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What is Urban Blight?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Urban blight refers to the deterioration and decay of buildings and older areas of large cities, due to neglect, crime, or lack of economic support. This is a typical sight in most US cities, and in many cities throughout the world. As a city gets older, some buildings or properties are not maintained and become run-down, abandoned or condemned. This can also be referred to as urban decay. People who cannot afford to live elsewhere must sometimes live in properties that are without appropriate maintenance, such as housing projects, which may also be called slums or ghettos. The look and condition of these properties, as well as their use, can be said to be urban blight.

This problem is not simply a cosmetic issue. As homes or properties become condemned and decay they can affect other well-maintained properties surrounding them. Just as blight in plants can affect other healthy plants, urban blight can spread to or affect other properties. They bring down surrounding property values, may become havens for illegal activity like drug dealing, and are more prone to fires, which can spread to other buildings.

Areas of large cities that suffer from deterioration and decay are said to be undergoing urban blight.
Areas of large cities that suffer from deterioration and decay are said to be undergoing urban blight.

Urban blight can also refer to certain unattractive elements in a city not related to actual buildings. For example, in Philadelphia, the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) was formed in 1990 to bring down 60 illegal billboards erected throughout the city. They have also fought to keep more billboards from being erected so that the city remains beautiful. To some, like the organizers of SCRUB, blight refers to typically urban features that tend to "uglify" a city.

In 1990,  the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) was formed in Philadelphia to bring down 60 illegal billboards erected throughout the city.
In 1990, the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) was formed in Philadelphia to bring down 60 illegal billboards erected throughout the city.

Some smaller cities resist the building of skyscrapers and place limits on the height of buildings because they feel tall buildings are a sign of urban blight. Efforts may also be made in towns and cities to revitalize neighborhoods where there are a number of decaying properties. Such properties may be razed or rebuilt, and parks or new businesses may be established in order to make a neighborhood more attractive.

Some people consider cookie-cutter homes cluttering former open spaces to be urban blight.
Some people consider cookie-cutter homes cluttering former open spaces to be urban blight.

Other cities may also resist growth past a certain point since they feel this will lead to urban blight. They may restrict the building of new homes on an annual basis, and also place terms on where homes can be built. The goal may be to keep some spaces, like mountain ridges, open and beautiful, as these were key attractions of a city or town to begin with. Some consider former open spaces and mountains now peppered with cookie cutter homes as an example of blight.

Properties with damage, including broken windows, contribute to urban blight.
Properties with damage, including broken windows, contribute to urban blight.

In any city of a certain age and size, there is likely to be at least some run down parts. It may merely be that growth in the city has reduced its cosmetic value. Alternately, urban blight may reduce property values or pose hazards to law-abiding residents. Many cities attempt to address this problem, but often funding is limited for such projects.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon288804

Why is urban blight confused with deterioration and decay? Urban blight is one process while deterioration and decay are different processes. Confusing these processes makes it impossible to find effective solutions!

anon110414

good information.

anon88963

very interesting and helpful.

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    • Areas of large cities that suffer from deterioration and decay are said to be undergoing urban blight.
      Areas of large cities that suffer from deterioration and decay are said to be undergoing urban blight.
    • In 1990,  the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) was formed in Philadelphia to bring down 60 illegal billboards erected throughout the city.
      By: SeanPavonePhoto
      In 1990, the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight (SCRUB) was formed in Philadelphia to bring down 60 illegal billboards erected throughout the city.
    • Some people consider cookie-cutter homes cluttering former open spaces to be urban blight.
      By: Barbara Helgason
      Some people consider cookie-cutter homes cluttering former open spaces to be urban blight.
    • Properties with damage, including broken windows, contribute to urban blight.
      By: Sergey Mostovoy
      Properties with damage, including broken windows, contribute to urban blight.
    • Law enforcement may pay extra attention on the lookout for crime in areas of urban blight.
      By: mario beauregard
      Law enforcement may pay extra attention on the lookout for crime in areas of urban blight.
    • Vacant storefronts contribute to urban blight.
      By: michelaubryphoto
      Vacant storefronts contribute to urban blight.
    • Too many vacant homes in a particular neighborhood might cause urban blight.
      By: Andy Dean
      Too many vacant homes in a particular neighborhood might cause urban blight.
    • Violent crimes are more likely to occur in an area suffering from urban blight.
      By: Nomad_Soul
      Violent crimes are more likely to occur in an area suffering from urban blight.
    • Litter contributes to urban blight.
      By: Monkey Business
      Litter contributes to urban blight.