Jj. Salama, The redevelopment of distressed public housing: Early results from HOPE VIprojects in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Antonio, HOUS POL D, 10(1), 1999, pp. 95-142
The redevelopment of distressed public housing under the Urban Revitalizati
on Demonstration Program, or HOPE VI, has laudable social, physical, commun
ity, and economic goals. Three public housing projects in Atlanta, Chicago,
and San Antonio demonstrate the complexity and trade-offs of trying to les
sen the concentration of low-income households, leverage private resources,
limit project costs, help residents achieve economic self-sufficiency, des
ign projects that blend into the community, and ensure meaningful resident
participation in project planning.
Although worthwhile and ambitious, HOPE VI cannot achieve all these goals.
More of them can be achieved by developing strategies related to the streng
th of the local real estate market. To that end, the U.S. Department of Hou
sing and Urban Development and public housing authorities must use the mark
et-based tools in the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998.
Standards for improved physical design and resident participation and furth
er research on critical supportive services for residents are also needed.