The Human and Environmental Impacts of Foreclosure: Washington Park and Sherman Park
Mentor 1
Dr. Arijit Sen
Location
Union 280
Start Date
27-4-2018 1:00 PM
Description
The transformation of American cities caused by urbanization and gentrification has created an outlet where foreclosure and eviction have become sources of capital. Housing policies implemented in the past, such as redlining, have created areas within American cities where poverty is highly concentrated. This research presents a vivid century long pictorial, structural, and economic transformation of eight foreclosed homes that were used as a case study. These boarded-up houses are in two north side neighborhoods in Milwaukee, WI. I examined why these once-active households turned into vacant and derelict buildings in the span of one year, between 2016 and 2017. The homes shared one thing in common: The residents of these homes were evicted by the city because the homeowners failed to pay property taxes or keep up with home maintenance. These are not bank-foreclosures. Instead, they are called city-tax-foreclosures, and since 2011, the number of city tax foreclosures has increased exponentially. This research explores how a foreclosure—which leads to a possible eviction and a definite vacant home, impacts the entire cultural landscape of a community. Multiple instances of foreclosure within a single neighborhood influences the gradual decline of economic and social stability of that neighborhood. The findings from this research show that homes have deteriorated over time because many of them are hardly inhabited or repaired. The overall environment of the community has diminished due to the displacement of community members and the disinvestment in jobs and other basic resources throughout the neighborhoods. This research provides a historical perspective of the Washington Park and Sherman Park Neighborhoods, as well as details that could be utilized for revitalization. In addition, the results could broadly provide insight to some of the challenges that are disabling impoverished communities from becoming stable—economically and socially.
The Human and Environmental Impacts of Foreclosure: Washington Park and Sherman Park
Union 280
The transformation of American cities caused by urbanization and gentrification has created an outlet where foreclosure and eviction have become sources of capital. Housing policies implemented in the past, such as redlining, have created areas within American cities where poverty is highly concentrated. This research presents a vivid century long pictorial, structural, and economic transformation of eight foreclosed homes that were used as a case study. These boarded-up houses are in two north side neighborhoods in Milwaukee, WI. I examined why these once-active households turned into vacant and derelict buildings in the span of one year, between 2016 and 2017. The homes shared one thing in common: The residents of these homes were evicted by the city because the homeowners failed to pay property taxes or keep up with home maintenance. These are not bank-foreclosures. Instead, they are called city-tax-foreclosures, and since 2011, the number of city tax foreclosures has increased exponentially. This research explores how a foreclosure—which leads to a possible eviction and a definite vacant home, impacts the entire cultural landscape of a community. Multiple instances of foreclosure within a single neighborhood influences the gradual decline of economic and social stability of that neighborhood. The findings from this research show that homes have deteriorated over time because many of them are hardly inhabited or repaired. The overall environment of the community has diminished due to the displacement of community members and the disinvestment in jobs and other basic resources throughout the neighborhoods. This research provides a historical perspective of the Washington Park and Sherman Park Neighborhoods, as well as details that could be utilized for revitalization. In addition, the results could broadly provide insight to some of the challenges that are disabling impoverished communities from becoming stable—economically and socially.
