The redesign of Potsdamer Platz depicts the struggle to revive Berlin; Germany. This central and highly visible square has undergone a series of strategic revisions to restore its vitality and so to meet place-enhancing objectives. Specifically; the book critically addresses the challenging tasks of restoring Potsdamer Platz from a state of disintegration to a condition worthy of a world-class city; although the questions remain unanswered as to how far the objectives have been achieved. The book enables readers to become familiar with the various stages of transformation; aided by the authors’ hand-drawn illustration – a series of sketches accompanied by narrations focusing on how to critically read ‘cities in transformation’. As a whole; it presents an overview of the strategic process of urban regeneration. The findings from this theoretical exploration help reposition our understanding of the process of re-making a ‘city in decay and transition’; and introduces new strands of regeneration ideologies; politics and methods.
#259076 in eBooks 2013-12-11 2013-12-11File Name: B00H8OZZ3S
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Definitive Contribution to the Tom Dooley AffairBy Second ArrowThis is a readable; thoroughly researched; book based on the known and extant documents relating to the Murder of Laura Foster and the subsequent hanging of Tom Dooley (Dula) for the crime. First; the authors extensive genealogic research untangles the knotted relationships of many of the participants (uncles; grandparents; fourth cousins etc) in the drama. Second; by sticking to the known evidence and painstakingly sifting the extant summaries of the trial testimonies; the author produces a solid and relatively straightforward analysis of the murder. The result is the "de-dramatization" of various legends; hearsay; and personal accounts (some recorded years after the events unfolded) that have colored; shaped; and often mythologized the narrative.The events from March 1 to May 24-25; 1866 that led to the murder are drawn with a fine pen by the author. Toms subsequent flight and his capture by Colonel Grayson (dispelling one romantic notion from the ballad) are presented without ornamentation. The bias of the man who led the search party that discovered Lauras body is clearly indicated by the author. The source of the sexually transmitted disease that provided the motive for the killing is; I believe; correctly identified by the author. However; as he notes; Tom Dula believed that this individual was the source and the jury evidently concurred. The identification of anyone else is not relevant to Toms motive for the killing nor the jurys judgment.The post-Civil-War political intrigues that influenced the lawyers for the prosecution and those for the defense are presented without prejudice to either side. Witness lists and other trial documents are offered to the reader for their own examination and evaluation. I particularly appreciated Chapter 6 in which the reader (accompanied by the author) is challenged to consider the charges to the jury in the light of the witnesses accounts.A final note. The author is a descendant of one of the protagonists who in no way escapes his objective analysis.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Factual AccountingBy laurie allenDr. Fletcher has presented every factual record available with personal knowledge; family ties and upbringing in the area. The records are not complete; making his personal knowledge and agenda to dispel myths and folklore paramount. Ann Foster Melton was my great great grandmother; however I only knew as much as the song; I do not know any relatives from my fathers side and I live in the north.The details available with the geography descriptions has allowed a true understanding of reality. I am reading the folklore/few facts books now and am so thankful that I am not being misled by the embellishments. Most important is that it was never documented that Laura Foster was pregnant with Tom Dooleys child.I will go back and read Dr. Fletchers book again with more attention to all the details that got lost on me the first time around. I hope to put a visit to Elkville NC and Whippoorwill Academy Museum on my bucket list. Thank you Dr. Fletcher for you wonderful book of truth. This is a treasure and I bought extra books to pass onto my children. Without you; the true story would never be known.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Straightforward presentation of little-known but compelling legendary storyBy Alpha 7This book is probably the most balanced and straightforward of those available on the topic of the legendary murder of Laura Foster and hanging of Tom Dula (Dooley) for the crime in post-Civil War North Carolina. A great deal of confusion exists as to what is fiction and what is fact in the legend; and this book does a pretty good job of sorting a lot of that stuff out. Its a pity that some key items such as Toms supposed written confession (created in a jail cell by an illiterate boy?) and photos of the main characters in the drama or the cabins they lived in or the actual place of the shallow grave where the murder victim was discovered arent included; and it would have been nice to hear more about what the condemned man spoke about for apparently a whole hour before his end; but much of this content just dont seem to exist and may never have been written down or photographed to begin with so one cant blame the author for the lack of any compelling visuals to accompany the text. The authors conclusion about who was apparently responsible for spreading the contagious disease which may have been the motive for the murder seems to be the incorrect one to have drawn from the known facts as presented; and that bit consequently comes off as odd; but the rest of the information here appears to be in good order. Recommended as probably the least-biased and least-fictionalized and therefore best reference on the subject even if it; as is true with other books about the legend; was also written by a descendant of one of the families of the people involved in the crime.
