; Natalie Yates, Washington University in St. Louis; Christine Yogiaman, Washington University in St. Louis
Implementing Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia to Meet Environmental, Social, Economic, and Equity Goals Christina Rosan, Temple University
Getting to Green: What Helps or Hinders Green Infrastructure Installation Following Demolition in Legacy Cities Matthew D. Weber, University of Michigan; Margaret Dewar, University of Michigan; Alicia Alvarez, University of Michigan
