Review of One Book
:Report for Historic Preservation Class at University of Nebraska - Kearney; Masters in History Program.:
Taylor Speer-Sims
Report Number Two – Due July 5, 2013
Andrew Hurley, Beyond Preservation: Using Public
History to Revitalize Inner Cities.
Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2010.
Beyond
Preservation: Using Public History to Revitalize Inner Cities by Andrew
Hurley is a book that argues that there are many things that can be done to
revitalize areas with inner cities. Professor Hurley gives honest commentary
that benefits the field of neighborhood revitalization. Brushing negatives
under the rug is not something that is done here. Examples within this text do
prove tactics of other biased, pro-revitalizing historians. Hurley included
contradictions here as well, though. The great point about this book is that
the author gives alternatives to older revitalization techniques that are more
effective.
The thesis of Beyond
Preservation: Using Public History to Revitalize Inner Cities is stated
quite clearly, and is the first sentence in the preface. It states that the
premise “is to make historic preservation a more effective instrument for
revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods through the strategic use of public
history.”[1]
Hurley’s thesis is used throughout the book. He has shown what can be done to
create better environments conducive to inner city restorative neighborhoods.
Hurley presents both old and new ideas within. There is the idea that
revitalization of neighborhoods can bring in new business just as others have
noted. However, Hurley shows that this can have a backlash with rising taxes
that pushes locals out due to race and/or income.[2]
Organized
thematically, wording flows with transformations from one chapter to another.
There is no crisp end, but a blending into the next theme. The book starts with some basic background
information. It then goes from the big picture to the streets, then narrows
even further to an area within a large city with its experiments. The book then
narrows even further to talk about research and planning. The subject broadens
somewhat to nature, only to narrow again to authority sharing. While at first
glance this formatting structure appears uneven, Hurley presents his case very
convincingly by writing in this manner.
The book is
written very well and articulately. Hurley breaks down his ideas into smaller
ones by talking about history and giving examples. There is one chapter that is
basically one full example. Chapter three’s “An Experiment in North St. Louis”
is important in that it shows what happened in a Missouri location after the
federal tax code revision. Lulls after 1986 the state of Missouri stepped up
with their own tax incentives that rejuvenated with its twenty-five percent tax
credit on “the cost of renovating commercial and residential properties.”[3]
Here is where history became popular in a rejuvenated pocket of the city, which
was the development project. This full chapter study shows how promising the
project originally was, showed its shortcomings and the steps that were made to
compensate. The best, in this author’s opinion, was that the committee created
a bibliography of the documents, books, and articles that were used in the
example’s reawakening.[4]
This makes the text more of a narrative then just a schoolbook.
Beyond
Preservation is a biased objective outlook. This is because, in a sense,
the book gives the reader the idea that there are definite issues about
revitalization that occurred in the past. However, the opposite is also true.
Hurley shows both pros and cons of the experiences in revitalization within
cities. So, in this aspect, the author appears to be quite objective. With the
words that the author uses, it seems as though he has written the book with
someone of some basic experience in the field. In other words, the reader should
be aware of what revitalization is, as well as some of the promises that have
been told about its continued success. However, the reader can also have a lot
of experience and still be able to appreciate the work. This book is especially
great for those that have questions about the blatantly skewed views of other
authors. In fact, those authors that are obstinate in their opinion can still
read Hurley’s opposing views without becoming angry because Hurley uses details
in his writing.
Hurley’s writing
style is definitely a strength of the book. Another is the detailed analysis of
many of the examples that are used. Hurley’s main strength is that he has
presented pros and cons, as well as alternatives to both. It is both a strength
and a weakness of the book that it is centered on inner city neighborhoods. The
strength is that he has presented himself as a specialist. The weakness is
because many may wish to look at this same information for small towns, and
they are not covered.
Contemporary
historiography points to scientific and detailed study in a straightforward
format. Today’s writing also includes minority’s views. The scientific
information is not as thorough as it could be given the target demographic.
Each point given is quite detailed, and definitely straightforward. There is
very little information, however, on minorities. He does include the fact that
historic rejuvenation was initially for rich white men. Another inclusion is
that many lower income and minority people were displaced due to planned
gentifrication, and some of these people did fight back. [5]
However, again, Hurley could have been more detailed with investigating these
same demographics in more locations, as well as given more of their opinions.
Hurley’s title
fits the book precisely, and is very well noted. The bibliography includes
primary and secondary sources. There are many personal interviews for the
studies that were cited. [6] There is a
conclusion, a preface and an index.[7]
There are black and white photos, and two figures that represent small maps of
the Saint Louis County.[8]
The methodology is quantitative in that there are some great studies.
Specifically, the theories included are from past experiences, and were not
created for the book.
The author, Andrew
Hurley, has his information on the back cover. Hurley most likely included the
St. Louis experiment because he is a professor there at the University of
Missouri, at St. Louis. He has authored two other books about social history.
All three have very long titles![9]
With Professor Hurley’s enthusiasm, this particular book is great for any one
with a little knowledge of preservation.
Beyond
Preservation: Using Public History to Revitalize Inner Cities by Andrew
Hurley is well written and organized. Contemporary styled, the methodology is
quantitative, yet lacks extensive minority studies. The author is a professor
in a city where he used a full case study. Honest comparison with biased
objectivity is an easy way to describe the opinion within. The great
characteristic about this book is that challenges are given along with examples
of ways that areas have overcome them. This book truly is a great resource that
does exactly what the title indicates.
Bibliography
Hurley, Andrew. Beyond
Preservation: Using Public History to Revitalize Inner Cities.
Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2010.
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