Abstract This paper is on urbanrenewal - the rise of post-modernism in Providence. The nature of urbanrenewal in Providence has been hotly contested by some as a move that is not in keeping with the original historic character of the city.
Tags:URBAN STUDIES / PLANNING (DESIGN), modernism in providence
Abstract This paper discusses gentrification and urbanrenewal. It looks at the reasons for gentrification of a region and its advantages. The paper then demonstrates that while gentrification of an area is done to reconstruct the image of a region as acceptable to the public at large, it does so at the expense of those persons whom defined the original character of the region.
From the Paper "Both of these scenarios reflect an absolute lack of consideration for the persons and the socio-cultural setting involved. The decision to enter into an area and apply gentrification does so at the expense of a population that is considered to have less inherent value than members of the mainstream population. Moreover, it is difficult to present arguments in the favor of the displaced communities that reach the mainstream population and policy members without implying that the conditions within these communities are beneficial. After all, no one could sensibly argue that keeping children in impoverished conditions with high crime rates and allowing drug use and the overt sale of sexuality are beneficial outcomes. Doing so, however, is a simplified argument that does not get at the heart of the issues involved: the decision to gentrify an area is the decision to destroy a unique culture, but it is instead framed as the appropriate decision to bring new vitality back into the community. It is rarely taken into consideration that the community that exists will be gone and that its participants will be forced to relocate, or that the relocation phase can make their lives worse than before."
Abstract In this essay, the writer discusses the urbanrenewal of the city of Detroit. The paper discusses the efforts to revitalize a city that has been hit hard by white flight. The writer discusses that poverty and the collapse of basic infrastructure are also factors that have damaged the city. The writer examines whether or not Detroit is undergoing a positive rebirth.
From the Paper "A Renaissance can be defined as a revival of learning the arts, culture, politics and sciences. A Renaissance involves a rise into the modern world, a cultural rebirth of enlightenment and new discovery. Detroit has experienced something of a Renaissance and the city's rebirth will be discussed in this paper. Amy Lane writing in Crain's Detroit Business tells readers that Detroit Renaissance Incorporated was formed by business leaders concerned ..."
Tags: Detroit, cultural renaissnce, rebirth of a city, social, economic, political, education system, health care agencies, poor, minority, displacement, lofts, real estate gentrification.
Abstract Compared to other historic capital cities (such as Rome, Paris or Istanbul) - whose existence is more the result of a natural evolution with the increase of population, economic wealth and political power - the unique characteristic of Beijing is that it is a "planned entity," reflecting Chinese philosophy and cosmology which ran through its 3000 years urban history. This paper examines the latest conservation plan of the Beijing municipal government (Plan 1991-2010), especially concerning the renewal and preservation of courtyard houses and hutongs.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Main Features in the Design
Plans of Construction (or Destruction?) Planning Since 1949
The Courtyard Houses and Hutong - the Folk Culture of Beijing
Values for Preservation
Restraints in Preservation
The Invisible City
Ju'er Hutong Project
References
From the Paper "The urban planning in China is rarely transparent to the public. In Beijing's case, with the residential area, public participation is one essential part in better designing for the renewal. To involve all the people who care about the place, who in fact are the place, guarantees a better understanding of what to preserve at all. Local Beijingers, having been living in the cultural political center of the nation, are informally active in public affairs. The old tea houses were always buzzing with discussions on current events, and today the alternative community managers (respected senior citizens) using simple tools (visiting each family, holding small meetings, notice boards spreading news in the Hutongs) can collect ideas easily."
Abstract The paper defines gentrification as turning old, decaying neighborhoods inhabited by minorities into wealthy, exciting and sparkling new communities in which the original residents cannot afford to live. The paper discusses how new businesses that move in are affected by gentrification. The paper examines Winifred Curran's "Gentrification and the Nature of Work: Exploring the Links in Williamsburg, Brooklyn" where she shows how small-scale manufacturing and blue-collar work in Williamsburg has been displaced by gentrification. The paper also discusses Jason Patch's work on the embedded landscape of gentrification.
From the Paper "Very little has been written on the blue-collar workers that remain in the central city. The work they have done and their presence, despite the assumption that deindustrialization is complete by policymakers, make up a crucial element of the neighborhood, an element that would be removed if gentrification is allowed to continue, tearing out the heart of the lifeforce that makes Williamsburg what it is. Manufacturing is still a viable sector of the urban economy that is increasingly at risk of displacement, she argues, and because of that the conversion of industrial space to residential use is simply due to speculative real-estate pressure. Gentrification is encouraging industrial displacement in this transitional area of Brooklyn, which in turn is leading to the degradation of blue-collar work that remains there, and to the increasing informality of work."
