Repurposing the Past: How a Former Farm Boy and Marine Helped Give Bucks County a 21st-Century Facelift

Nazi Submarines? Life-and-death battles with huge rats? The Cuban Missile Crisis? The assassination of JFK? These are not the predictable topics youd typically associate with a book that appears to be about cleaning up toxic abandoned industrial sites urban redevelopment economic growth and job creation. But if your name is Bob White theyre all part of an improbable journey from naive farm boy to Cold War-era U.S. Marine to the executive directorship of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks. Hes been referred to as a beefy fast-talking construction expert a larger-than-life visionary a superstar in economic development and numerous other glowing accolades by Bucks Countys press politicians and redevelopment and real estate industry executives. Theres good reason for that: During Bob Whites tenure at the helm of Bucks Countys Redevelopment Authority more than 50 large-scale transformative projects were completed and over 20000 jobs were saved or generated in the process. Dozens of environmentally contaminated blighted buildings-relics from the countys past glory years as a major East Coast manufacturing center-were replaced by beautiful parks sparkling office complexes research centers upscale residential communities new roadways and a thriving deepwater port.Repurposing the Past is HGTV on an industrial scale. In addition to Bobs unique and inspiring story this new and unique book gives you a ringside seat to several dozen of his most significant far-reaching projects. More than 80 photos provide a before and after look at each site along with a narrative depicting its history the environmental challenges and remediations involved and the demolitions budgets grants redevelopment plans and community and political participation that helped Bucks County boldly step into the 21st century.Whether youre a student or a professional in the fields of environmental sciences economic development and urban studies or youre simply looking to read a unique inspiring story Repurposing the Past will prove to be a page turner.