Trumbull Village

Does anybody have experience with neighborhoods that have begun to decline but then been turned around by the residents and by new folks moving in without it becoming totally gentrified?
I had a conversation today with a single mother who has one teenage daughter and is looking for a reasonably priced, diverse neighborhood. We talked about Trumbull Village, an area was once known for drugs and violence.The people who live there refused to let the neighborhood die and through hard work, mentoring youth and encouraging development of moderate income housing it has changed. One of the most succssful efforts was one of the simplest as is often the case. The hard part was the politics of getting the city on board. Getting barracades and speed bumps installed that make quick, easy entry into and out of the neighborhood impossible dramatically reduced drug activity. One of the things criminals most want is a quick escape route.
While the area has not yet become gentrified, partly because it's reputation remains, it has become a much healthier place to live and the site of some of the most reasonably priced homes in the city.
The trick will be to keep the homes in the area afforadable and have people move in who are interested in developing an interesting, vibrant, diverse place to live. There is some infill development going on in the area which encourages new residents and seems to motivate others to improve their property.
I think it makes a big difference when residents feel that their efforts are appreciated and will not be lost in the morass of a decaying neighborhood.