“We just need the developer to develop”: Entrepreneurialism, financialization and urban redevelopment in Lexington, Kentucky

Since the 1980s US city governments have increased their use of more speculative means financing economic redevelopment. This has involved experimenting with a variety financial and taxation instruments as way growing economies redeveloping built environments. very general tendency, course, masks how some cities done well through these while others not. The work to date tended pivot around “winner-loser dichotomy”, which emphasises either capacity be able experiment speculate one instrument or another failings instruments, resulting in bankruptcy fiscal crisis. paper presents case study Lexington, Kentucky using archival research interviews we argue that are harder choreograph for than others. We draw particular attention beyond those tend over-represented metro-centric academic literature. argument conceptual significance. Building theory out experiences such turns required by they seek finance redevelopment downtowns. make continued appreciation messy politics its indeterminate, open unpredictable nature an era fragile uncertain entrepreneurial urban policy-making.