Urban redevelopment in American cities is complicated. It takes a delicate alignment of goals, power, leadership, ideas and sustained advocacy—sometimes resistance—on the part of many. Rebuilding the American City highlights 15 urban design and planning projects in the U.S. that have been catalysts for their downtowns—yet were implemented during the tumultuous start of the 21st century. The book presents five paradigms of American redevelopment and a range of perspectives on the complexities, successes and challenges inherent to rebuilding American cities today. Ultimately, it asks what rebuilding means, and for whom. Rebuilding the American City is essential reading for practitioners and students in urban design, planning, and public policy looking to understand the behind-the scenes motives, strategies and creative solutions for urban transformation in these political economic times of economic austerity.