Prioritizing Conservation & Development in Durham, NC

Abstract

Durham, North Carolina is one of the most densely forested cities in the southeastern U.S. but is also part of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the region. Development is occurring at a rapid pace and often without consideration for reducing sprawl or maintaining the amenities generated by urban greenspaces. This project seeks to prioritize dense, nodal development, discourage sprawl, and promote conservation of urban greenspaces by integrating environmental, socioeconomic, and logistical factors across Durham County into a geospatial model that characterizes a given parcel’s suitability for development. A walkability model is deployed as well to encourage development along trafficked corridors. Results are examined in the context of Braggtown, a historically black neighborhood with significant canopy coverage that is experiencing high rates of development and gentrification.