New parks and green space can make a community more desirable to live in and help protect against flooding as the climate warms.
But that desirability can also lead to rising rents, higher taxes, and the arrival of developers eager to buy up deteriorating properties.
So when residents of the North Riverside neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, learned that the city planned to address chronic flooding from a local creek and build gardens and trails along its banks, they were excited – but also worried.
Gloria McNair is with the nonprofit Groundwork Jacksonville.
McNair: “They were concerned about displacement … that they would be pushed out and no longer be able to afford to live there.”
Some homes in the low-income area need major repairs, like new roofs or mold remediation. Owners who cannot afford to do the work might feel pressured to sell. So McNair’s group launched the North Riverside home repair program.
It’s put more than a million dollars toward major repairs and energy-efficient retrofits that can save people money each month on utility bills.
The program makes it easier for longtime residents …
McNair: “ … to be able to afford to remain in their neighborhood.”
And enjoy the benefits of more green space and less flooding.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
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