PolicyLink has researched a wide range of tools that involve equitable public investments. These tools are featured prominently in our Equitable Development ToolKit. In addition to strategies for equitable public investment, the toolkit contains policy tools detailing tactics for fair distribution of affordable housing throughout regions, financing equitable development, building assets for residents of low-income communities, and controlling land use and development processes for community benefit. Using a comprehensive approach, these tools have been crafted to help community builders achieve equitable development-diverse, mixed-income/mixed wealth neighborhoods-strong, stable, and welcoming to all.
The following list contains a brief description of the tools in the Equitable Development Toolkit that involve equitable public invesment, with the title linking directly to the tool.
Brownfields
This tool covers strategies used to encourage redevelopment of brownfields
(abandoned, idled, or underutilized commercial or industrial sites). Brownfield
redevelopment is complicated by the real and perceived dangers of environmental
contamination. Infill development is the use of vacant land within built
urban areas. Reclaiming brownfields and the use of infill development offers
new land use options in gentrifying areas.
Community Development Financial Institutions
This tool helps existing and emerging resident-owned financial institutions serve to build assets for low-income/low-wealth residents and provide them with a stronger voice in running an institution dedicated to neighborhood development and revitalization.
Community
Land Trusts
This alternative property ownership model insures long term community benefits
such as permanent affordability, while creating homeownership and equity
opportunities for individual residents. It is a model where nonprofit
organizations acquire and hold land for community benefit, making the land
available to individuals through long-term land leases. Residents own the
homes located on the land.
Community
Mapping
This tool identifies key information needed to assess the considerable public
and private forces driving gentrification. The tool reviews effective community
mapping and indicator projects; identifies key data sources to guide community
interventions; and shows the role of mapping in community education and
organizing.
Developer
Exactions
This tool requires new commercial developments to contribute fees to the
development of affordable housing, community services and infrastructure.
Creative nonprofit organizations are utilizing exactions as an anti-gentrification
tool to finance services such as day care, cultural centers, job training,
below market rate housing, and ride sharing.
Higher wages achieved through living wage ordinances assist low-income residents in remaining in their communities, lead to greater stability in the workforce and increase the municipal tax base. Such ordinances ensure that employees of public contractors, private contractors receiving public sector funding, and public employees are paid wages at pace with regional cost of living measures.
This tool focuses on an array of strategies that connect economically marginalized communities to regional job opportunities. For example, linkage programs can require that a percentage of jobs created by a commercial development go to local residents. Other programs link urban core and inner-ring suburban residents to employment opportunities around the region. Building such economic opportunity helps residents remain in their communities.
Ensures that healthy local businesses owned by people of color are a basic component of strong, sustainable communities. These businesses generate job opportunities for residents, and keep money circulating within the neighborhood. This tool reviews major approaches for achieving parity for minority-owned businesses.
Real
Estate Transfer Taxes
This innovative tool reviews techniques through which tax regulations can
limit two destabilizing practices in low- and moderate-income communities:
delinquency, when property taxes are not paid on blighted property; and
speculation, when land is acquired with the intent of 'flipping' its ownership
strictly for profitability as the housing market inflates.