Investing in the Middle

Middle Neighborhoods (MNs) are generally recognized for their safety, stability and affordability for residents. They also provide an important opportunity to give lower-income populations access to affordable housing and an overall higher quality of life, but the number of MNs is declining throughout the U.S. Recognizing these opportunities and challenges regarding MNs, the research team set out to fill in the existing knowledge gaps about which public policies and programmatic activities are effective.

The Center for Economic Development was awarded a two-year, $250,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as a part of RWJF's "Policies for Action: Research on Housing Policies That Promote Equity" program. Levin partner Cleveland Neighborhood Progress is also part of the research team. The project is titled "Investing in the Middle: A New Approach to Deliver on the Promise of Equitable Neighborhood Development," and the team will work to address equity and health in middle neighborhoods. Middle neighborhoods are areas in legacy industrial cities like Cleveland that have long been home to middle-class and working-class residents. They are opportunity-rich with place-based resources, but risk falling into a distressed state because of lack of investment. Dr. Anglin and his team will perform actionable research in the areas of strategic investments and policy innovations that have the potential to increase housing affordability and neighborhood stability. Their research and learning will inform the work of policymakers, funders, and community development practitioners across America's industrial heartland.

Targeted policy is needed to maintain these areas. There are many policy options to strengthen these neighborhoods, many of which have proven effective in various neighborhoods around the country. While financial capital is necessary, the importance of social capital for preserving middle neighborhoods must also be included. Ultimately, the best policy solutions are as diverse as middle neighborhoods themselves.

 

Practitioners from around the country expressed interest in access to the data, typology, and mapping tool for use in their own work. With additional investment and financial support from the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, the research team created a set of expanded ArcGIS Online mapping tools that is publicly available through the Levin College's website.

The publicly available interactive mapping tool displays the results from the typology developed in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Middle Neighborhoods work. Although this project focuses on case study communities, this tool includes the data for all 66,679 neighborhoods in our study area. The mapping tool includes:

1. A Story Map: An interactive interface where people can click on individual census tracts nationwide to get greater details on economic health, demographics, and factor scores. This map is divided by census region.

2. Case Study Story Map: An interactive map of each of the six case study neighborhoods that combines the visual aids of embedded maps and charts with a narrative that readers can scroll through.

3. Legend Map: An interactive map that contains tracts within cities with a population of over 50,000.

Learn More:

• Case Studies
• Regions
• Cities

 

The Center for Economic Development at Cleveland State University, through the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Policies for Action Grant, has been conducting research into middle neighborhoods (MNs). As part of its ongoing research, the Center organized the Investing in the Middle forum to present the work the team has done and gain insight into policy and best practices from members of the community. The workshop took place on November 20, 2022 at the Cleveland State University's Levin College of Public Affairs and Education.

Learn More:

• Investing in the Middle: A New Approach to Deliver on the Promise of Equitable Neighborhood Development
• Watch a video of this event.

 

The six cities selected were Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; South Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Charlotte, North Carolina; Plano, Texas; and Lakewood, Colorado. The research team conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders to identify leading issues in middle neighborhoods, provide greater context and detail of neighborhood dynamics, and provide an overview of ongoing strategies, policies, and programs being implemented in their respective communities. These interviews sought to uncover whether there are activities, programs, or efforts to address areas such as the business environment, housing, equity, and health. The topic areas for discussion were informed by the recommendations of the practitioner feedback group.

These case studies provide important information related to: 1. Validation of the geographic delineation of using a census tract to categorize a neighborhood; 2. Identification of essential information on the policy process in these areas; and 3. Discovery of the best practices of each MN.

 

January 2022: After the Podcast: Dean Roland V. Anglin Continues the Discussion about Middle Neighborhoods and Why They Matter
In this episode, Roland V. Anglin, Dean of the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs discusses "Investing in the Middle: A New Approach to Deliver on the Promise of Equitable Neighborhood Development," a research project supported with a two-year, $250,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as a part of RWJF's "Policies for Action: Research on Housing Policies That Promote Equity" program. The research aims to address equity and health in middle neighborhoods. Dr. Anglin and his team will perform actionable research in the areas of strategic investments and policy innovations that have the potential to increase housing affordability and neighborhood stability.

November 2021: Dean Roland V. Anglin Discusses Middle Neighborhoods and Why They Matter
In this episode, Dr. Roland V. Anglin, Dean and Professor at the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs discusses "Investing in the Middle: A New Approach to Deliver on the Promise of Equitable Neighborhood Development," a research project supported with a two-year, $250,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as a part of RWJF's "Policies for Action: Research on Housing Policies That Promote Equity" program. The research aims to address equity and health in middle neighborhoods.

Dr. Anglin and his team will perform actionable research in the areas of strategic investments and policy innovations that have the potential to increase housing affordability and neighborhood stability.

*According to urban practitioner and scholar Alan Mallach: "Middle neighborhoods are neighborhoods that have retained a respectable measure of both their physical and social fabric, are not or not yet areas of highly concentrated poverty or hyper vacancy, and where stabilization and gradual improvement remain realistic strategies."

 

Press Release
Levin College Awarded $250,000 to Research Equitable Neighborhood Development

Project Presentation
Reshaping our Understanding of People and Place: A Typology of American Neighborhoods