Pathways to revitalization in waterfront communities: A case study of Great Lakes Areas of Concern

Keywords: remediation, restoration, waterfront revitalization
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 70

Abstract

Many urban waterfronts that were once centers of manufacturing are now facing social and environmental challenges, including economic decline, loss of manufacturing jobs, population loss, and heavy concentrations of legacy pollutants. For example, in the Great Lakes region, high levels of sediment contamination and habitat loss from industrial pollutants led to the designation of 43 Areas of Concern (AOCs) by the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Following that designation, an increasing number of sediment remediation and habitat restoration projects have been employed in these areas. Such improvements to the environment have been documented as particularly important components of community revitalization; however, little is known about the actual mechanisms that connect remediation and restoration to revitalization. Moreover, these improvements can increase property values and consequently contribute to resident displacement and gentrification. Thus, there is a need to better understand these processes in order to inform more equitable pathways to revitalization. We address this gap through a case study of three AOCs along southern Lake Michigan. We draw on 20 semi-structured interviews with community leaders and participant observation in three public meetings. Our study reveals that connections between remediation, restoration and waterfront revitalization are supported in part by the social networks of community leaders, residents’ connection to the waterbody, inclusive planning practices, and perceived effectiveness of remediation and restoration. These findings add nuance to our understanding of the pathways between remediation, restoration and revitalization and thus inform planning practices that build on environmental improvements to support equitable waterfront revitalization.