The Art of Revitalization

"The richness of this book is both in its quantitative and qualitative analysis...Zielenbach makes a fascinating comparative analysis of two black neighborhoods...This takes up more than one-third of the book, and is worth reading by itself. Read this book." -- Making Waves, Autumn 2002
"Some of even the most dismal urban neighborhoods in the United States are in better shape now than they were a decade ago. But others are not. Until now, analysts have had little to say about why poor communities rebound or further deteriorate. In a fascinating and innovative book, Sean Zielenbach shows how and why communities thrive or decline, and what we can do to help revitalize urban neighborhoods. This book could make a real difference in many people's lives." -- Jennifer L. Hochschild, William Stewart Tod Professor of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
"The Art of Revitalization illustrates how the vitality of distressed inner-city neighborhoods must be understood and addressed in the context of larger economic and demographic forces." -- Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
"In this worthwhile book, Sean Zielenbach offers an important contribution to the ongoing debate over America's inner cities and how they can be revitalized. He presents a persuasive case for strengthening the neighborhood organizations and local enterprises which contribute so much to the fabric of these communities, and which ultimately hold the key to their future." -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Massachusetts)