NCRC Reports Atlanta Neighborhood Shifts Displace 22,000 Black Residents

Several urban areas are grappling with significant zoning and housing challenges. The twentieth anniversary of the Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London highlights ongoing debates about the constitutional interpretation of "public use," especially as it relates to exclusionary zoning practices that contribute to the national housing crisis by restricting housing types and increasing costs. In Atlanta, neighborhoods like the Old Fourth Ward have undergone dramatic demographic and economic shifts due to gentrification, resulting in displacement of Black residents and major changes in income and racial composition over the past decades. In Chicago, community groups advocate for an environmental ordinance aimed at reforming zoning laws to require developers to assess cumulative environmental impacts and engage with residents before project approval, addressing long-standing inequities in industrial and commercial land use. Meanwhile, Washington D.C.'s Office of Planning has proposed amendments to the Residential Apartment (RA-1) zoning rules to simplify review processes, clarify standards, and support diverse, compatible housing development, reflecting community input and aiming to better manage growth in various wards. These developments illustrate a broader national focus on zoning reforms and community involvement to address housing affordability, environmental justice, and equitable urban growth.