Edge City

August 31, 1992
A thought-provoking account of the new urban centers that are developing on the edges of major metropolitan areas in the U.S.

July 29, 1991
Garreau ( The Nine Nations of North America ) shows that Americans, weary of daily commutes between suburb and city, are developing concentrated communities near major metropolitan areas that blend home, workplace, schools and recreation. He calls these all-inclusive urban centers ``edge cities'': among them, White Plains, near Manhattan; King of Prussia, outside of Philadelphia; Scottsdale and Tempe, adjacent to Phoenix. Nine chapters on specific regions include interviews with modern ``pioneers,'' professionals who have chosen the edge-city lifestyle, and planners such as controversial Northern Virginia developer John T. (Til) Hazel. Edge-city proponents make a case for practicality, safety and cultural growth, while detractors cite bland artificiality and environmental threats in the expanding realm of industrial parks and strip malls. Garreau maintains a casual style, incorporating statistical data, historical references and regional trivia into an eminently readable, thought-provoking, optimistic text.