Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown

by Roberta Brandes Gratz, Norman Mintz

"A love song for the city . . . [this] volume, attractively packaged and richly illustrated, is really a cookbook for downtown revitalization." --Wall Street Journal

In this pioneering book on successful urban recovery, two urban experts draw on their firsthand observations of downtown change across the country to identify a flexible, effective approach to urban rejuvenation. From transportation planning and sprawl containment to the threat of superstore retailers, they address a host of key issues facing our cities today.

Roberta Brandes Gratz (New York, NY), an award-winning journalist and urban critic, is author of the urban design classic The Living City. A former staff reporter for the New York Post, Gratz has written for the New York Times Magazine and other publications. Norman Mintz (New York, NY) has played a leading role in the field of downtown revitalization for more than twenty-five years. He is Design Director at the 34th Street Partnership in New York City and a consultant on downtown revitalization across the country.

Genres: Urban Planning

376 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 1998

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whereas their outlines of specific examples of urban rejuvenation are valid and exciting to urban advocates such as myself, when I returned to this book to investigate how they treated the GM/railed-transit issue I found egregious misquotes, and questionable terminology. Thus my lower rating. I do hold grudges as the wife bemoans...

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that covers a wide variety of topics that deal with urban issues in cities across America. From small town development to major thinking about the impact on sports stadiums on metropolitan areas. This is a must read for anyone interested in urban planning as a profesion or even just for fun.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the idea of urban redevelopment and this book had some great ideas.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and inspiring exploration of cities on the verge of collapse and how their citizens brought them back.

[G · Rating 3 out of 5]

proposes smaller-scale revitalization (husbandry) over large urban renewal projects. lots of antecedent studies.