Understanding the neighborhood: From residents’ perceptions and needs to action

Community development corporations (CDCs) frequently serve as champions for inner‐city low‐income neighborhoods and strive to revitalize these neighborhoods and develop programs for residents. To better serve their target community CDCs will often team with researchers to study a neighborhood and gather information directly from residents. This article presents the results of a collaborative, comprehensive study conducted by a CDC in New Orleans, together with university researchers. We collected data from multiple sources, including a random sample of residents, a resident focus group, a survey of the physical condition of housing, published materials, and interviews with CDC staff and board members. Results indicate that for this neighborhood, housing conditions and safety are important explanations of neighborhood satisfaction and that neighborhood satisfaction is a key predictor of housing satisfaction. We discuss the application of these results to the CDC's revitalization efforts and conclude with the contributions of this research to scholarship and practice.