Graduation date: 2007
This thesis examines the impact of urban renewal on individual health,
specifically focusing on an urban planning model called Smart Growth that is being used
in Portland, Oregon. Findings are based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of
interview and survey data from study participants living in a community where
renewal projects are underway. The sample included community residents, urban
planners, and fair housing advocates. Outcomes suggest that although Smart Growth
is often touted as being a solution to the negative health consequences of urban sprawl,
there are also many downsides to this form of revitalization. Urban renewal can lead
to infrastructural insecurity for residents, causing loss of social capital and even
displacement. Both factors are known to negatively influence health status.