Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1980

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Planning

Major Professor

Kenneth B Kenny

Committee Members

George E Bowen, Walter L Shouse

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine five major aspects of private market inner-city housing rehabilitation in Knoxville, Tennessee. These aspects were: socioeconomic characteristics of the inner-city housing rehabilitators; the amount of rehabilitation being performed on each home; the reasons for moving into the study area, the financing of the acquisition and rehabilitation of the homes; and the rehabilitators' perceptions of the acequacy of public services in the study area.

The three Knoxville study areas were selected from 15 census tracts that were designated as rehabilitation census tracts by the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission in August 1976. Four criteria were used in the selection of the three study area census tracts. The criteria used included: the census tract had to be located within 2.5 miles of the center of Knoxville's central business district; the housing stock had to possess unique architectural or historical significance; clearly defined boundaries, unusual topography or other qualities which set it off from other areas of the city; and the expectation that a significant amount of rehabilitation will occur in the area.

This study dealt solely with single-family owner-occupied homes in the three study areas. After the study areas were selected, a universe of 91 homes was identified within the study areas. The homes were identified through a windshield survey, examination of records at the Knoxville building inspector's office, and a walking survey of the area. The personal interview technique was used to gather the needed information. A total of 73 interviews were completed, creating a response rate of 80 percent for the survey.

The major findings derived from the study are as follows: more Knoxville rehabilitators have children than in other cities where similar studies have been performed; the rehabilitators are performing the bulk of the rehabilitation tasks themselves; and financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of inner-city housing is often difficult to obtain. The rehabilitators gave three main reasons for moving into the study area: the characteristics of the home, the appearance of the neighborhood, and the convenience associated with inner-city living. The rehabilitators indicated that increased police and fire protection, creation or upgrading of parks and recreation areas, and construction or upgrading of schools were the public services that should be improved within the study area.

Planners, public officials, and private individuals and organizations interested in encouraging private market inner-city housing rehabilitation need to understand what motivates the individual homeowners to purchase and rehabilitate homes in the inner-city. It is hoped that this research can play a part in providing this understanding.

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