#Community Development

[pettytiredandjewish]

IMPORTANT

Hey- To those who works in museums and libraries:

Trump just signed an executive order to dismantle the institute of museum and library services

(and six other federal agencies: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency.)

Please spread the word

[sundusbhattiportfolio]

Urban Renewal vs. Public Housing: Lessons from Baltimore and Pruitt-Igoe

Urban renewal and public housing have played a central role in shaping American cities, often with conflicting results. While urban renewal aims to modernize and revitalize decaying cityscapes, it frequently displaces long-standing communities, exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities. Conversely, public housing has been used to provide affordable homes for low-income populations, yet poor planning and neglect have led to segregation, poverty concentration, and failure.

This article explores these urban planning challenges through two significant case studies: Baltimore’s Inner Harbor renewal project and the Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex in St. Louis. These examples reveal the successes and failures of 20th-century urban planning, offering critical lessons for the future of equitable city development.

The Case for Urban Renewal: Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

In the mid-to-late 20th century, Baltimore launched one of the most ambitious urban renewal projects in the U.S., aimed at revitalizing its deteriorating downtown and waterfront areas. The redevelopment of Charles Center and the Inner Harbor sought to attract businesses, tourists, and high-income residents back into the urban core.

✅ Economic Growth & Tourism Boost:

The Inner Harbor was transformed into a vibrant commercial and cultural hub, with attractions like the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center.

New retail, office spaces, and residential developments increased property values and business investments.

✅ Mixed-Use Development & Walkability:

The project embraced modern urban design principles, making the Inner Harbor a 24-hour activity zone instead of a purely business district.

The redevelopment created public spaces, waterfront promenades, and green areas, making the area more livable and attractive.

However, despite these successes, Baltimore’s renewal came with a price—one paid disproportionately by lower-income residents.

📉 Displacement & Gentrification:

The rising cost of living forced many working-class and minority residents out of the area.

Long-standing communities were pushed to the city's margins, leading to increased inequality and social tensions.

📉 Who Really Benefited?

Many of the jobs created by urban renewal did not go to local residents but rather to suburban commuters and outside investors.

The benefits were concentrated in wealthier, predominantly White areas, deepening racial and economic disparities.

Lesson: Urban renewal can drive economic growth, but without equitable policies, it risks displacing the very communities it aims to uplift. Sustainable urban planning should incorporate affordable housing, job creation, and community input to ensure benefits reach all residents.

The Failure of Public Housing: St. Louis’ Pruitt-Igoe Disaster

While Baltimore’s renewal focused on economic revitalization, St. Louis’ Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex is a cautionary tale of poorly executed housing policies. Built in the 1950s, Pruitt-Igoe was meant to be a modern, affordable housing solution for low-income residents. However, within two decades, it became one of the most infamous failures of public housing in America.

📉 Economic & Social Isolation:

As St. Louis lost manufacturing jobs and white flight accelerated suburbanization, Pruitt-Igoe’s predominantly Black residents faced growing unemployment and poverty.

Many residents struggled to afford rent, leading to funding shortages for maintenance and services.

📉 Poor Urban Design & Maintenance Neglect:

The "towers in the park" design created isolated, unsafe spaces that became hotspots for crime.

Elevator breakdowns, vandalism, and lack of maintenance made the complex nearly uninhabitable.

📉 Demolition: The End of an Era

By the late 1960s, Pruitt-Igoe had become a symbol of public housing failure.

In 1972, just two decades after its construction, the federal government demolished the entire complex—a moment often regarded as the death of high-rise public housing projects in the U.S.

Lesson: Public housing cannot succeed without long-term economic investment, proper maintenance, and integration into the broader urban fabric. Instead of isolating low-income populations in concentrated developments, policies should prioritize mixed-income housing, economic support, and community services.

Urban Planning Lessons for the Future

The contrasting stories of Baltimore and Pruitt-Igoe illustrate the complex challenges of urban development. Both cases emphasize the need for urban planning approaches that balance economic development with social equity.

✅ Urban Renewal Should Include Community-Driven Growth

Economic development should not come at the cost of displacing vulnerable communities.

