The Role of Community Action in Neighborhood Revitalization

One of the major shortcomings of research on neighborhood revitalization is its lack of a strong theoretical base. The explanations presented thus far are divergent and individually fail to account adequately for some important aspects of the process. In an attempt to overcome these shortcomings, this study (1) provides a general overview of neighborhood revitalization activities in US. cities, (2) sets such activities within the broader context of a model of neighborhood change, and (3) demonstrates the utility of the model through a case study of neighborhood revitalization activities in Eastown, Grand Rapids. The study shows that revitalization, as posited by the Public Affairs Counseling model of neighborhood change, can be prompted by active intervention of neighborhood organizations as expressed in neighborhood locational conflict.