The socioeconomic dimensions of brownfield cleanup in the Detroit region

Although the goal of brownfield development is to clean up and redevelop abandoned or underutilized properties in distressed urban neighborhoods, the racial and socioeconomic disparities of brownfield cleanups have not been adequately examined. This study combines the locations of brownfields with 1990 and 2000 US Census data in the Detroit region. Results reveal that brownfields located near socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods tend to be cleaned up first. Brownfields located far from major roads also tend to receive priority. However, results also suggest that the amount of land devoted to industrial and/or commercial uses adjacent to brownfield sites is not significantly associated with the probability of brownfield sites being cleaned up. These findings indicate that the initial step of brownfield development—cleaning up environmentally contaminated properties—is heading in the right direction.