Cities must include affordable housing policies, local hiring initiatives, and resident engagement in renewal projects.

✅ Public Housing Must Be Integrated, Not Isolated

Instead of large, isolated housing blocks, urban planners should invest in mixed-income, mixed-use developments that connect residents to jobs and services.

Public housing policies should prioritize maintenance and long-term sustainability rather than quick-fix solutions.

✅ Equitable Urban Planning Requires Thoughtful Policy

Planners and policymakers must address historical inequities in housing and economic access.

Transit, education, and workforce development programs should accompany any large-scale urban redevelopment effort.

Conclusion: Rethinking Urban Development for the 21st Century

Urban renewal and public housing remain central to urban development debates today. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor shows the power of economic revitalization—but also its risks of gentrification and exclusion. Pruitt-Igoe, on the other hand, serves as a lesson in the failure of isolated, underfunded public housing projects.

For cities to create sustainable, inclusive growth, planners must move beyond outdated models and embrace community-centered, equitable policies that ensure all residents benefit from urban progress.

[ivygorgon]

📨 An open letter to State Governors & Legislatures

🚜 End Homelessness, Grow Local! A Bold Plan for America

✍️ 2 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

I am reaching out with a proposal that could significantly reduce our reliance on imported produce while also addressing our growing homelessness crisis. With the current economic downturn, rising tariffs, and a rising crime rate, action is critical.

Between 2023 and 2024, 102 homeless individuals died on Anchorage Alaska’s streets, despite their $190 million budget for mutual aid. The current approach is not yielding results. I propose a new initiative: developing seasonal farm housing for homeless individuals willing to participate in agricultural work.

Under this program, individuals would receive stable housing with the contractual obligation to maintain and work a state-owned farm. Failure to meet these obligations beyond a reasonable extent would result in termination of the contract. To ensure accountability and a path to stability, participants could be subject to mandatory drug testing.

This initiative offers multiple benefits: • Addressing homelessness by providing stable, purpose-driven housing. • Boosting local food production and reducing reliance on costly imports. • Restoring hope and reducing substance abuse, as meaningful work and stability are proven deterrents to addiction and crime.

Financially, this proposal is feasible. An acre of undeveloped land in Alaska costs approximately $10,000. In contrast, the state spent nearly $50,000 per homeless person last year, with no significant improvement. Redirecting these funds could secure multiple acres per person, including space for small housing units, with even greater efficiency for homeless families sharing lots.

This is an opportunity to invest in self-sufficiency, economic stability, and human dignity. I urge you to consider this initiative and explore how we can implement a sustainable solution for our future.

📱 Text SIGN POJWPQ to 50409 🤯 Text FOLLOW IVYGORGON to 50409 for more!

[kree8r0]

Is peace always possible?

This post is a response to a question initially posed on Quora, and can also be accessed via “https://www.quora.com/Is-peace-always-possible/answer/Antonio-Amaral-1“ Of course, peace is always possible. The challenge is making it desirable enough for all parties to commit to making it possible. Peace is otherwise impossible when one or more parties refuse to accept compromise as the only path…

[russelllamon]

📸 @him.russ

@Houston Public Media

[afrotumble]

Community development initiatives in Kasungu, Malawi. Courtesy of the Moving Windmills organisation founded by William Kamkwamba.

[luna-azzurra]

When a Character Is Grieving Someone They Never Got to Say Goodbye To

✧ They talk about the person in past tense… then correct themselves. Then stop talking entirely.

✧ They touch things that belonged to the person like they’re fragile, sacred, about to disappear.

✧ They hoard the last voicemail, last message, last anything. Play it. Don’t play it. Just knowing it exists hurts enough.

✧ They leave something untouched, an empty seat, a half-packed bag, a coffee order that isn’t theirs.

✧ They get irrationally angry when someone else seems to be “moving on.” As if forgetting is betrayal.

✧ They don’t let themselves cry all at once. It comes in pieces. Like they’re afraid too much grief will drown them.

✧ They over-apologize. For being quiet. For being distant. For not being okay.

✧ They become hyper-aware of time, dates, anniversaries, time zones, the exact moment everything ended.

