Margaret Dewar

Professor Dewar’s research is in the broad areas of economic development, housing and community development, urban environmental planning and urban land use. Her current projects address remaking cities following abandonment and strengthening deteriorated neighborhoods. She analyzes how planners can address issues facing cities that have experienced substantial population and employment loss. Her recent book, “The City After Abandonment,” was co-edited with June Manning Thomas. She is working with Thomas, Lan Deng and a recent Ph.D. graduate on investigating whether and how residents and community-based organizations can save their neighborhoods from the disinvestment that mortgage foreclosures have caused. Dewar is also collaborating with faculty in law, landscape architecture, water ecology, public health, sociology and civil engineering to study how land use transitions from derelict structure through demolition to green stormwater infrastructure.  She is completing a project on the everyday remaking of place in the most abandoned areas of cities, and launching a new one that addresses the challenge of refinancing and preserving Low-Income Housing Tax Credit housing as it reaches the end of investors’ commitment in a context of weak demand.