Private renewal and community change
Open Access DepositedA thesis submitted to the School of Government and Business Administration of the George Washington University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Urban and Regional Planning, 1974. Excerpt from introduction: The transition of an inner city neighborhood from rags to riches --variously called "spontaneous restoration", "brownstone revival", "unslumming", and "private renewal" --generally has been favorably regarded by city planners and elected officials. It upgrades the housing stock, attracts money to the city, raises property values, and increases tax revenues. Without expenditure of public monies, former slums become pleasant places to live. Without the bulldozers of urban renewal, entire blocks are rebuilt. Without endless public hearings and bureaucratic red tape, revitalized communities emerge. The rags to riches transition of their neighborhood, however, may not be such a boon to its low income inhabitants. The poor family unable to compete with the rich, may be forced to move to a more expensive dwelling in an even more deteriorated area in order to make way for renovation. As increased demand and real estate speculation cause property values, taxes, and rents to soar, poor, elderly, large and black families can no longer afford to rent or own houses in their own neighborhood. This thesis was scanned from the print copy.
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