In the late 20th century, new urbanization patterns became evident across many American cities, as a new appreciation emerged for urban lifestyles and a focus was placed on the revitalization of urban cores. This reversed a trend evident through much of the post-World-War-II period, which was characterized by urban decentralization coupled with the decline of inner cities as a result of urban disinvestment. Decentralization persists, as metropolitan populations disperse further into urban peripheries but, simultaneously, there are also new efforts to redevelop downtown-and-area neighborhoods. A number of explanationsöeconomic, cultural, and demographicöhave been advanced to explain the trends for reinvestment back into urban cores.One explanation focuses on the depreciation of land values in the inner city, facilitated by post-World-War-II suburbanization. The key concept here is that of thè rent gap', the disparity between the potential ground rent if the property was redeveloped at its best use, and the actual ground rent under the existing use (Clark, 1995;Smith, 1979;1996). The investment focus on the suburbs during the postwar decades widened the inner-city rent gap by devaluing ground rent in neighborhoods experiencing decline, which eventually encouraged reinvestment back into the city.Another explanation for urban reinvestment focuses on new lifestyle demands which can be met by the higher density and mixed-land-use activity nodes within inner cities. After decades of seeking privacy in large single-family homes in the suburbs, a growing segment of the US population began to develop a new appreciation for cultural amenities, ethnic neighborhoods, entertainment facilities, and general consumption options offered by the urban setting. This was coupled with the emergence of the high-tech and specialized services economy; the agglomeration effects associated

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The paper examines the relationship between urban form, socio-economic status, ethnicity, accessibility and pedestrian activity in the Lansing Capital Region, Michigan. This research explores the burdens of urban environments through a study of accessibility and travel behaviour in an urban region characterized by rapid suburbanization and urban decline. Specifically, the study seeks to answer how socio-economic and ethnic status affect accessibility and travel behaviour in urban environments that have traditionally been viewed as promoting walking; built environments characterized by higher densities, mixed land uses and greater connectivity. The research shows that the traditional relationship between higher densities, mixed land uses, higher connectivity, greater accessibility and pedestrian activity is not as strong in declining inner cities.