Comment on John T. Metzger's “Planned Abandonment: The Neighborhood Life‐Cycle Theory and National Urban Policy”

Abstract

Metzger's analysis of the effects of the neighborhood life‐cycle theory is an interesting, yet flawed discussion of the relationship between public policy and theory. According to Metzger, Downs's theoretical model of urban dynamics had an enormous effect on decisions related to urban renewal, discriminatory lending, and other practices that had negative consequences on urban neighborhoods. Conversely, alternative urban models of neighborhood dynamics have generated positive impacts, such as the increased lending in low‐ and moderate‐income neighborhoods resulting from the Community Reinvestment Act. Metzger's analysis is flawed because he (1) never demonstrates that the neighborhood life‐cycle theory affected policy, rather than just legitimating existing ideas about urban dynamics, (2) does not accurately represent urban models developed as an alternative to ecological approaches, and (3) equates triage planning with discriminatory practices.

Keywords:

• Neighborhoods
• Real estate
• Urban planning