Impact of New Housing Construction on Racial Patterns

Abstract

This paper inquires into the racial distribution impact of a projected significant increase in housing starts, under conditions of a federal fair housing law only now beginning to be effective and of an increase in the number of black families in the upper range of minority incomes. It examines the evidence within the broad context of changing urban forms and functions. The impact of new housing construction is analyzed under the headings of minority access to (1) new units and (2) filtered units in mover chains initiated by housing starts. Data are cited to support the conclusion that blacks' access to new units, while sharply increased over previous performance, will not have important effects on racial distribution, especially not increasing blacks as a proportion of suburban populations. Blacks' access to filtered housing, it is concluded, continues to be largely blocked by the dual racial market in real estate, except where such housing functions to extend the ghetto.