Museum Talk: Benjamin Ross : “Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism”

The destruction of the West End and its replacement by the sterile towers of Charles River Park was a key turning point in how America thinks about its cities. The old neighborhoods were so much more livable than what replaced them. The public saw it first, and planners and professors soon followed.

Today urban living has gained appeal. Yet the supply of good places to live falls far short of the demand. Decay and gentrification eat away at what escaped the wrecking balls, while newly built city neighborhoods rarely match those built a century and more ago.

What holds back the revival of urbanism? In the new book Dead End: Suburban Sprawl and the Rebirth of American Urbanism, Benjamin Ross shows that it is much more than bad architecture and sloppy planning. The obstacles are historical, sociological, and economic. Join us on May 15 to discuss his ideas.

Pre-registration is required and available at http://thewestendmuseum.org/whats_on/event-registration/