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Article
Disentangling the Effects of Urban Form and Socio-Demographic Context on Street Tree Cover: A Multi-Level Analysis from Montréal
Landscape and Urban Planning
  • Thi-Thanh-Hien Pham, Université du Québec à Montréal
  • Philippe Apparicio, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique
  • Shawn M. Landry, University of South Florida
  • Joseph Lewnard, Yale School of Public Health
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Keywords
  • Street trees,
  • Street characteristics,
  • Socio-economic status,
  • Lifestyle,
  • Multi-level and mixed models
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.09.001
Disciplines
Abstract

Street trees provide a wide range of benefits for cities. Street tree cover (STC) is explained by urban form, social stratification and lifestyle theories that operate at multiple scales. In this paper we examine how the urban form (street characteristics), social stratification and lifestyle (socio-demographics) account for variations of STC in Montréal. Tree cover was identified from Quickbird images and then overlaid on street segments to compute the STC. Each street segment was nested in a census tract. We used 2-level models with mixed effects and interactions (between street attributes and socio-demographic variables) while introducing a spatial term. Political, socio-economic or other explanatory factors operating at the tract level can potentially explain 17.6% of the variation of STC. Overall, the street characteristics explained more variation in STC than the socio-demographic context. Lifestyle is less important than social stratification. Street length is positively associated with STC; street width and the percentage of duplexes and triplexes are negatively associated with STC, while construction age has a u-shaped effect on STC. Interactions show that STC is higher in expensive and highly-educated areas that have residential streets or streets with large setback (sidewalk). Areas predominantly comprised of low-income households could have higher or lower STC depending on the number of buildings and the percentage of duplexes and triplexes. Streetscape and socio-demographic contexts intertwine to create complex patterns of STC. Greening programs should be designed carefully according to local contexts since certain types of greening can lead to gentrification and displacement of low-income households.

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Landscape and Urban Planning, v. 157, p. 422-433

Citation Information
Thi-Thanh-Hien Pham, Philippe Apparicio, Shawn M. Landry and Joseph Lewnard. "Disentangling the Effects of Urban Form and Socio-Demographic Context on Street Tree Cover: A Multi-Level Analysis from Montréal" Landscape and Urban Planning Vol. 157 (2017) p. 422 - 433
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/shawn-landry/10/