The Difficult Character of Property: To Whom Do Things Belong?

Abstract Abstract Land use has long been a central concept in planning, combining ideas of utility with location. But by focusing on the utilitarian question of "Where do things belong?" we tend to miss the underlying issue of distributive justice, "To whom do things belong?" This paper argues that the question of property and ownership is the most fundamental to planning. Property definitions, rights, and distribution are at the center of current political, economic, and cultural debates throughout the world and are central to planning's efforts to shape community life. The paper explores the concept of property in four contexts: (1) the transformations of American land from common use to private commodity, (2) the theory of property, from John Locke to the taking issue, (3) the distribution of use rights and income rights in property relations, and (4) the shortcomings for planning of the private/public duality.