Inclusionary zoning policies that increase the supply of affordable housing may be good for the heart, according to a first-of-a-kind study by researchers at the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, notes that such zoning programs were associated with lower rates of heart disease.
“Many cities around the country are facing a severe shortage of affordable housing,” said Antwan Jones, lead author of the study and an associate professor of sociology. “Our study suggests that inclusionary zoning programs can help not just boost the supply of safe, affordable housing, but may also reduce the risk of heart disease.”
Dr. Jones and his colleagues relied on data from the 500 Cities Project, as well as zoning and demographic information, to find out if there were links at the municipal level between so-called inclusionary zoning policies and coronary heart disease.
More than 880 cities and counties across 25 states have adopted inclusionary zoning policies or programs that give developers incentives (such as a tax break, exemptions from selected regulations and other financial inducements) in return for setting aside a share of new housing units for low- to moderate-income families.