Urban Revitalization: Place-Making in Deteriorating Downtowns

Abstract

Downtown urban centers are the key to any functional city. They provide a canvas for communities to establish a cultural hub and sense of place. Over the last decade, communities across America have had trouble maintaining vibrant downtown environments due to changes in today’s social fabric. Pandemics, increased use of technology, and less dedication to small businesses have all lead to this issue. Thoughtful architecture and urban planning are important tools to solving the issue of deteriorating downtown areas. This thesis explores the avenues for why urban America has seen a drop in downtown growth and how to overcome such struggles by means of place-making, flexible architecture, and thoughtful urban planning. Research investigates the precedents of urban zoning, walkable streets, sense of place, and multi-cultural integration by means of case study analysis and interviews.