Comeback Cities: A Blueprint For Urban Neighborhood Revival

by Paul S. Grogan, Tony Proscio

Comeback Cities shows how innovative, pragmatic tactics for ameliorating the nation’s urban ills have produced results beyond anyone’s expectations, reawakening America’s toughest neighborhoods. In the past, big government and business working separately were unable to solve the inner city crisis. Today, a blend of public-private partnerships, grassroots nonprofit organizations, and a willingness to experiment characterize what is best among the new approaches to urban problem solving. Pragmatism, not dogma, has produced the charter-school movement and the police’s new focus on “quality of life” issues. The new breed of big city mayors has welcomed business back into the city, stressed performance and results at city agencies, downplayed divisive racial politics, and cracked down on symptoms of social disorder. As a consequence, America’s inner cities are becoming vital communities once again.

Genres: Urban Planning, Nonfiction, Urban Studies, Urbanism

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2001

Reviews

[Gina]

This book had some good ideas and backed by research, but ran on a little long for my tastes

[Robin Richardson]

There's a lot about this book that hasn't aged well since its writing in 2000, from cheering on some of the dynamics that led to the 2008 housing crash to the belief that more police in troubled neighborhoods would help... anything. I also can't endorse the belief that Reaganesque capitalism solves any problem, sorry.

[Sarah]

This is a great book for anyone interested in learning a bit more about gentrification without having to deep dive into too many research papers.

[Michael Lewyn]

Parts of this book are still interesting; other parts less so. The chapter on the South Bronx is still of interest: the authors show how the Koch Administration rebuilt the South Bronx by subsidizing thousands of housing units where there had been burned-out buildings. The South Bronx saga shows that even a neighborhood with 40 percent poverty rates can be improved by the addition of new housing, especially where the owners and landlords are government-subsidized local activists rather than more rule-bound bureaucrats.

On the other hand, some portions of the book seem outdated. For example, the article extols the "credit revolution" of expanded lending in lower-income neighborhoods- but I wonder how many of these investments contributed to the foreclosure crisis. The article also praises police focus on small crimes- but in recent years, such enforcement has become more controversial due to police use of excessive force.

[Dawn]

This was a pretty good urban planning book. The general theme is bringing about inner-city revitalization not through government provision of solutions, but through government action to get markets and private investment functioning in distressed neighborhoods. Author asserts that poverty will always exist, but that there is much that can be done to make poor neighborhoods function. Extensive discussion of community development corporations, "post-partisan" mayors, school choice. Goes quickly for a "wonkish" book--worth a read.

[Emily Anderson]

This is another book about the inner city, written by a former LISC president. The book addresses the cycle of poverty, government initiatives to reduce poverty, and the government initiatives that have helped create poverty. The crux of the book is that cities are returning as vibrant places, people are moving back from the suburbs, cities are coming back to life. This is the kind of book that gives hope to urban planners everywhere!

[Jessi]

This is a thought-provoking book in its conclusions. This is especially the case in his discussion of the Community Reinvestment Act and the processes by which corporate America has helped to foster urban development. This book was originally published before 9/11 and the recession. While I think some of his arguments remain true, a lot of these changes were slowed or halted in our current stagnant economic state.

[Elizabeth]

As endorsed by Baltimore mayoral candidate State Senator Catherine Pugh in the 2011 Baltimore Mayoral Forum.

[Jaclyn]

Really helpful 'historical' reading on the resurgence of the American city. Gave me some vocabulary and narrative background on many of the organizations and initiatives we work with and for, and some of the challenges that continue to plague small businesses in our communities.

[Zac]

Really inspiring, even if you're not running for public office.

[Laura]

Inspiring, this book really is an uplifting look at how we can reshape our cities into inviting urban landscapes.

[Maggie]

Another oldie-but-goodie review:
http://www.curp.neu.edu/sitearchive/s...

[Ann Carbone]

Great book for everyone trying to understand the current problems cities are having.. cannot simply throw money at them ... would love to see a follow up

[Lea]

A pretty good read on urban development and the rise of CDCs. Read it for work purposes.

[Christa]

The authors did not have their own opinions.