New research from the Mixed-Income Development Study explores community life in three mixed-income communities built on the footprint of former Chicago public housing projects. Participation, Deliberation, and Decision Making examines decision-making processes that affect public housing residents and their power to influence urban redevelopment projects. Researchers argue that there is a growing need for dedicated public housing groups to maximize the voice, representation, and power of public housing residents. ‘Positive’ Gentrification examines the social effects of neighborhood revitalization efforts that integrate low-income people into well-functioning communities. Researchers find that behavioral norms, such as loitering statutes and quiet hours, tend to be established by higher-income residents interested in maintaining property values, which can lead to anxiety and subsequent social withdrawal among lower-income residents.
