ABSTRACT
When Cities Back from the Edge was first published in 1998, from a demographic perspective the urban renaissance that has firmly taken hold in most, if not all, U.S. cities by the second decade of the twenty-first century was only just beginning. The specter of Robert Moses’ open disdain for citizen participation in the planning process, as well as the urban scars of 1960s-style urban renewal, still loomed large in the psyches of those who had not previously fled their homes in the cities. In the intervening period, however, Developers have become more receptive and sensitive to citizen input in the planning process, and have developed a greater appreciation for preserving the history and authenticity of the places they create in
our downtowns as a selling point for the Projects they create. Still, there are always going to be tensions between what Developers propose to do with their Projects and what citizens are willing to tolerate. This tension may manifest itself in a variety of ways throughout The Development Process.
