Equitable sprawl

Is adding diversity to sprawl a good thing? Is equitable sprawl a step forward or another step backward? Does this merely encourage more anti-center city attitudes on the part of certain minority groups?

A few years ago at a conference I heard speak Angela Glover Blackwell of PolicyLink, an organization that deals with equity and gentrification issues, among others. I was talking with someone afterwards--Ms. Glover is a great speaker--and I said her talk could be summed up in three words, "creating equitable sprawl."

This comes to mind in considering the new report on regionalism in Cleveland, "Regionalism: Growing Together to Expand Opportunity to All," produced by the Presidents' Council, a group of 17 chief executives at black-owned businesses in Cleveland.

They didn't take on the idea of regional government, saying it was too controversial. According to an editorial in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Speaking of regionalism," the report suggests:

• Curbing sprawl by imposing fees on development in Cleveland's outer suburbs.
• Getting rid of rules that discourage construction of affordable homes in outer suburbs.
• Offering tax breaks to developers who build less expensive housing and landlords who accept rent vouchers.
• Expanding Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority service and building homes near bus and rail lines.