About the Book
In "Mega-Projects", Altshuler and Luberoff examine the forces that gave rise to a great wave of urban mega-projects in the US in the 1950s and 1960s, that broke this wave in the years around 1970 and that have shaped a new generation of such projects in the decades since. While focusing principally on transportation mega-projects such as Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel project (the "Big Dig"), the Denver International Airport and the Los Angeles subway, they consider as well the scores of new stadiums, arenas and convention centres built (mainly at public expense) in recent years. "Mega-Projects" includes narratives of both national policy-making and local mobilization to bring about highway, airport, rail-transit and downtown revitalization projects, particularly since the 1970s. The specific projects chronicled are drawn from numerous regions including Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Portland and Seattle. It also includes broad analyses, seeking to place the authors' findings in relation to leading theories of urban and American politics.
About the Author :
Alan Altshuler is the Ruth and Frank Stanton Professor of Urban Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and its Graduate School of Design. He is also director of the Kennedy School's Taubman Center for State and Local Government. David E. Luberoff is the Taubman Center's associate director and an adjunct lecturer at the Graduate School of Design.
Review :
.".. seeks to comprehend the main lines of thought in US urban politics, to develop case studies of mega-projects that inform theory, and to defend a nuanced affiliation with the Harvard tradition of conservative urbanism.... The excellence of the effort cannot be denied.... The most engaging portion of the book... is the case studies, particularly the chapters on the Big Dig and the Denver airport, both tales well told." --Laura Pangallozi, Rutgers University, "Regional Studies", 6/1/2004
.".. Mega-Projects is a major contribution to urban development policy and should attract a broad interdisciplinary scholarly audience, as well as urban policymakers and stakeholders." --Steven P. Erie, University of California, San Diego, "Perspectives on Politics", 3/1/2004
."...necessary reading for students and professionals interested in creating vital urban environments of the future." --Arthur C. Nelson, Director of Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, "The Journal of Planning Education and Research", 4/1/2004
."..would make fine additions to most upper-division and graduate urban politics and development classes." --Mark S. Rosentraub, Cleveland State University, "City and Community", 11/1/2004
"A fascinating, theoretically rich study of the politics of public investment in urban America --with particular attention to the strategies employed by public officials and business coalitions, and to the ways in which they have adapted to new opportunities and constraints over the past half-century." --Jameson W. Doig, "Princeton University"
"A significant book that fills an important gap in our understanding of urban development politics. Altshuler and Luberoff have tackled a tremendous topic with both breadth and depth. It is a superb achievement sure to have a lasting impact on urban scholars and policymakers alike." --Lynne Sagalyn, "Columbia Business School"
"A sophisticated history of public investment in American urban areas during the past half-century, framed within an equally sophisticated review of urban political theory. Its meticulous presentation of factual detail is cast within the larger setting where public policy shapes large-scale public works, and public works in turn help shape urban history." --Melvin M. Webber, University of California Transportation Research Center
"An important new book... The larger question of what public works will be like in the aftermath of the Big Dig deserves serious attention from scholars and practitioners. It is now getting that attention from two of the best: Alan Altshuler and David Luberoff" --Alan Ehrenhalt, "Governing"
"As with a novel in which one recognizes oneself in one of the characters, this survey of politics and projects can be read as a history of Boston from Mayor Collins to Mayor Menino. The striking aspect of the narrative, and perhaps the comfort, is that readers from Seattle, Denver, Atlanta -- or any number of other American cities -- might similarly recognize their own urban histories in its pages.... Guided by Altshuler and Luberoff's excelent analytical survey, we can see that it is also a quick trip backward to the pre-1950 era of urban self-reliance." --Hubert Murray, principal of Hubert Murray Architect & Planner in Cambridge, MA, "Architecture Boston", 3/1/2004
"By letting readers make their own judgments, Altshuler and Luberoff avoid the standard trap that comes from taking a small piece of data and make it fit the wider world. Mega-Projects adds an important body of work to our understanding of urban politics and public choice." --Jay H. Walder and Shashi K. Verma, Managing Director of Finance and Planning and Principal in Corporate Finance at Transport for London, "Journal of Policy Analysis and Management", 12/4/2004
"Escalating costs, complications, and delays are pretty much guaranteed in major public works projects these days, according to Altshuler and Luberoff... They don't pronounce the death of all megaprojects. But with money short and homeland security costs mounting, they believe such projects may not get much consideration in the near term." --Anthony Flint, "Boston Globe", 5/19/2003
"Guided by Altshuler and Luberoff's excellent analytical survey, we can see that it is also a quick trip backward to the pre-1950 era of urban self-reliance" --Hubert Murray, AIA, RIBA, "ArchitectureBoston", 3/1/2004
"If you are looking for an economic quotient to keep a sports team in town, 'Mega-Projects' convincingly argues there isn't one. That, of course, is the end of the argument for some, but not the end of the argument for American cities." --James Vesely, "Seattle Times", 5/7/2006
"MEGA-PROJECTS insightfully blends urban political theory with detailed case studies to arrive at a new understanding of large public works projects in America. Altshuler and Luberoff take on pork barrel politics, the complexities of federalism, the ambiguous role of technical analysis, and the rise of environmental and community activism to create a landmark study of lasting value to planners, engineers, policy analysts, and politicians. " --Martin Wachs, University of California, Berkeley
"Same article appeared in: San Diego Union-Tribune, Contra Costa Times, Times Union, Orlando Sentinel, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Tulsa World, Patriot News" --Mark Pratt, Associated Press, "Various Newspapers", 12/21/2003
"Same article appeared in: Times Union, Charleston Gazette, The Commercial Appeal" --Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press, "Various Newspapers", 1/18/2004
"This is a superbly written book.... The authors provide an intriguing and penetrating examination that only a political scientist and journalist can together offer." --Narry T. Dimitriou, Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, "Journal of Urban Design", 11/1/2004
"This is a unique analysis in its linking of theory and detail" --W. C. Johnson, Bethel College (MN), "Choice", 2/1/2004
"With 'Mega-Projects, ' Altshuler and Luberoff have made a timely and useful contribution to a highly topical debate. In particular, urban planners, transport planners and political scientists, be they academics or practitioners, will appreciate this book." --Luca Bertolini, University of Amsterdam, "Journal of Housing and the Built Environment"
