This study concerns the effects of public school redistricting on communities in Atlanta. It is based upon interviews with people in two neighborhoods which are part of the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) system directly affected by redistricting. All schools slated to close are located in low-income, minority areas and serve similar populations. Of the ten schools selected for closing, three were saved during the final APS board meeting in April 2012, and will remain open. I spoke with people who reside in a neighborhood where a local school is slated to close, as well as those in an area where a school was saved from closing. I asked informants why they felt their schools were identified for closure and how they responded to the threat of closing. I learned that both communities organized to save their schools but with different results based on available forms of social and cultural capital.

The public spaces of many low-income, inner-city neighbourhoods are fundamental in forming strong social networks, nurturing the development of community and supporting the needs of vulnerable residents. This aspect of the urban condition is rooted in the understanding of public space as social space, emphasizing the innumerable differences of individuals and their everyday patterns of inhabitation. This thesis explores Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, a historically marginalized neighbourhood with a strong sense of community that has developed from an accessible and inclusive public life. However, as the neighbourhood undergoes re-development, social polarization threatens the vitality of its public space and the existing sense of acceptance and connection. To mitigate the impact of gentrification on public space, architecture is employed as a tool to support and enhance the area’s inclusive public realm. Applying principles of Everyday Urbanism, it illustrates the social importance of ‘everyday space’, emphasizing the human condition and multidimensional aspects of cities. Three distinct designs propose ‘neighbourhood places’ at strategic locations throughout the Downtown Eastside. Guided by the principles of ‘city design’ and four established design goals, each project demonstrates an attempt to anchor the existing community in place, foster a dialogue between different neighbourhood groups and promote a sense of ownership and belonging. Although this thesis concentrates on the Downtown Eastside, it outlines a set of design principles that can be applied universally, increasing community connections and support throughout our cities.

This project is a video installation that includes filming the worship services of three small African American churches that exist within an area of rapid gentrification. Perhaps because of their tiny congregations, or racial makeup, these particular little churches seem hidden by a cloak of invisibility.

The public spaces of many low-income, inner-city neighbourhoods are fundamental in forming strong social networks, nurturing the development of community and supporting the needs of vulnerable residents. This aspect of the urban condition is rooted in the understanding of public space as social space, emphasizing the innumerable differences of individuals and their everyday patterns of inhabitation. This thesis explores Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, a historically marginalized neighbourhood with a strong sense of community that has developed from an accessible and inclusive public life. However, as the neighbourhood undergoes re-development, social polarization threatens the vitality of its public space and the existing sense of acceptance and connection. To mitigate the impact of gentrification on public space, architecture is employed as a tool to support and enhance the area’s inclusive public realm. Applying principles of Everyday Urbanism, it illustrates the social importance of ‘everyday space’, emphasizing the human condition and multidimensional aspects of cities. Three distinct designs propose ‘neighbourhood places’ at strategic locations throughout the Downtown Eastside. Guided by the principles of ‘city design’ and four established design goals, each project demonstrates an attempt to anchor the existing community in place, foster a dialogue between different neighbourhood groups and promote a sense of ownership and belonging. Although this thesis concentrates on the Downtown Eastside, it outlines a set of design principles that can be applied universally, increasing community connections and support throughout our cities.

