Green infrastructure—including rain gardens, green streets and green space—provides stormwater management and climate adaptation benefits to communities. In spite of these environmental benefits, some residents are concerned about their role in green gentrification and contribution to displacement pressures. A recent study by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) shows that green infrastructure increases nearby property values. While this may be a benefit to homeowners, increased property values can also negatively impact housing security for renters, seniors, and other vulnerable groups.

Members of the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange (GILE) have identified a number of equitable development practices that can mitigate these impacts and ensure that communities stay in place to enjoy the benefits of green infrastructure investments. These include community engagement, partnerships, and approaches that incorporate other strategies (e.g. housing, transportation and more) as part of green-infrastructure planning efforts.

Join us in this session—hosted by the Urban Waters Learning Network Equitable Development and Anti-Displacement Collaborative—to hear more about the work that the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange (GILE) are doing related to equitable green infrastructure implementation.

• Jen McGraw—Director of Sustainability Innovation–will share findings from CNT’s report, Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Impact on Property Values
• Barbara L. Hopkins–Executive Director of the GILE–and Beatrice Ohene-Okae–Environmental Protection Specialist with the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)–will share findings from both of GILE’s reports: Insights: Learning from Equity Leaders and the Preventing Displacement Chapter of the Equity Guide.

Register: https://rivernetwork-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArfuCqpzgtE93YOqSSj7S7uFdeIJEk52Fu#/registration