The Politics of Place

“From the nuisance laws of the nineteenth century targeting Chicago’s notorious filth to its cutting-edge new code, this meticulously researched book chronicles the use of zoning as both handmaiden for the just and tool for the self-serving. City planners and urban historians will delight in the colorful tale of how a city’s backbone—and zoning is indeed Chicago’s backbone—supports its broad shoulders.”—Michael Davidson, editor of Zoning Practice, American Planning Association

“Schwieterman and Caspall have given us extraordinary insight into the personality of Chicago’s creative leadership as well as the dynamic growth resulting from [its] efforts. Perhaps of greater significance, zoning is shown to be an important planning tool that is given the attention it deserves for the first time.”—Miles Berger, author of They Built Chicago: Entrepreneurs Who Shaped a Great City’s Architecture

"The Politics of Place: A History of Zoning in Chicago is not just for academics and urban planners. It looks at the city's development from the time of Ft. Dearborn through the aftermath of the Chicago Fire to the time the first limits were placed on building heights and into the 21st century. Lots of great historical photos one shows a nearly unbelievably jam-packed downtown intersection in 1909 are included in this book by Joseph P. Schwieterman and Dana M. Caspall."—Chicago Tribune Books