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I was curious how Seattle's 1936 redlining map compares with today's zoning. So, I made a map.
As a refresher, the federal government sponsored the creation of redlining maps in the 1930s and used them to determine mortgage eligibility. Here's Seattle's map:
These maps were explicitly racist. Neighborhoods where people of color lived were considered "Hazardous." If you lived there, it was difficult or impossible to get a home loan. For people of color, this cut off a major route to building intergenerational wealth.
Back to the present: to no one's surprise, the "Best" neighborhoods from Seattle's 1936 map are all still wealthy single-family enclaves. Meanwhile, Seattle's historically Black and Asian neighborhoods have mostly been upzoned.
I strongly support upzoning, but we need to look critically at where and how we do it. In Seattle, wealthy white neighborhoods have a strong track record of getting what they want, and what they want is usually preservation of their (racist, exclusionary) status quo.
Want a more equitable Seattle? Upzone those green and blue neighborhoods. Looking at you: North Capitol Hill, Madrona, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Phinney, West Seattle...
If you want to explore the 1936 HOLC map, including comments for each neighborhood grade, check out https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=13/47.579/-122.368&city=seattle-wa
