17 converted into higher density student rentals; properties have declining upkeep and poor waste management; and neighborhoods have “high turnover” with “students/faculty cycling in and out.” At the same time, the institutions’ large footprints limit the land available for new housing, which would take pressure off of the existing housing stock. “Anchor Institution - CommunityDivide” (Town-gown divide) As they are large employers and may provide important services locally, meds and eds have outsized power and influence that, at times, has not been used to the benefit of communities. This has contributed to strained relationships between anchor institutions and neighborhoods, especially when institutional goals verge away from community priorities. As one participant mentioned, one of the biggest challenges is that “institutional agency is in opposition to community,” and that institutions are often “out of touch.” Participants from Ann Arbor, New Haven, and Bethlehem spoke directly about the anchor-institution-communitydivide, or a “town-gown divide”. In Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan has “a complicated relationship with the city!” There is also “lots of conflict” between the university and the surrounding community. In New Haven, the Yale New Haven Hospital is cited as “not always a good neighbor.” This persistent divide between anchor institution populations and local residents is especially pronounced in post-industrial, working-class cities. In many cases, there are class and racial differences between people affiliated with anchor institutions and residents of the neighborhoods in which those institutions are physically embedded. These populations are more transient; even if the overall number of people remains the same, the specific individuals, students, faculty, and staff are changing. As a result, people do not necessarily view the city as home, but instead, identify that feeling with their campuses. Institutions, as a result, remain insular and faculty and students may make little effort to engage meaningfully with their local context or weave themselves into the community. This separation reinforces social boundaries, positioning the institution as distinct from, rather than a part of its local context. For example, Lehigh University was described as needing to be “much more integrated and engaged,” with community efforts that are “sometimes strong, sometimes deeply problematic,” and a clear need to listen to and incorporate local feedback. Small City Anchor Institutions • Context
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