The City of Hilliard Sustainability Plan

Hilliard Sustainability PlanSocial EquitySocial equity can be a difficult and somewhat intangible concept tomeasure for a city. This concept can be especially challenging to gaugein suburban communities with smaller populations and an existinghomogeneous demographic profile. Often social equity is viewedthrough the lens of closing the gap between wealthy and upper-middleclass constituencies and working class and lower-middle class groups.This perspective may not make sense in suburban communities such asHilliard because they often have median incomes above average for theirmetropolitan statistical area (MSA) and less economic and ethnic diversity.When examining social equity in Hilliard, it may be most important toconsider building a more diverse community in a sustainable manner.Sustainable communities support a range of people and economic classesas opposed to enclaves of one particular social or economic group. 38 Oneof the most tangible measures in this area can be in terms of the housingstock offered in the community. Before a community can open its doorsto different groups of people, there must be an available housing stocksuitable to different needs.If a community seeks sustainable growth, they must be open to beinghome to more diverse constituencies of people, including those of varyingeconomic levels. In Hilliard, the average home value is significantly higherthan average for the Ohio and the Columbus MSA. 39 The median valueof a home in Hilliard is $209,300, while the average for the state of Ohiois $136,400. 40 While this can be viewed as an indicator of success, it ismore likely that it is a product of self-selection. Rather than there beingsomething tangible about Hilliard that makes its people more economicallysuccessful, it is more likely that Hilliard is a community that is more narrowlyhospitable to one particular economic group considering both the aboveaverage median household income and housing prices in Hilliard ascompared to the rest of the MSA .If Hilliard wants to be a vibrant city, it will have to offer a widerrange of jobs and housing opportunities that make the cityattractive to different groups of people. 41 To accommodate thisgrowth, one of the first ingredients will have to be a more diverseportfolio of housing opportunities. The larger, high-end homes thatare currently the norm in Hilliard are in over-abundance and surveysshow they are not as desirable for younger people. 42 Unless Hilliardadapts now to this growing trend away from the predominanthousing type in Hilliard, the city will risk sharp population decline inthe future.In order to compete for future residents, Hilliard must recognizenow that two of the key demographics that can help maintainpopulation and build the city’s future are young professionals andyoung families. While it may be difficult for Hilliard to competewith Columbus in terms of securing young professionals who maybe attracted to the social, entertainment, and cultural amenitiesthat can only be offered by a large city, Hilliard could certainly bewell-positioned to compete for young families because of the city’sstrong school district. 43 In order to successfully compete for youngcouples and families, it is important to offer a housing stock that issuitable for the incomes of young couples and families.Providing housing options that are accessible to young coupleswith or without children is one way to attract residents who canmove into the community and build a future in Hilliard. As itcurrently stands, the homeownership rate in Hilliard is 78%, wellabove the Ohio average of 69.2%. 44 While a robust homeownershiprate is generally a positive, one reason for this high rate may bethat the median household income for Hilliard residents is $81,933ECON. EXECUTIVE DEV.SOCIAL SUMMARY EQ.If Hilliard wants to be a vibrant city, it will have to offer a wider range ofjobs and housing opportunities that make the city attractive to differentgroups of people.97