Developing the City: Community Development, Power, and Urban Democracy in U.S. Cities

Developing the City investigates the forms, levels, and spaces of power (visible, hidden, and invisible) involved in community development ecosystems. The editors and contributors, a mix of embedded activists, academics, and community leaders, provide a series of diverse case studies that evaluate the local dynamics that shape urban policy.

Chapters address racialized power dynamics in Cleveland, OH, community development funding in Memphis, TN, economic growth and inclusion in Newark, NJ, housing policies in Denver and Colorado Springs, CO, and participatory governance in Reno, NV among other topics. They reflect the unique manifestations of power within each local context, shaped by distinctive histories and sociopolitical dynamics.

In addition to exploring how various dimensions of power influence decision-making, resource allocation, democratic engagement, and civic participation, Developing the City provides a systematic framework for understanding and questioning these power dynamics, and advocates for a power-conscious approach to foster more equitable and democratic urban futures with respect to economic, racial, social, and environmental justice.

Contributors: Nakeefa Cilicia Bernard, Prentiss A. Dantzler, Caraline Feairheller, Austin Harrison, Brad A. M. Johnson, Katherine Lambert-Pennington, Eric Stokan, Robert Stoker, Jill Yordy, and the editors

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439926557
• ISBN13: 9781439926550
• Release Date: December 2026
• Publisher: Temple University Press
• Length: 200 Pages