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Does an Urban Wilderness Promote Gentrification? A Case Study from Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Author

Listed:
  • Jilleah G. Welch

    (Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, University of Tennessee, 1640 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Charles B. Sims

    (Department of Economics, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, University of Tennessee, 1640 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

  • Michael L. McKinney

    (Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1621 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)

Abstract

The Knoxville Urban Wilderness (KUW) is a successful example of a growing global movement to utilize vacant urban land as many cities “de-urbanize”. A key question is whether this particular kind of green space promotes social inequality via green gentrification. Our analysis shows how the KUW has affected nearby home prices. Socioeconomic data including income, educational attainment, and race is also presented to explore the possibility of gentrification in South Knoxville. Our findings do not support strong evidence of gentrification, which implies that lower-income households are benefiting from advances in environmental amenities. Other households in specific areas are benefiting from both increases in home values and from expansions of the KUW. These are encouraging results for urban planning efforts that seek to utilize large areas of vacant urban land while also having positive social and economic impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Jilleah G. Welch & Charles B. Sims & Michael L. McKinney, 2022. "Does an Urban Wilderness Promote Gentrification? A Case Study from Knoxville, Tennessee, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:2:p:973-:d:725658
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gunwoo Kim, 2016. "The Public Value of Urban Vacant Land: Social Responses and Ecological Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Galen D. Newman & Ann O’M. Bowman & Ryun Jung Lee & Boah Kim, 2016. "A current inventory of vacant urban land in America," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 302-319, June.
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