Then and Now
The historical implications of redlining in Indianapolis
Redlining is the systematic refusal of loans and other services to minority groups based on boundaries established by both the private and public sectors. Redlined regions were defined by observing things like location, house quality, access to transportation, household income, number of shops and ultimately the racial makeup of its inhabitants. The grades for the regions were split into (A) for “Best”, (B) for “Still Desirable”, (C) for “Definitely Declining”, and (D) for “Hazardous” depending on the previously stated criteria. As with many other major cities around the United States, the data collection for the Redlined map used here was completed in 1937.
This system created an even deeper divide between the rich and poor communities as well as white and minorities in the area. In many regions deemed “Hazardous,” inhabitants never received loans in order to improve their homes and communities, resulting in the neighborhood remaining in the same run-down state that it had always been in. Grocery chains and transportation services also made a point to avoid these areas, simply based off of these maps. In any case, this has continued today in the form of food deserts.
Redlining has forced many families to move from the city in order to find accessible and cheap food as well as affordable housing. Many more aren't financially capable of this move, leaving them stranded in the food deserts formed by the Redline maps.
Below, we will look closely at some of the neighborhoods of Indianapolis and observe the long-term effects of Redlining on the community.
Then and Now
Every map will be interactive to provide you with a better view of the entire situation. Click on the maps for additional information.
This map in particular was created by combining the 1937 redlined map and the modern street plan of Indianapolis. You may notice that some areas are left blank despite there being neighborhoods on the map. These spots are representing the lack of residents at the time the redlined map was made. This leaves gaps in places like downtown Indy, which had no residential buildings, and on the outskirts of town where there was still a large agricultural presence at the time.
Below is the scan of the original redlined map.
(Courtesy of "Mapping Inequality")
Fountain Square
Looking closer, we can find the neighborhood of Fountain Square on the southeast side of the city. In the original Redline map, the neighborhood was contained in the regions C16, D11, and D12. As stated before, the grades for each neighborhood ranged from A to D, Fountain Square was deemed to be both "Definitely Declining" (C) and "Hazardous" (D). One of the reasons for the grade had to do with the nearby train tracks. The grade was assigned before the interstate was extended south, something that would have certainly lowered its rating as well.
The form used to grade the regions can be seen below. In it, you will see that it covers everything from terrain to inhabitants. Looking at the inhabitants section, the presence of any minority was simply a yes or no question.
Area Description for Fountain Square (Courtesy of "Mapping Inequality")
Each category is harsh and to the point, and the clarifying remarks section really provides some insight into the minds of those performing the surveys.
Today, Fountain Square is experiencing a large case of gentrification. Many of the homes are being torn down and rebuilt. Average rent prices in the neighborhood have gone up from around $400/month to $800/month for the time period 2000 to 2013. This sudden price increase in housing has forced out many of the original residents, many of them minorities.
Food Deserts
The map to the right is of all the food deserts in Marion County. The data is from The Polis Center at IUPUI and reflects the current situation in the city. When compared to the redlining maps, we are able to spot some similarities and historical scars.
Indy Redlines
West Indianapolis
Zooming into the area of West Indianapolis gives us the most prominent comparison between the redlined districts and modern food deserts.
Indy Redlines
This region was deemed "Hazardous" (D) in 1937 mostly due to low income and run-down homes. It was also mentioned in the clarifying remarks section that the area had little in the way of transportation.
Area description for West Indianapolis area. (Courtesy of "Mapping Inequality")
West Indianapolis Transportation
Here we can see that the transportation issue mentioned in the redlining form has not been fixed. The bus routes from IndyGo have been layered onto the food deserts map, demonstrating just how inaccessible it is. This problem is most prevalent here, but it is not unique to the West Indianapolis area.
North East Transportation
In the north east area of the city, the issue of transportation continues. The area wasn't completely mapped in the 1937 redlinings, but the majority of the area was labeled as "Definitely Declining" (C). This area, including the previously (B) graded region, is now a food desert and only has two bus routes that travel through it. These routes also fail to leave the food desert for the majority of the line.
Indy Redlines
Bus Routes and Redlining
Many of the regions that were given grades of C (yellow) or D (red) are missing out on bus routes, often only having one or two passing through the neighborhood. This limits the ability of residents able to reach grocery stores and provide food for their household.
The newest addition to the IndyGo routes is a high tech, North/South route that passes through 12 of the original 1937 areas. 7 of them are in either the A (green) or B (blue) regions. It also only passes 8 food desert locations.
Bus routes with food desert data
This is Indianapolis's first Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) and is being advertised as a game changer for public transport in the city.
IndyGo have named this revolutionary route "The Red Line".
Logo for IndyGo's Red Line
What do we do?
Redlining has left neighborhoods in the Indianapolis area with fewer services, namely transportation. In many cases, this magnifies the issue of food deserts in the area, as residents have limited ways to reach food providers. Pushing for both IndyGo and the state to add or modify routes to accommodate the less fortunate would be a powerful course of action. If done correctly, it could help curb the problem of food access and improve access to reliable public transportation with one action.
Voicing your concerns to your representatives could help get the ball rolling on this issue. A call or email could mean the start of something big.
