Zoning, Aldermanic Prerogative, and Segregation in the City of Chicago: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

Theories about segregation and its effects argue that disparate life expectancies and economic opportunities for Black and White Chicagoans are the results of public policies and private investment. Few attempts have been made, however, to peel back the layers of influence guiding investment to see how zoning designation of parcels and the zoning process itself—both affected by machine politics—underlie these racial discrepancies. Using city zoning and Census racial data, I show that as of 2022, the density of Business (B) and Commercial (C) zones is strongly correlated with neighborhood racial composition. White residents live in census tracts that have a higher density of B and a lower density of C districts, a relationship that is reversed for Black residents. Efforts to reverse the effects of segregation and improve life outcomes for Black Chicagoans should include proactive zoning in Black wards to encourage positive development and discourage businesses harmful to community structure.