Faculty co-authors article in Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning
November 17, 2025
BY Emily capdeville
Tulane University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment is featured in a new international research collaboration examining how transit-oriented development (TOD) can advance social equity. The article, co-authored by Professor John L. Renne with Ndèye Aïta Cissé and Alain L’Hostis (Université Gustave Eiffel), analyzes the Rosa Parks district in Paris is one of Europe’s most ambitious and socially inclusive TODs.
The project originated during Professor Renne’s 2023 sabbatical in Paris, when Cissé led him on a field visit to the Rosa Parks neighborhood in northern Paris. The site, located in the 19th arrondissement, has undergone a dramatic transformation from industrial brownfields into a mixed-use urban district supported by robust public transit, improved walkability, and an exceptional share of social housing. Inspired by this visit, the team developed a multi-year research effort to showcase the case study named after the American Civil Rights icon.
The published study evaluates the neighborhood development through three lenses: residents’ lived experience of accessibility and daily mobility; the integration of social-equity tools such as affordable housing, anti-displacement policies, and community governance; and broader lessons for achieving socially just and environmentally resilient TOD. Drawing on resident interviews, policy analysis, and land-use/transport metrics, the paper positions Rosa Parks as a leading example of “equitable TOD." This approach that aligns transportation investment with housing affordability, community participation, and inclusive urbanism.
The research builds on Tulane’s growing strength in sustainable real estate and sustainable urbanism, and complements Professor Renne’s teaching, including recent field studies such as the class visit to the Fruitvale Transit Village in Oakland—often regarded as one of the most equitable TODs in the United States. This publication highlights Tulane’s international engagement and reinforces the School’s commitment to advancing equitable, climate-forward urban development.
The full article is available in the March 2026 issue of Cities.
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