Urban Community Development In St. Louis Inner Suburbs

Abstract

AbstractThe practice of Community Development in the suburbs of large urban areas is just beginning to show results. The traditional urban problems of housing deterioration, effects of racial integration, and the shrinking tax base are now settling into the suburbs, particularly the inner suburbs. These issues are often complicated by a large number of small local governments and a tradition of very little governmental activity in anything but the basic services.The following case study describes community development activities in a very fragmented inner suburban area of St. Louis. The study spans 1970 through 1973 and emphasizes a process approach. It describes the kinds of activities developed by a community development specialist working cooperatively with various local government and citizen groups. Then it presents the results of those joint enterprises and the potential for action in the future.