The Politics of Place: Contentious Urban Redevlopment in Pittsburgh (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780822958901)

In urban America, large-scale redevelopment is a frequent news item. Many proposals for such redevelopment are challenged--sometimes successfully, and other times to no avail. The Politics of Place considers the reasons for these outcomes by examining five cases of contentious redevelopment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between 1949 and 2000. In four of these cases, the challengers to redevelopment failed to create the conditions necessary for strong democratic participation. In the fifth case--the proposed reconstruction of Pittsburgh's downtown retail district (1997-2000)--challengers succeeded, and Crowley describes the crucial role of independent nonprofit organizations in bringing about this result. At the heart of Crowley's discussion are questions central to any urban redevelopment debate: Who participates in urban redevelopment, what motivates them to do so, and what structures in the political process open or close a democratic dialogue among the stakeholders? Through his astute analysis, Crowley answers these questions and posits a framework through which to view future contention in urban redevelopment.

Author: Gregory J. Crowley
ISBN-10: 0822958902
ISBN-13: 9780822958901
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
Language: English
Published: 11/22/2005
Pages: 224
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.50d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 07/01/2006 pg. 2076