The Many Geographies of Urban Renewal: New Perspectives on the Housing Act of 1949 - Paperbackby Douglas R. Appler (Editor) The consequences of the federal Housing Act of 1949 which supported the clearance and redevelopment of "blighted" areas across the nation were felt by communities of all sizes, not just large cities. The Many Geographies of Urban Renewal presents a more comprehensive view of the federal urban renewal program by situating the experiences of large cities like Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia PA alongside other geographies,