Bullard Center’s Faculty Associate Bumseok Chun, Ph.D has a new publication, “Promoting equity in urban heat: a greening approach for HOLC's legacy in Houston, Texas”

The study explores the enduring impact of the Homeowners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) created during the New Deal era in the 1930s on marginalized communities. It highlights how historical redlining by HOLC has led to disparities in urban heat islands affecting neighborhoods that were denied financial investments. The research focuses on Houston, Texas, comparing temperature variations in HOLC-designated zones. By analyzing social indicators and tree canopy density, the study uses spatial regression modeling to address temperature differentials, particularly between "A" and "D" zones. 

The findings suggest that increasing tree canopy density in "D" zones by 54% could promote thermal equity, reducing temperature gaps and providing cooling effects to surrounding areas. The dataset includes urban temperature records, tree canopy data, vulnerability insights from the U.S. Census Bureau, and demographic information, such as the concentration of African American residents in "D" graded districts. The study proposes elevating tree canopy density as a strategy to alleviate temperature discrepancies and create a more equitable environment for all residents, particularly those in marginalized communities.

Click here for the article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13549839.2024.2380854