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Abstract

Historical redlining created persistent patterns of racial segregation and spatial inequality in American cities. However, urban initiatives aimed at increasing green spaces in these neighborhoods increasingly trigger gentrification that can displace original residents. In this study, we examine the spatial intersection of 1930s-era Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) redlining boundaries, current property values, and multimodal park accessibility in Baltimore, Maryland. Using geographic data from 245 properties and 13 major parks, we developed an accessibility framework incorporating walking, public transit, and automobile travel modes to estimate accessibility to green spaces across neighborhoods with different redlining histories. Our spatial analysis reveals that historically redlined Grade D neighborhoods have the highest property values ($214.37/sqft) despite the legacy of systematic disinvestment, alongside superior car-free park access (59.7% via walking or transit). At the same time, Grade A neighborhoods remain entirely automobile-dependent (100%). Generalized linear mixed modeling indicates a significant positive association between property values and park travel time (β=0.994, p=0.009), reflecting a "walkability premium" wherein gentrifying residents pay higher prices for transit-rich urban environments even when car-free modes result in longer travel times. These findings indicate critical issues in urban environmental justice: the same walkable, park-adjacent characteristics that historically served low-income communities now attract affluent in-movers, driving displacement. Our research supports the existing literature on the need for spatially-targeted policies that ensure equitable greening without displacement.

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