Neighborhood Organizations

The importance of strong neighborhoods was not recognized before the late 19th century, with many scholars and policy makers viewing the city as the primary area where individuals and institutions gathered for the pursuit of both commerce and civilized activities. Because many people lived so close to these places of employment, the mental separation of the residential and commercial aspects of neighborhoods was not easy. By the late 19th century, however, the separation of the residence from the workplace was widespread. Advancements in transportation and communication allowed people to live farther from the city center. By that time, scholars began writing about the symbiotic character of neighborhoods, bolstering their standing as separate entities and striving for a share of finite public resources.

Social scientists today concede ...