Final answer:
The statement is True as urban renewal projects often led to the displacement of residents into overcrowded and poorly maintained public housing, rather than improving living conditions as intended.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'These buildings were supposed to be a way up and out of the slums but was a failure' is True. Urban renewal projects, which included the construction of high-rise public housing projects, were supposed to improve living conditions by replacing slums with decent housing in neighborhoods with less crime. However, this approach often resulted in the displacement of poor and minority residents into overcrowded and poorly built housing, which in a short time became synonymous with segregation and crime. Additionally, many displaced residents ended up with even fewer housing options as some of the cleared land was used for purposes other than residential developments, such as highways or parking lots. This intervention frequently destroyed existing community ties and did not result in the anticipated economic renewal.