Public Policies for the Preservation of Capital in Older Areas

This paper provides a framework for considering approaches to the preservation of older neighborhoods. Particular attention is paid to the role of financial institutions in the dynamics of neighborhood change and to public/private collaborative efforts to stem decline. In general, public policie to preserve neighborhoods must be comprehensive in nature and require a variety of tools to take into account the unique aspects of a neighborhood's environment. To create or maintain a stable neighborhood environment, however, there are no alternatives to an overall approach which embodies local governments, the private sector, and private citizens. Any other approach may provide short-run gains that will not create the dynamics necessary for long-term stability.