<P> Urban renewal, which is generally called urban regeneration ("regeneration" in the United Kingdom), "revitalization" in the United States, is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use . Renewal has had both successes and failures . Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s--under the rubric of reconstruction . The process has had a major impact on many urban landscapes, and has played an important role in the history and demographics of cities around the world . </P> <P> Urban renewal involves the relocation of businesses, the demolition of structures, the relocation of people, and the use of eminent domain (government purchase of property for public purpose) as a legal instrument to take private property for city - initiated development projects . This process is also carried out in rural areas, referred to as village renewal, though it may not be exactly the same in practice . </P> <P> In some cases, renewal may result in urban sprawl and less congestion when areas of cities receive freeways and expressways . </P> <P> Urban renewal has been seen by proponents as an economic engine and a reform mechanism, and by critics as a mechanism for control . It may enhance existing communities, and in some cases result in the demolition of neighborhoods . </P>

Which downtown neighborhood was revitalized by urban renewal programs in the 1980s and 1990s