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Like many cities, Chester, Pennsylvania, went through significant disinvestment during the post-industrial period, followed by white flight as new economic opportunities became available in segregated communities outside the city. The remaining residents experienced population decline, absentee ownership, and increased poverty.
Focusing on quality over quantity has facilitated managed growth without corresponding displacement and gentrification. Planners and community leaders resisted the tendency toward growth and recovery at all costs and chose community-based solutions to offset disinvestment and blight. This residents-first approach prioritizes community benefit in determining which development should be advanced and when.
Community-based economic development, environmental justice, and a welcoming environment for new immigrants are primary indicators for success. As Chester enters a new planning phase, the challenge is to continue on the current trajectory and develop policies to promote wealth-building in the community in a way that avoids rapid growth and gentrification.
Sustaining, rather than displacing, communities of color and managing the pace of growth and change require a focus on people instead of development and infrastructure. Thanks to good planning, the waterfront was developed to provide family-sustaining employment, while the downtown is a place where Black-owned businesses can grow and thrive.
Learning Objectives:
Develop planning objectives and metrics based on community benefits.
Practice engagement strategies that invite participation from diverse communities of interest.
Address the pace of growth and development to leverage community benefits.