✧ They get superstitious. Ritualistic. As if doing things "right" might reverse something.

✧ They smile when they talk about the person. But it’s brittle. And it never quite touches their eyes.

[fandfnews]

Hungarian State Secretary Tristan Azbej outlines Hungary's collaborative approach to African development

[detroitography]

Event: Detroit Data Forum: Clean Energy

Welcome to our Data Forum where we will discuss clean energy advancements in Detroit. Join us in-person or online for lunch-and-learn filled with insightful discussions, tips, and tricks on all things related to the data. We’ll be joined by the Tepfirah Rushdan, Director of the City of Detroit Office of Sustainability, Gary Ringer, Executive Director of Joy-Southfield CDC, and Arena Johnson,…

[balu88r-blog]

Local News : ಗುಡಿಬಂಡೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜ್ಞಾನ, ಭಕ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜ ಸೇವೆಗಳ ಸಂಗಮ: ಸರ್ವಧರ್ಮ ಸಮನ್ವಯ ಗಾಯತ್ರಿ ವಿಶ್ವಧ್ಯಾನ ಮಂದಿರ ಸಮುಚ್ಚಯ ಲೋಕಾರ್ಪಣೆ...!

Local News – ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕತೆಯ ಸುಂದರ ತಾಣ ಚಿಕ್ಕಬಳ್ಳಾಪುರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಗುಡಿಬಂಡೆ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜೂನ್ 12 ರಿಂದ 16 ರವರೆಗೆ ನಡೆಯಲಿರುವ ಐದು ದಿನಗಳ ವೈಭವೋಪೇತ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಅಂತಿಮ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆಗಳು ನಡೆದಿವೆ. ಆದಿಶಕ್ತ್ಯಾತ್ಮಕ ತ್ರಿಮತಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಗಾಯತ್ರಿ ದೇಗುಲದ 37ನೇ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾಪನಾ ವಾರ್ಷಿಕೋತ್ಸವದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಸರ್ವಧರ್ಮ ಸಮನ್ವಯ ಗಾಯತ್ರಿ ವಿಶ್ವಧ್ಯಾನ ಮಂದಿರ ಸಮುಚ್ಚಯದ ಮೊದಲ ಹಂತದ ಲೋಕಾರ್ಪಣೆಯು ಭಕ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಾಜಸೇವೆಯ ಮಹಾ ಸಂಗಮಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗಲಿದೆ. Local News – ವೇದ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ…

[carpedianeresort]

CarpeDiane Resort is redefining luxury with sustainability at its core. Powered by solar energy and constructed using eco-friendly materials, our resort promotes mindful tourism and community development. Support this vision by contributing to our GoFundMe campaign. Be part of a movement that redefines the future of travel. Support Here https://gofund.me/348da197

[rmzcorp]

Driving Sustainable Growth for Investors and Communities

We are committed to delivering long-term sustainable growth to our investors while actively mitigating environmental impact, nurturing healthier communities, and empowering future generations through responsible practices and forward-thinking initiatives.

Read more:

[ivygorgon]

📨 An open letter to State Governors & Legislatures

🚜 End Homelessness, Grow Local! A Bold Plan for America

✍️ 2 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

Alaska spent $190M on homelessness last year, yet 102 lives were lost on the streets. It’s time for a continental solution that works.

✅ Develop seasonal farm housing for homeless individuals ✅ Provide stable housing with work opportunities in agriculture ✅ Boost local food production & reduce reliance on imports ✅ Invest in dignity, purpose, and self-sufficiency

Acreage costs a fraction of current spending—let’s build a future where no one is left behind. Support this initiative today!

📱 Text SIGN POJWPQ to 50409 🤯 Text FOLLOW IVYGORGON to 50409 for more!

[kree8r0]

Why should I contribute to society?

This post is a response to a question posed in its complete format: “Aside from it being a moral duty, why should I contribute to society?” As a reason to contribute to society, a “moral duty” represents a form of coercion which garners the absolute least that one will contribute. Referring to contributions made to society as a “moral duty” creates the perception that it’s like paying a tax. You…