Reimagining our cities for a sustainable and human-centric future
In her groundbreaking book Wonder City, Lynn Ellsworth delves deep into the heart of modern urban life, casting a critical eye on the transformative changes sweeping through cities like New York. This compelling journey into the world of urban development goes beyond the usual narrative, serving as a passionate call to action that encourages readers to actively participate in shaping the future of their cities.
Ellsworth expertly navigates through complex themes such as affordable housing, urban planning, historic preservation, and architecture. With a focus on major cities undergoing significant transformations, Wonder City offers an insightful examination of the challenges and opportunities that define contemporary urban life.
At the core of this engaging narrative is a striking critique of the real estate industrys influence over urban landscapes. Ellsworth reveals how historic and culturally rich urban settings are increasingly being overshadowed by the rise of impersonal glass towers, a trend she argues is driven by the industrys grip on politicians and technocrats. This analysis is both eye-opening and unsettling, shedding light on the forces reshaping our urban environments.
Wonder City is more than a critique, however. Ellsworth provides a pragmatic blueprint for revitalizing urban spaces. She champions the need for affordable housing, sustainable urban planning, and architecture that respects and enhances the human experience. Her arguments challenge the prevailing economic theories behind housing supply and question the architectural ideologies that often justify the demolition of historic urban assets.
This book is an essential read for urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of urban living. Ellsworths clear, accessible insights into complex issues make Wonder City a vital contribution to the discourse on urban development, appealing to a broad audience that cares about the dynamics and future of city life.
1. Competing Visions of the City and Urban Life 1
2. The Failure of Trickle- Down Housing Supply Theory 36
3. The Costs of Towerization and the Problem of Density 67
4. Economics of the Urban Commons 97
5. The Curse of New York: The Real Estate Lobby as the Demolition Machine
133
6. How Big Real Estate Stays on Top 173
7. Demonizing Historic Districts and the Capture of the Landmarks
Preservation Commission 209
8. The Architecture of Rupture and Nihilism 251
9. What Policies for a Human- Scale City? 286
Acknowledgments 319
Notes 321
References 327
Index 359
Lynn Ellsworth is an economist, mother, New Yorker, and founder of Humanscale NYC, the Tribeca Trust, the Empire Station Coalition, the Citywide Land- use Coalition, and the Friends of Duane Park. She is on the advisory board of the historic preservation program at the University of Notre Dame and lives in Lower Manhattan.