Abstract The paper outlines the phenomenon of gentrification in large urban centres such as Toronto. The paper looks at both the intuitive and counter-intuitive aspects of gentrification as well as the factors that have most likely created these twin manifestations of the same broad phenomenon. No less importantly, the paper reviews the impact of misguided government policy upon communities and how these policies can foster the less salubrious aspects of gentrification.
From the Paper "The Strange Ambivalence of Gentrification in Toronto When most people think of Toronto, they think of a vibrant, engaging city with a prosperous downtown core and a still-promising future; they do not, as a rule, think about poverty. However, poverty exists in Toronto just as it does elsewhere in the world; indeed, poverty and the sharp demarcation between those who "have" and those who "have-not" is more pronounced in Canada's largest city than many are prepared to admit."
Abstract The following research proposal is for a second year urban geography course. The topic of the proposal is gentrification in the Annex.
From the Paper "For this assignment the phenomena of gentrification will be examined in detail. Gentrification is defined as, The Process of neighbourhood upgrading by relatively affluent incomers who move into a poorer neighbourhood in sufficient numbers to displace lower-income groups and transform its social identity (Pacione 670). Gentrification is occurring in many different cities including Toronto. However, gentrification takes different forms and proceeds at different rates in different neighbourhoods. This assignment will examine the Toronto neighbourhood known as the Annex in order to explore the nature of gentrification in this area. Secondary questions will focus on property values in the Annex and displacement issues."
This research paper explores the significance of architecture in the urbanrenewal and development of Savannah, Georgia. It also includes a historical overview of the city and how urban development came about.
Abstract This paper presents a historical analysis of the urban plan for Savannah, Georgia. The writer emphasizes the role that architecture played in the development of the master plan for the city. The discussion begins with a brief history of the city, and then focuses on the creations of the first city planner, George Oglethorpe. The research also discusses how the economy shaped the architectural design of the city. It reviews several different landmarks and explains why there construction influenced urban planning. Finally the writer discusses more recent urbanrenewal projects and reviews the impact that they may have on the historic district of the city.
From the Paper "It was believed by the colonists that Georgia would prove to be a profitable colony because of the production of silk and fine wines. Eventually the colonists found that the most profitable area of the colony was at the port of Savannah. In time Savannah became an ideal place for the production of rice, cotton and forest products.
Eventually the city of Savannah was captured by the British in 1778 and it was held by the British until 1782. By 1860 Savannah had began to prosper economically from the production of cotton and was heavily dependent upon slavery. In 1864 Union troops entered the city threatening to destroy it. The troops in Savannah surrendered on Christmas Eve and General William Sherman offered Savannah as a Christmas Gift to President Lincoln. The telegraph that presented the gift read, ?I beg to present you as a Christmas Gift, the City of Savannah with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition; and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.?(War and Occupation) Thought the city was not destroyed the remnants of war caused great turmoil to the economy of the city. However by the 1870's the city was again benefiting from the production and export of cotton. (War and Occupation)"
Abstract This paper examines and analyzes urban revitalization policies. The first portion of the essay discusses state and federal strategies for urban revitalization and the second half deals with the adaptive reuse of abandoned residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in the revitalization of urban neighborhoods.
Abstract The first part of this paper examines how the government promotes urban revitalization and the second part of the paper clarifies how communities and other organizations work to promote urban revitalization through a process called "adaptive reuse".
Abstract In 1938, Louis Wirth wrote an article about his observations and critiques of urbanization. While many of his observations are held to be true today, nobody can clearly define what makes up a city or an urban area. The paper argues that whether urbanization and industrialization are good is all a matter of personal opinion. While urbanization poses a threat to certain social classes and even the environment, it has also helped to evolve the way goods and services are made available to a broad area. The paper argues that ,if urbanization continues on the path that it is currently on, guidelines and boundaries will have to be put in place to prevent the destruction of all that urbanization has helped us achieve.
From the Paper "Alan Booth raised an issue of concern about overpopulation and crowding in urban areas. Urban crowding can affect a number of factors. First, the more people there are in an area, the more space people will desire due to the need for privacy. This can cause rapid expansion in what was a small crowded area. When an area expands rapidly, it can cause great environmental damage. It crowds wildlife populations and often destroys useful and fertile farm land or forests. Wildlife ecosystems respond with biological controls on fertility and birth rates that reduce populations and can lead species to become endangered in certain areas. The destruction of farm land is becoming more and more of an issue, especially in the mid-west where many of the United States' crops are grown. Land in the mid-west is fairly plentiful and peoples' desire for more personal space is leading real-estate developers to buy up land in the central U.S. and clear it for housing developments. This also applies to the metropolitan areas and some suburban areas within which the government provides housing (Booth 1976:1-10)."
