Opening up the Suburbs: An Urban Strategy for America

In this fast-paced, fact-filled short book, Anthony Downs takes a close look at a national problem of increasing importance—opening up the suburbs to the poor.  After marshalling the arguments in favor of introducing low and moderate income housing in suburban areas where it is not now possible, he presents the suburbanites’ case against change. He finds legitimate claims and fears on both sides. Mr. Downs believes it is possible, however, to devise public policies that will reconcile the objectives and legitimate desires of both poorer Americans desiring to upgrade themselves by entering the suburbs and wealthier Americans desiring to protect the quality of their hard-won suburban life.  He proposes the concept of balanced communities as well as other public policies to effect this reconciliation.  As the nation moves into the decade of the seventies, the pressures of expanding population on the suburbs are bound to increase. Anthony Downs provides here a thoughtful analysis of the problems that are coming and practical proposals for dealing with them, which will interest the professional planner and the involved citizen alike.