Commercial strips are ubiquitous elements of the American landscape. They offer important opportunities for inquiry into the ways in which cities are adapted, preserved, and redeveloped over time. This research examines the dynamics of reinvestment along central city commercial strips in Austin, Texas. Research was aimed at understanding the relationship between reinvestment in existing commercial buildings and larger processes of redevelopment and change along commercial strips undergoing transition. Case study commercial strips were selected that had been established in the early to mid-twentieth century and that had experienced decline and subsequent reinvestment. Historic patterns of land use, transportation, and economic trends are described and related to the relatively recent growth of concentrations of local businesses and reinvestment activity along case study commercial strips. “Core samples” of preservation and adaptive reuse were examined using spatial data, building surveys, historical data, and interviews with associated actors. Additional interviews were conducted with actors who have initiated, influenced, and regulated reinvestment, including business and property owners, developers, neighborhood activists, a media correspondent, city officials, among others. This research details the private, public, and community-based actors who shape the character of reinvestment; the influx of new businesses and retention of iconic businesses; and conflicts and negotiations at the edges of commercial and residential districts and between public and private sectors. The dissertation relates observations along Austin’s commercial strips to four themes identified in the literature and their associated views of improvement: 1. commercial strips as “wicked problems” of land use and transportation; 2. commercial strips as cultural landscapes and roadside heritage; 3. commercial strips as concentrations of commercial properties with opportunities for sustainability and retrofitting of commercial properties; and 4. commercial strips as contested arenas of gentrification. This research highlights the importance of understanding the durability of existing land development patterns and of incorporating an understanding of the continued and adaptive use of buildings and urban fabric in land use planning. It presents emerging opportunities for preservation practice beyond standard practices of survey and landmarking. It illustrates the many ways in which actors have agency, or “choreograph” change individually and collectively, in responding to opportunities and challenges presented in the context of social and economic change. / text

This study examined two community programs, Helping Everyone Recognize Opportunity and Excellence in Success (HEROES) and the Alamo Recreation Center (ARC). Both programs incorporated art making in order to serve central East Austin residents affected by gentrification in the area. The purpose of this study was to present ways these two programs utilize the arts to provide a voice for a population challenged by gentrification. This study integrated firsthand experiences obtained during participant observations of the programs and a historical look at of East Austin to identify the significance of HEROES and ARC in their surrounding community. / text

After half a century of neglect and disinvestment, pub lic, private, and nonprofit developers are beginning to realize the potential of inner city retail. Accordingly, there have been tremendous redevelopment efforts in low income inner city neighborhoods over the last 15 years. While this development physically revitalizes commercial strips, it sometimes contributes to gentrification, driving out long-time neighborhood residents. However, redevelopment is not synonymous with displacement and when revitalization efforts seek to address community needs and concerns, neighborhoods and their residents benefit from positive change. / text

Berlin is one of the most dense cities for tenantable living, from nineteen century to the reunification decade in the late twentieth, the housing living cost always maintain an affordable level for multiple classes requirements. However, after step into twenty-one century, the urban gentrification sweeps out many affordable rental housing financed by city government, instead of higher cost for housing living in downtown Berlin. What I look for in this master design project is trying to broad a new view in how to develop the modern, affordable housing for diverse groups living in the inner city. / text

Gentrification is a formation that demonstrate the revitalisation of urban areas where local inhabitants is displaced and force to move other districts. In the last years, there are several debates about positive and negative consequences of revitalisation projects. This paper discusses the effects of gentrification researched through an analysis and perspective on changes in a given district. It underlines the influences of alterations on the cultural landscapes and cultural identities. Focusing on the historic neighbourhood of İstanbul, Sulukule as a case study, this thesis analyses the change on character of a region with particular attention to the shifts of identity of a district. The aim is examining the role of gentrification on cultural identity, its effects, project process and consequences for neighbourhoods.

As American cities continue to expand and their existing transportation infrastructure becomes strained from increased demand, many cities have turned to light rail transit to not only alleviate congestion but also to provide an economic development stimulus to the areas around the stations. This report focuses on determining the economic impact on areas surrounding announced light rail stations in Austin, Texas while also attempting to quantify changes in land use and demographics experienced in a city who has an established light rail line; Dallas, Texas. In addition to examining any changes associated with the announcement and construction of a light rail project this report will qualitatively examine the role of these project in stimulating gentrification in station areas and what effect gentrification will have in preventing low-income households from accessing the improved transit system. The report will also propose actions that could ensure that these households continue to have access to public transportation, which would mitigate the strain of increasing transportation costs. / text