It has been established in previous writings that local communities comprise "community identities" that are integrated into territorial and social network identity Systems. This existentialist definition of community is frequently at the heart of evaluative models of local community. Such notions of community identity can also be structured around local development projects and an associated sense of place can find articulation through participation in processes of development. Using this conceptual framework, our study examines a series of development projects in the St. Roch neighbourdhood of Québec City. In particular, we analyse the relationship between the degree of participation among local participants and their perceived ability to participate, and effect change, in relation to four development projects that are part of a planned revitalization of the neighbourhood.