Abstract This paper describes Ebenezer Howard's role in the advancement of urban planning. The author points out that Howard understood the necessity of asserting control over urban development. The paper further describes Howard's belief that controlling urban development improves city life, enhances productivity, increases efficiency and reduces the socioeconomic and political problems that uncontrolled urbanization produced. The paper relates that Howard believed that the negative aspects of urbanization could be minimized and eventually eliminated through logical urban planning to which he devoted his life.
From the Paper "In analyzing the advancement of urban planning, it is evident that innovative urban thinkers, like Ebenezer Howard, understood the vital importance of promoting and achieving effective urban development. Throughout the centuries, most cities expanded outward from their central core in a haphazard fashion in response to a variety of short-term economic, social and geographical factors. As this random process unfolded, cities became sprawling urban areas in which the quality of human life steadily declined, economic productivity suffered, and social and political tensions became chronic problems. "
Abstract This paper is an in-depth examination of the Third World urban crisis. The paper looks at high population growth rates and growing immigration into urban areas that are causing huge problems for public services and governmental control of urban growth. The paper examines the informal sector of the economy, in which most urban poor are employed, together with possible suggestions on how to deal with the urban problem.
From the Paper "As a whole, the Third World urban population is growing at the rate of 4% per year. This is three times the urban growth rate of First World countries. Latin America and East Asia are almost as urbanized as the western world, as nearly 50% of their people live in cities with 500,000 or more inhabitants. As the new century begins, more than 20 of the world's cities will have a total population of 10 million or more. With the exceptions of Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Osaka and Moscow, most of them will be in the Third World. The largest First World agglomerations were the world's biggest in the 1940?s, but are now smaller than much bigger Third World rivals such as Mexico City and Sao Paulo."
Abstract The paper discusses how the urban areas of Ontario and Toronto are experiencing urban sprawl. The paper describes the characteristics of urban sprawl and how it can be measured. The paper looks at urban sprawl's negative impacts on the environment, taxpayers and on the population's cultural and social life. The paper offers recommendations for future land-use development that will sustainably manage growth and discourage urban sprawl.
Outline:
Issue
Analysis
Recommendations
From the Paper "Urban sprawl is not easy to define. "To paraphrase the United States Supreme Court's long-ago ruling on pornography, most people can't define sprawl--but they know it when they see it" (Fulton et al, 2001). Urban sprawl is a phenomenon that occurs around metropolitan areas, usually represented by suburbs, and it involved the spread of cities and the urbanization or areas around it previously undeveloped, used for agriculture or green fields and forests.
"There are several characteristics of urban sprawl by which it can be recognized. First, the land-use is segregated and usually entails single use zoning. This means that residential, commercial and industrial areas are separated from one another. Often there are large undeveloped, empty areas between them. Because these areas are separated, traveling from one to the other can only be done with a car."
Tags: suburbs, cities, urbanization, fields, low-density, development
This paper provides a look at the principles of New Urbanism, a land development movement designed to combat ugly urban sprawl, by redeveloping inner cities and/or making the most efficient use of open space development.
Abstract This paper examines the topic, New Urbanism, synonymous with the term "Smart Growth" which is a way to develop land efficiently, whether it may be a new development using open space land, or a redevelopment of a part of an inner city- called "infilling". The paper explores the ten principles that New Urbanism is guided by and gives examples of developments across the country that have used this method and prospered.
From the Paper "Small, picturesque towns like Nantucket and Savannah dot the eastern landscape of the country. These towns are the illustration of the principles America was founded upon: closeness, unity, community, and family. The neighborhoods were compact and had mixed-uses. Everything a family needed in the normal course of the week was all within walking distance. There was a town square where the townspeople met and talked. In the youth of this country small developments like these were common, however in the last 50 years America has seen development practices take a turn for the worse. The current practice of building suburbs nationwide sprang up after World War II, and development has sacrificed hundreds of thousands of acres to this practice ever since. Now the majority of U.S. citizens now live in automobile-oriented, unattractive suburbs full of strip malls and four-lane roads with four-foot sidewalks. Although this is still the norm, there is a new kind of development that is making an impact on the way communities are built. This new method, called New Urbanism or Smart Growth, has caught on in the last 20 years and is now popping up all over the country. New Urbanism is a way to combat ugly urban sprawl, replacing it instead with small, interconnected communities that are pedestrian-friendly and contain housing, work places, shops, entertainment, schools, parks, and other amenities essential to the daily lives of residents, all within easy walking distance of each other. New Urbanism involves using the principles it sets forth to fix and redevelop existing cities, called "infilling", as well as to create new, high-density, compact towns and villages."
