The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: walkable urbanism, walkable urban places, nineteen standard product types, Wall Street, United States, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In delightfully readable prose, Professor Leinberger overwhelms us with the advantages of development that is dense enough and mixed enough to make walking and transit worth it, while illuminating the unintended urban consequences of land use regulations, Wall Street finance, and the eleven o''clock news." (Douglas Kelbaugh, FAIA, dean and professor of architecture and urban planning University of Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planni )

"Chris Leinberger has spent many years thinking about real estate economics and how our culture is affected by our built environment. This book offers a cogent argument for changing that environment to achieve more lasting values, both economic and cultural." (Robert Davis developer and founder of Seaside, Florida )

"Could it possibly be that [metropolitan] Washington, for years bashed by politicians, its [city] population shrinking and, at one point, almost bankrupt, has become a model of how the entire nation might smartly develop in the 21st century? I never thought I''d see the day. But Christopher Leinberger. makes a startling case for it. in his book." (Neal Peirce Washington Post Writers Group )

In his new book, the latest of his significant contributions to New Urbanism, Christopher Leinberger says American development comes in two basic patterns: "drivable sub-urbanism" and "walkable urbanism." Leinberger''s aim is to show how these two kinds of development function and to expalain why it''s in everyone''s interest to make sure that walkable urbansim becomes more commonplace. (Philip Langdon New Urban News )

"Leinberger, a developer who teaches real estate at the University of Michigan, may be the boldest prophet of walkability anywhere." (Alan Ehrenhalt Governing magazine )

From Planetizen''s Top 10 Books List, 2008. "The new American Dream presented in this quick and easy read is one similar to the American Dream of the past: a slower-paced and neighborhood-centric lifestyle." (Planetizen )

"The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream is free of jargon and, more important, free of ideological resentments." (Planning )

"In this book, [Chris Leinberger] carefully explains the decisions that have made the ''drivable suburban'' model the dominant one and highlights the obvious and unintended consequences that come from spending 35 percent of the nation''s weatlh building in this way, to the virtual exclusion of other approaches." (Ray Bert Civil Engineering Journal )

"Christopher Leinberger, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution who has called for D.C. to revisit its building-height limits, tracks the politics that led to auto-based development and shows how developers and their financial backers can build more sustainable communities. He doesn''t mince words." (Washington Business Journal )

"Leinberger isn''t just a theoretician. He''s a former new urbanist land developer. As he shows, if we''re serious about reducing our car dependency, we need to go beyond making the personal decision to walk; we need to advocate for chagnes that will make walking a viable option for more Americans." (Stacey Moncrieff Realtor magazine )

"In The Option of Urbanism, Leinberger deftly shares his wealth of knowledge through the musings of a writer, the patience of an academic, and the technical abilities of an active developer. The book is straightforward and manages to be an enjoyable reading experience for just about anyone interested in where the developing landscape goes from here." (Howard Kozloff Urban Land magazine )

"The Option of Urbanism is a great read." (John Calimente Re:place online magazine )

"In The Option of Urbanism, Christopher B. Leinberger aims to present a happy alternative to the usual apocalyptic accounts of urban srpawl and its consequences." (Jeanne Haffner The Next American City )

"Leinberger, a developer who teaches real estate at the University of Michigan, may be the boldest prophet of walkability anywhere. ''''The United States,'''' he writes, ''''is on the verge of a new phase in constructing its built environment.'''' (Alan Ehrenhalt Governing magazine )

"Christopher B. Leinberger admirably chronicles the real estate industry''s critical role in the evolving nature of the Americna Dream. Drawing equally from history, professional experience, research and pop culture, he makes a very readable case for the desirability and realization of the next American Dream - walkable urbanism. Reading his analysis reinvigorates my passion for the dynamic potential of our industry." (Albert B. Ratner co-chairman of the board of directors, Forest City Enterprises, Inc. )

Product Description

Highlighting both the challenges and the opportunities for urban development, The Option of Urbanism shows how the American Dream is shifting to include cities as well as suburbs and how the financial and real estate communities need to respond to build communities that are more environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Island Press (November 9, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159726136X
• ISBN-13: 978-1597261364
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #518,288 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Primer for Urbanism, December 29, 2007

By	Jane Talkington "TheGreenTalk.com" (Stillwater, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

People outside the planning profession would find this book helpful in understanding new directions that are possible. Developers who are looking for a competitive advantage tool would do well to avail themselves to Leinberger's perspective on urbanism. It is an easy read, not technical, requires no specific background other than a healthy curiosity and drive to do better. City commissioners would also benefit from purusing these pages.

The author is a major mover and shaker in Albuquerque and a key proponent of their downtown revival. Leinberger writes from first-hand experience. I recommend reading books like this because it is a chance to get inside the head of a visionary. A person could easily read one book like this each week; how else could you immerse yourself in 52 change agents per year?? When a consultant of Leinberger's stature shares 5 hours of his insights for less than $20 it is a pretty good value.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Urbanism, meet Realism, April 18, 2008

By	K. West phal (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Written from a perspective that most urban critiques fail to provide, this book grounds the reader in the real estate, demographic and policy realities that have shaped the American built environment into what we see today. Leinberger knows this stuff cold, both as a developer and through his more recent positions in Brookings and academia. He writes in an approachable style and provides the most thorough discussion to date of the entrenched system of subsidies and practices fueling types of residential and commercial construction that is increasingly at odds with the "true" market. Late in the book, I think he makes a rare--but very appropriate--connection between the implication of the continuation of these policies and our future energy needs. For those of us who like a good, constructive reality check now and again in the midst of all the usual suburban finger-wagging, it's a must-read book this year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Option of Urbanism, June 9, 2008

By	Book Reader (TN) - See all my reviews

Great book. I lived the phases of walkable neighborhoods to driving-suburban. Now we have return to sustainable, walking neighborhoods especially with the gas cost.

As I grew up, I felt supply and demand dictated growth. This book explained government and economic factors that influence development.

good read