Across the country, many urban neighborhoods are experiencing dramatic transformations. Parking lots, underutilized commercial properties, and former industrial sites are being replaced with condos, apartments, and townhouses. In spite of the many impressive projects, a central question remains: Do such examples add up to a fundamental shift in the geography of residential construction. To answer this question, US Census residential building permit data for the 50 largest metropolitan regions was examined over an 18 year period (1990 to 2007). Specifically, the amount of permits issued by central cities and core suburban communities was compared to the amount issued by suburban and exurban communities. The main goal was to clarify: (1) if there has been a shift toward redevelopment; and (2) in which regions the shift has been most significant.