New Volume Explores 'Middle Neighborhoods' and their Neglect in Cities Across America

News provided by

Dec 09, 2016, 08:30 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On the Edge: America's Middle Neighborhoods, published today by the American Assembly aims to stimulate a national dialogue about middle neighborhoods. Leading scholars and practitioners present new evidence indicating that a category of neighborhoods exists in many cities and older suburbs that planners and policymakers have neglected. These middle neighborhoods are described as "on-the-edge" between growth and decline.

"Many attributes define the health of cities - economic strength, unemployment levels, cultural amenities, and physical attractiveness - but they all should manifest themselves in quality places to live. Paul Brophy has assembled a group of experts who have effectively identified the challenges, underscored the importance, and offered solid prescriptions for capitalizing on urban assets which are middle neighborhoods." -Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

"Surprisingly, a careful look at a half-dozen cities indicates that one-third to over half of the population of these cities resides in middle neighborhoods," explains Paul C Brophy, the book's editor. "Yet, planners and urban policymakers typically have no strategies to sustain or improve middle neighborhoods. In fact, federal programs—which are income restricted—are of little or no value in these working class neighborhoods."

The shrinking middle class as well as growing income segregation and inequality in the United States is the backdrop for this publication. The authors in this volume believe that increasing understanding of middle neighborhoods will enhance the discussions underway nationally and locally about improving distressed neighborhoods or coping with gentrification.

"No Mayor wants his or her city to become home to only the poor or only the rich," said Henry S. Webber, professor of practice at Washington University and an author in this volume. "They all want their cities to be home to a diverse population, including a large number of middle class residents. The declining number of middle neighborhoods threatens the viability of this goal."

On the Edge authors present compelling data, provide ideas for action, and advocate for new and innovative community, housing, and education policies to better support middle neighborhoods

For more information:

Visit www.middleneighborhoods.org to learn more about the book, see excerpts, reviews, and learn about upcoming events.
The book is now available for purchase through Amazon.

About the American Assembly
The American Assembly is a public policy institute founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower at Columbia University. For over 60 years, The Assembly has fostered non-partisan public-policy discussions through convening, research, and publication. On the Edge: America's Middle Neighborhoods is published and supported by The American Assembly through its Legacy Cities Initiative. Find out more at www.americanassembly.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161206/446132

SOURCE The American Assembly