Urban Renewal: A Case Study in Emerging Goals in an Intergovernmental Setting

Abstract

Urban renewal, a complex intergovernmental program, involves countless citizens and different agencies on the national, state, and local scenes. After fifteen years of interaction and testing, a policy for urban renewal seems to be emerging—a policy which encompasses a variety of goals, na tional and local. Four principal "actors" play major roles in these relationships: Congress, the federal administering agency (HHFA), local government, and the "public." Together these four have worked out legislation, program, and policy. The article investigates interrelationships in the areas of citi zen participation, central business district renewal, relocation, and code enforcement; in each of these areas, one "actor" has played a leading role. Local agencies have been allowed con siderable independence by HHFA and by Congress in choos ing objectives, in structuring for action, and in performance; they, in turn, pressure the Agency and Congress for further amendments to the Housing Act: for expansion of the pro gram, for increased benefits, for fewer restrictions. Over-all, a healthy respect for American cities and a willingness to seek solutions for urban difficulties seem to be emerging.