Saving a middle-class multiracial American city, 1960 - 2013

Charlie Henry, citizen, sailor and urban planner, the former City Manager of University City, Missouri briefly documents the groundbreaking civil rights and civil justice work of the city government creating a sustainable environment for all citizens. For the past 50 years and continuing, the middle-class community of University City, MO has been a state-wide leader in successfully preserving all its neighborhoods, which at the same time have been enjoying substantial increases in home real estate values. The community of University City is broadly defined to include much more than just the Census population. It includes property owners, businesses, educational, commercial, governmental, local religious, neighborhood groups, and nearby institutions such as Universities and major employers which influence the quality of urban living. From 1963 to 2014, this community has enabled thousands of white and black middle-class neighboring families to enjoy tens of thousands and some hundreds of thousands of dollars increases in their home values, according to the Census. This book is historically documented with 90 photos, US Census data, and references to newspapers, books, and magazines. Contains primary source material.