Case Studies in University Led Neighborhood Revitalization
By Ian Colgan | Redevelopment & Revitalization | Jun 30th
Neighborhood Revitalization in LeDroit Park near Howard University - Image courtsey of Flickr user NCinDC
The growth of American metropolitan areas since the Second World War has resulted in a distinct trend related to urban institutions of higher education. As population and wealth left the central city, some College and Universities – many of which were once located on the periphery of their communities – found themselves surrounded by urban neighborhoods that went through periods of significant decline and disinvestment.
Until the late 20th Century, a common practice for these institutions was to turn their back on what was going on around them. This often created a schism between the university and the surrounding neighborhood, straining “town-gown” relations. However, the past two decades have seen a major shift in thinking, and now hundreds of universities have become more open to their environs as they see their future success linked to their location. Several models of university community engagement are emerging. They range from multi-billion dollar investments in real estate, land and facilities to community based programs that link college education with community participation and education.
Below are examples from around the country that have produced tangible results in terms of university-led neighborhood revitalization. This is meant to go beyond programs and strategies that simply focus on improving town-gown relations to examine initiatives that have leveraged investment and physical development.