Abstract
This chapter attempts to describe the impact of a variety of redevelopment strategies on the social and economic vitality of inner-city communities by examining sixteen central city neighborhoods in four large American cities: Atlanta, Georgia, Minneapolis, Minnesota; New Orleans, Louisiana, and Portland, Oregon. Many contemporary analysts of urban redevelopment tend to take a skeptical view of the prospects of urban redevelopment efforts to produce lasting revitalization in American central cities. Data were collected on the total population, gender, and racial composition of the sixteen neighborhoods. Accordingly, a large amount of data was collected that describe the changing age composition in the sixteen neighborhoods. Active revitalization strategies emphasize a strong public-sector role in both the planning and funding of central city redevelopment projects. These strategies make substantial use of local, state, and federal funds to implement publicly developed revitalization plans.