1. Urban Challenges
AP Human Geography

2. What is the “inner city?”
Residential neighborhoods that surround the CBD.
Suburbs exist on the periphery of the city.
High concentrations of low income residents (compared to the suburbs)
Inner city residents face a unique set of challenges.

4. Deterioration
Over time, houses grow old and fall into a state of disrepair
Landlords abandon properties instead of maintaining them.
Filtering- larger houses are divided into multiple units.
Redlining- banks deny loans to people living in certain areas.

5. Urban Renewal
The process of identifying blighted neighborhoods, purchasing the property, clearing the site (including residents), and redeveloping the area.
Controversy: destroys traditional neighborhoods, “negro removal (1960s)

9. Gentrification
Middle class suburbanites move back into the city and renovate housing
Shorter commute, closer to nightlife/ recreation
Rents/ taxes increase
May change ethnic patterns (minorities are displaced)

11. Social Issues
Underclass- refers to residents trapped in continuous economic and social problems.
“Culture of Poverty”
Unemployment
Alcoholism
Drug addiction
Lack of education
Crime
Homelessness

12. Economic Issues
Inner city residents require public services, but cannot pay taxes to cover them.
Two choices:
Reduce Services (close libraries, reduce public transit, outdated school equipment)
Middle class residents may leave
Raise Taxes