Mayor Richard Lee served eight terms as Mayor of New Haven. Lee had hoped to halt the emigration of the middle class, eliminate the slums and revitalize the failing economy. During his terms more than $300 million dollars was spent in public and private construction in renewel areas. One of the more dramatic development projects was the rebuilding of downtown New Haven. The project was completed in 1965 and included a 300-room hotel, a shopping mall, an office tower facing Chapel Street, and two department stores, Macy's and Edward Malley's.

Despite his efforts, the population of New Haven continued to decline. Many longtime businesses, the two department stores and the hotel closed. Revitalization continued after Lee left office in 1969. Wooster square was once a slum, is now home to new commercial and industrial buildings and is an established historic district. The Audubon Arts Center Complex was completed in 1994. Among other revitalization projects are Science Park, the East Shore community, the harborfront, Ninth Square, and Upper State Street.

The current Mayor, John DeStefano, Jr carries on with renewing New Haven. The Livable City Initiative is a historic, new approach to housing and neighborhood revitalization. The Elm City - Green and Clean initiative, increasing the city's visual appeal and the return of an AHL hockey team to the New Haven Coliseum.