Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

Reimagining our cities for a sustainable and human-centric future

In her groundbreaking book Wonder City, Lynn Ellsworth delves deep into the heart of modern urban life, casting a critical eye on the transformative changes sweeping through cities like New York. This compelling journey into the world of urban development goes beyond the usual narra­tive, serving as a passionate call to action that encourages readers to actively participate in shaping the future of their cities.

Ellsworth expertly navigates through complex themes such as affordable housing, urban plan­ning, historic preservation, and architecture. With a focus on major cities undergoing significant transformations, Wonder City offers an insightful examination of the challenges and opportunities that define contemporary urban life.

At the core of this engaging narrative is a striking critique of the real estate industry’s influence over urban landscapes. Ellsworth reveals how historic and culturally rich urban settings are increas­ingly being overshadowed by the rise of impersonal glass towers, a trend she argues is driven by the industry’s grip on politicians and technocrats. This analysis is both eye-opening and unsettling, shedding light on the forces reshaping our urban environments.

Wonder City is more than a critique, however. Ellsworth provides a pragmatic blueprint for revitalizing urban spaces. She champions the need for affordable housing, sustainable urban plan­ning, and architecture that respects and enhances the human experience. Her arguments challenge the prevailing economic theories behind housing supply and question the architectural ideologies that often justify the demolition of historic urban assets.

This book is an essential read for urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of urban living. Ellsworth’s clear, accessible insights into complex issues make Wonder City a vital contribution to the discourse on urban development, appealing to a broad audience that cares about the dynamics and future of city life.

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Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

Reimagining our cities for a sustainable and human-centric future

In her groundbreaking book Wonder City, Lynn Ellsworth delves deep into the heart of modern urban life, casting a critical eye on the transformative changes sweeping through cities like New York. This compelling journey into the world of urban development goes beyond the usual narra­tive, serving as a passionate call to action that encourages readers to actively participate in shaping the future of their cities.

Ellsworth expertly navigates through complex themes such as affordable housing, urban plan­ning, historic preservation, and architecture. With a focus on major cities undergoing significant transformations, Wonder City offers an insightful examination of the challenges and opportunities that define contemporary urban life.

At the core of this engaging narrative is a striking critique of the real estate industry’s influence over urban landscapes. Ellsworth reveals how historic and culturally rich urban settings are increas­ingly being overshadowed by the rise of impersonal glass towers, a trend she argues is driven by the industry’s grip on politicians and technocrats. This analysis is both eye-opening and unsettling, shedding light on the forces reshaping our urban environments.

Wonder City is more than a critique, however. Ellsworth provides a pragmatic blueprint for revitalizing urban spaces. She champions the need for affordable housing, sustainable urban plan­ning, and architecture that respects and enhances the human experience. Her arguments challenge the prevailing economic theories behind housing supply and question the architectural ideologies that often justify the demolition of historic urban assets.

This book is an essential read for urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of urban living. Ellsworth’s clear, accessible insights into complex issues make Wonder City a vital contribution to the discourse on urban development, appealing to a broad audience that cares about the dynamics and future of city life.

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Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

by Lynn Ellsworth
Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

Wonder City: How to Reclaim Human-Scale Urban Life

by Lynn Ellsworth

eBook

$33.99 

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Overview

Reimagining our cities for a sustainable and human-centric future

In her groundbreaking book Wonder City, Lynn Ellsworth delves deep into the heart of modern urban life, casting a critical eye on the transformative changes sweeping through cities like New York. This compelling journey into the world of urban development goes beyond the usual narra­tive, serving as a passionate call to action that encourages readers to actively participate in shaping the future of their cities.

Ellsworth expertly navigates through complex themes such as affordable housing, urban plan­ning, historic preservation, and architecture. With a focus on major cities undergoing significant transformations, Wonder City offers an insightful examination of the challenges and opportunities that define contemporary urban life.

At the core of this engaging narrative is a striking critique of the real estate industry’s influence over urban landscapes. Ellsworth reveals how historic and culturally rich urban settings are increas­ingly being overshadowed by the rise of impersonal glass towers, a trend she argues is driven by the industry’s grip on politicians and technocrats. This analysis is both eye-opening and unsettling, shedding light on the forces reshaping our urban environments.

Wonder City is more than a critique, however. Ellsworth provides a pragmatic blueprint for revitalizing urban spaces. She champions the need for affordable housing, sustainable urban plan­ning, and architecture that respects and enhances the human experience. Her arguments challenge the prevailing economic theories behind housing supply and question the architectural ideologies that often justify the demolition of historic urban assets.

This book is an essential read for urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of urban living. Ellsworth’s clear, accessible insights into complex issues make Wonder City a vital contribution to the discourse on urban development, appealing to a broad audience that cares about the dynamics and future of city life.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781531508197
Publisher: Empire State Editions
Publication date: 05/06/2025
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 384
File size: 42 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Lynn Ellsworth is an economist, mother, New Yorker, and founder of Humanscale NYC, the Tribeca Trust, the Empire Station Coalition, the Citywide Land- use Coalition, and the Friends of Duane Park. She is on the advisory board of the historic preservation program at the University of Notre Dame and lives in Lower Manhattan.

Table of Contents

1. Competing Visions of the City and Urban Life | 1

2. The Failure of Trickle- Down Housing Supply Theory | 36

3. The Costs of Towerization and the Problem of Density | 67

4. Economics of the Urban Commons | 97

5. The Curse of New York: The Real Estate Lobby as the Demolition Machine | 133

6. How Big Real Estate Stays on Top | 173

7. Demonizing Historic Districts and the Capture of the Landmarks Preservation Commission | 209

8. The Architecture of Rupture and Nihilism | 251

9. What Policies for a Human- Scale City? | 286

Acknowledgments | 319

Notes | 321

References | 327

Index | 359

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