The sins committed in the name of urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s continue to haunt efforts to redevelop our great cities. Tearing things down was the easy part; deciding what to put in their place is the real challenge.

With a $2.4 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Penn will launch the Center for Urban Redevelopment Excellence (CURExPenn) with a first class of 10 fellows in January 2004. CURExPenn is designed to provide both classroom instruction and hands-on experience with leading development companies for a new generation of young entrepreneurs who will play a critical role in shaping the future of our cities.

The new program combines the urban planning expertise of the Graduate School of Fine Arts and the real estate savvy of the Wharton School. “Penn was chosen as the CUREx site because of its outstanding record of commitment and accomplishment in its own neighborhood of West Philadelphia,” said executive director Valerie Piper.