Fixing Broken Places: Why Communities Fail and How They Rise Again

COMMUNITIES DO NOT FAIL BY ACCIDENT.

They are shaped over time by how land is cared for, how decisions are made, and whether people choose to invest in the places they call home.

In Fixing Broken Places, Altimese L. King invites readers to examine why some neighborhoods thrive while others slowly decline. Drawing on decades of experience in real estate, planning, housing, and community development, she explores how neglect, misalignment, and short-term thinking across public and private sectors alike can erode even strong communities.

This book is not about blame. It is about shared responsibility.

Fixing Broken Places offers a practical, systems-oriented framework for understanding community decline and intentional renewal. Through real-world examples and grounded insight, King shows how residents, business owners, property owners, nonprofits, and public institutions all play a role in shaping outcomes. She also demonstrates how coordination, accountability, and care can restore confidence and prosperity.

Written for civic leaders, planners, developers, educators, and engaged citizens, Fixing Broken Places reframes revitalization as a collective discipline rooted in stewardship of the places we call home.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Community Growth Press
Published: 10/31/2026
ISBN: 9798995426615
Pages: 336
Weight: 1.76lbs
Size: 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.75d