South Hill Redevelopment

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, in collaboration with the city of Puyallup, conducted an HIA to assess potential health impacts of a proposed redevelopment plan for the neighborhood of South Hill in Washington state. The HIA focused on identifying existing health conditions, risks and needs in the community, and to assess the long term impacts of the South Hill Neighborhood Plan policies as they affect five health elements, including physical activity, nutrition and injury. The HIA found that the current infrastructure of South Hill presents many challenges for residents to engage in activities safely. However, the HIA also found that current planning policies expect to have a number of significant positive health impacts on the community. The HIA made several recommendations including incorporating a health food element into the comprehensive plan and prioritizing the development and maintenance of sidewalks, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods.