Introduction: the 24-hour city hypothesis
The dynamism of the American city : triumphs and troubles
The fifties : a revolutionary decade?
Selling and buying the American dream
The hollowing of the center
Central tendencies vs. the hollow-core story
Trends behind the trends
What makes the 24-hour city different?
Fourteen cities
Voting with the wallet : paying a premium for the 24-hour city
Gleanings from the past and present; glimmers for the future

24 Hour Cities is the very first full length book about America's cities that never sleep. Over the last fifty years, the nation's top live-work-play cities have proven themselves more than just vibrant urban environments for the elite. They are attracting a cross-section of the population from across the U.S. and are preferred destinations for immigrants of all income strata. This is creating a virtuous circle wherein economic growth enhances property values, stronger real estate markets sustain more reliable tax bases, and solid municipal revenues pay for better services that further attract businesses and talented individuals. Yet, just a generation ago, cities like New York, Boston, Washington, San Francisco, and Miami were broke (financially and physically), scarred by violence, and prime examples of urban dysfunction. How did the turnaround happen? And why are other cities still stuck with the hollow downtowns and sprawling suburbs that make for a 9-to-5 urban configuration? Hugh Kelly's cross-disciplinary research identifies the ingredients of success, and the recipe that puts them together