Custodians of Place
Subtitle
Governing the Growth and Development of Cities
"Custodians of Place" provides a new theoretical framework that accounts for how different types of cities arrive at decisions about residential growth and economic development. Lewis and Neiman surveyed officials in hundreds of California cities of all sizes and socioeconomic characteristics to account for differences in local development policies. This book shows city governments at the center of the action in shaping their destinies, frequently acting as far-sighted trustees of their communities.
They explain how city governments often can insulate themselves for the better from short-term political pressures and craft policy that builds on past growth experiences and future vision. Findings also include how conditions on the ground — local commute times, housing affordability, composition of the local labor force — play an important role in determining the approach a city takes toward growth and land use.
What types of cities tend to aggressively pursue industrial or retail firms? What types of cities tend to favor housing over business development? What motivates cities to try to slow residential growth? "Custodians of Place" answers these and many other questions.
Bio
Paul G. Lewis is an associate professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University.
Praise for this book
This is an important book. ... Lewis and Neiman draw upon but move beyond existing theories of urban policymaking, leadership, and representation .“ . . and make a major contribution to the field of urban politics and to our understanding of the way urban government works.
Harold L. Wolman George Washington University
Analytically crisp and well researched, 'Custodians of Place' is a major contribution to the literature on urban development policy. The authors convincingly show how the future (vision) and the past (community history) shape how city officials make all-important land use and development decisions. This is must reading both for urban scholars and practitioners.
Steven Erie University of California, San Diego
