Baltimore Unbound - 9780801850783

In his highly acclaimed book, Cities Without Suburbs, former Albuquerque mayor David Rusk explained why regions with wealthy suburbs surrounding a poor central city face continuing economic hardship. Now, in Baltimore Unbound, he applies his ideas in an illuminating study of Baltimore's continuing economic stagnation, offering a frank assessment of its causes and possible solutions.
As in many older mid-sized cities, Rusk finds, the issues of poverty and racial segregation lie at the heart of Baltimore's economic and social problems. The region's future, he argues, depends on successful efforts to alleviate the concentration of poor African-American households in the central city. Baltimore Unbound proposes a "fair share" housing development program to make housing in all parts of Baltimore and the six surrounding counties available to residents of the city who wish to relocate. The ultimate goal is a region of economically, ethnically, racially diverse - as well as stable - neighborhoods.
Placing the study in the context of national urban issues, Rusk reviews similar problems and remedial efforts in other cities. But he sees particular hope for change in Baltimore, where a tradition of public and private partnership in innovative revitalization efforts is a continuing source of local pride as well as national attention. Like projects such as Harbor Place and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, he concludes, an effort that successfully addresses Baltimore's economic problems can quickly become the model for cities throughout the nation.