Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2011): Community regeneration and development - overseas

Denver Housing Authority's Park Avenue HOPE VI revitalization project: community impact results

W. Cloud and S. Roll

Housing Policy Debate, vol.21, 2011, p. 191-214

In 2002, the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) received a grant of $20m from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to raze and rehabilitate three public housing estates that were deemed 'severally distressed' under HUD guidelines. Replacement and renovation of the three complexes was named the Park Avenue HOPE VI Revitalization Project and was designed to create both public and affordable housing. An evaluation of the community impact of the project has yielded favourable results. Crime has decreased, home buying activity and property values have increased, community blight has been removed, outside investments have been made in the surrounding neighbourhood, and a mixed income community has been created.