Community news submitted by: Magda Maaoui, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, Magda Maaoui, and Sophia Wedeen co-authored an article in the Journal of Urban Affairs entitled “Rental deserts, segregation, and zoning”.
Through the use of novel measures of residential segregation and zoning restrictiveness, they explore the geography of places that say no to renters and effectively make up a third of American neighborhoods.
These rental deserts are predominantly found in suburban, higher-income, and mostly white neighborhoods, reinforcing patterns of racial and socioeconomic segregation. The study reveals that rental deserts limit access to housing for lower-income households and people of color, who are more likely to rent. The authors argue that restrictive zoning laws, which limit multifamily housing and enforce high-density requirements, exacerbate this issue.
To address these inequities, the article suggests relaxing zoning regulations to allow more multifamily housing, which could help increase rental housing options in more desirable areas, fostering more integrated and opportunity-rich communities.
Read the Article
