Walkability and the benefits of place-based housing: an examination of Louisville’s HOPE VI neighborhoods

The Homeownership Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE VI) program has marked a shift from larger development to more neighborhood sensitive projects based on small community development models. These developments are integrated with local neighborhoods and responsive to sustainability and smart growth principles. This study examines the extent to which HOPE VI redevelopments in Louisville, KY have had positive effects on the surrounding neighborhood. Particularly, we investigate if neighborhoods that have a HOPE VI perform better than other neighborhoods on a series of neighborhood dynamics metrics (housing values, incomes, opportunities for jobs, and poverty). Additionally, we investigate if redevelopments with higher levels of walkability have had greater influence on these housing dynamics. Our findings indicate that neighborhoods containing or near HOPE VI developments do perform better than other neighborhoods, and that redevelopments in a more walkable neighborhood tend to have a greater positive influence on the community.