SPRINGFIELD -- A University of Michigan research project that found the Springfield metropolitan area to be the most segregated nationwide in terms of white and Hispanic separation will get a second look by the City Council.



Councilor Bud L. Williams is hoping to have an open discussion in the subcommittee on Planning and Economic Development at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday in City Hall about the research and possible solutions to the problem.



"I think it warrants a conversation," he said. "Lets talk about it and have an open conversation and find out if there are things we can do to make the numbers better."



Williams said he has invited many people including several state representatives, members of different neighborhood councils and officials from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Urban League.



"I don't want to give the city a black eye but we don't want to ignore it. We just want to make things better," he said.



A Pioneer Valley Planning Commission report on fair housing, published in draft form April 8, cites the University of Michigan finding that Springfield is home to 75 percent of the region's black residents and more than 50 percent of the region's Hispanic residents.

According to the Michigan research, which relied on 2010 Census data and looked at metropolitan areas with populations over 500,000, the Springfield metropolitan area had the highest measure of white-Hispanic segregation in the country.

The Springfield metropolitan area was ranked 22 on the index of white-black segregation, and 63 on the index of white-Asian segregation.

The Springfield metropolitan area comprises Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.

While the city of Springfield is diverse as a whole, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission report on housing noted, there are neighborhoods with high concentrations of people of color and they are some of the poorest neighborhoods.



Williams said the findings are not a surprise, and that segregation has been an issue since the 1950s. For example, about 80 percent of North End residents are Hispanic while there is a large concentration of blacks in Mason Square.



"If you drive from one end of the city to the other you will see a concentration of Hispanics are on one side and African-Americans are on the other side," he said.



One of the issues he said he wants to explore is the way the banks and real estate agents are steering people looking to buy or rent. Williams recalled looking for a home years ago and being pointed to predominantly black neighborhoods.



Already, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has sought public comments regarding housing discrimination experiences in relationship to the study. Williams said he has asked the commission to attend.



The subcommittee discussion is designed as a foundation to begin a bigger examination about the segregation. Williams said the subcommittee will likely form a task force or other group to continue the studies.