HOPE VI And The New Urbanism

Can communities eliminate low-income housing to make mixed-income communities?

1 minute read

February 9, 2003, 1:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Chicago’s public housing is testimony to a long history of struggle between poor people and politicians. The latest contest is over the Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Transformation, which aims to reduce the existing unit count from 38,000 to 25,000. Fifty-one buildings -- most of them high-rise -- are slated for demolition. Some developments are being cleared entirely and replaced with new, mixed-income communities. This public housing "transformation" hinges on a narrowly constructed argument that high-rise, high-density sites are inherently bad. Embracing the rhetoric of new urbanists (NU), transformation plans around the country are promoting mixed-use and mixed-income development at a neighborhood scale."

Thanks to Planner's Network

Saturday, February 8, 2003 in Planners Network

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