Climbing Mount Laurel: The Struggle for Affordable Housing and Social Mobility in an American Suburb

Climbing Mount Laurel examines the development of the Ethel Lawrence Homes, an affordable housing project in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Through research and interviews, the authors document the decades-long legal battle and community resistance surrounding this housing initiative. The book tracks multiple narratives: the civil rights attorneys and activists who fought for fair housing, the suburban residents who opposed the development, and the low-income families seeking better opportunities. The study follows the project from its contested beginnings through construction and occupancy. The research team conducts surveys and analysis to measure the actual impacts of the affordable housing development on property values, crime rates, and local taxes. The investigation extends to the lives of the Ethel Lawrence Homes residents and their experiences with education, employment, and integration into the community. This case study illustrates broader themes about racial and economic segregation in American suburbs, while challenging common assumptions about affordable housing developments and their effects on communities.

Readers appreciate the book's data-driven approach to examining the real impacts of affordable housing on a suburban community. Many note its value in debunking myths about property values and crime rates. Students and urban planners cite its usefulness as a case study. Readers highlight the thorough research methodology, interviews with residents, and clear presentation of statistics. One reviewer called it "an empirical counter-argument to NIMBY fears." Some readers found the writing style dry and academic. A few noted redundancy between chapters and wanted more detail about the legal battles. Several mentioned the book could have included more resident perspectives. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (14 ratings) Sample review: "As someone who works in affordable housing development, this book provides concrete evidence to share with concerned neighbors during community meetings. The research is solid and the conclusions are clear." - Amazon reviewer

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🏘️ Mount Laurel, NJ became the center of a landmark legal battle when the NAACP sued the township in 1971 for using zoning laws to exclude low-income and minority residents. The resulting "Mount Laurel Doctrine" became one of the most significant planning and civil rights decisions in American history. 🎓 Author Douglas Massey is a Princeton University sociologist who has spent decades studying racial segregation and inequality in American housing. He is also known for developing the "index of dissimilarity," a key metric for measuring residential segregation. 📊 The study followed residents of the Ethel Lawrence Homes (the affordable housing complex built as a result of the Mount Laurel decision) for seven years, finding that moving to the complex led to significant improvements in mental health, employment, and children's educational outcomes. 🏗️ Despite widespread fears from Mount Laurel residents, the introduction of affordable housing did not lead to increased crime rates, declining property values, or higher taxes - debunking common arguments against affordable housing developments. 🌟 The Ethel Lawrence Homes were named after Ethel Robinson Lawrence, a Mount Laurel resident and civil rights activist who led the initial fight against discriminatory housing practices in the township. She was known locally as the "Rosa Parks of affordable housing."