The purpose of this thesis is to provide leaders with a clear explanation of commercial corridor revitalization, standard for evaluation, and justification for the support of existing and future commercial corridor revitalization districts in New Orleans, LA. This thesis begins with a definition of commercial corridor revitalization and discussion of how it has been applied in New Orleans, LA. A standard framework for commercial corridor revitalization development and assessment is also established with several steps for implementation included. To test the feasibility, significance and relevance of the proposed framework, all of the steps mentioned were implemented in the New Orleans East Town Center Case Study. Key findings of this research may contribute to the providing a tool that evaluates criteria for evaluating city-wide policies to support the sustainability and vitality of existing and future commercial corridor revitalization districts in New Orleans, LA.

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar as formas através das quais o processo de revitalização do Centro Histórico de João Pessoa repercute na dinâmica socioespacial da área, bem como a interação dos elementos intervenientes na construção de sua realidade atual. Da mesma maneira, é parte do nosso interesse a identificação dos tipos de políticas levadas a efeito pelo Estado a partir da década de 1980 até os dias atuais, juntamente com as ações postas em prática pelas representações de setores do poder econômico da nossa sociedade, no interesse de redimensionar a produção e a reprodução do mencionado espaço. Visamos analisar as contradições existentes entre o discurso oficial e a sua efetiva prática, nas ações direcionadas ao chamado processo de revitalização. Também é nossa intenção analisar a mobilização da comunidade conhecida como Porto do Capim frente ao referido processo. Buscamos a identificação de como estes processos de intervenção urbana afetam diretamente a vida dos moradores locais, levando em consideração que estes moradores são ocupantes históricos deste lugar, tendo aí instaladas suas atividades e formas de uso do solo e da área espacial representativa do Centro Histórico. Consideramos que sua permanência e atividades na área, representam os sentidos de seu cotidiano, de sua identidade com o local e de sua sobrevivência. Ações no sentido da sua permanência e status patrimonial podem ser interpretadas, tal como em outros exemplos de revitalização como ressignificação de formas de resistência às demandas da expansão do sistema capitalista no país como os casos do (Recife Antigo/PE, Pelourinho/Salvador BA, Centro Dragão do Mar-Fortaleza). Para a realização desse trabalho nos pautamos em trabalhos acadêmicos, publicações que discutem intervenções nas áreas históricas das cidades brasileiras, experiências nacionais e internacionais. O trabalho empírico foi realizado no Bairro do Varadouro e na Comunidade Porto do Capim, Vila Nassau e Frei Vital. Nesta etapa da pesquisa, e dentro de nossa ótica metodológica, procuramos contato diário com moradores e comerciantes da área. Frequentamos suas festas e manifestações religiosas/culturais, conversamos com donas de casa e pessoas mais antigas no lugar. Ao fim de algum tempo de convivência, conseguimos maior confiança e aceitação, bem como, da nossa parte, o entendimento mais abrangente do modo de vida da Comunidade. Grande parte das informações foram coletadas junto à Comissão Permanente de Desenvolvimento do Centro Histórico de João Pessoa, da Biblioteca do Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional e da Coordenadoria do Patrimônio Cultural de João Pessoa. Desta forma elegemos como metodologia de investigação adotada neste estudo, a pesquisa qualitativa, por entendermos que essa metodologia proporcionará um olhar mais amplo sobre o processo em análise. Os recursos metodológicos foram: as entrevistas semi-estruturadas com técnicos do poder público, estudiosos da questão urbana, antigos moradores do Centro Histórico, da Comissão de Mulheres do Porto do Capim e demais moradores da Comunidade. Além das entrevistas, utilizamos a observação e descrição analítica da área de estudo. Através desses instrumentos, foram analisados elementos estruturais tais como: a memória, a tradição, o sentimento de pertencimento e o patrimônio cultural do lugar. Nosso estudo interpretou o uso deste espaço pelo poder público, em conjunto com representações comerciais do Capital, como área de disponibilidade geográfica para a instalação de investimentos, instalação de atividades ligadas à reprodução do capital no Centro Histórico. Os resultados evidenciam que o controle do Centro Histórico de João Pessoa não deixou de ser importante, mesmo que se tenham mudado as suas funcionalidades ao longo do tempo e os agentes que controlam esse espaço. Vale salientar que as práticas culturais e os usos cotidianos que se materializam na área do Porto do Capim, Vila Nasssau e Frei Vital representam formas de resistência ao processo de revitalização em curso. / This research aims to analyze the ways how the revitalization process of the Historical Center of João Pessoa/PB is linked to the sociospatial dynamics of this area, as well as the existing interaction among the elements of its present situation. On the same way, is part of our interest the identification of the kind of policies carried on by the State, together with the economic power constitutive representation. We defined the period between the 1980 years until nowadays as the scope of our work, looking forward the production and reproduction of the mentioned space. We also analyze the contradiction between the government official speech and its effective practice through the actions toward the revitalization process. Our research covers the community of Porto do Capim mobilization on face of governmental actions. We identify that, these urban interaction process directly affects the life of the local dwellers, considering that these people are the historical dwellers haring their way of life, activities and feeling of affection for the Historical Center. We see their permanence in that place as an affirmation of their meaning of life and identity with the place, so that the action in favor of their patrimonial status can be interpreted as a movement of resistance to the demands of expansion of the capitalistic system in our country (Recife Antigo/PE, Pelourinho/Salvador/BA, Centro Dragão do Mar/CE). In order to do this work we rely on academic issues about the Brazilian and international experiences over the cities historical background. The experimental phase was developed within the Bairro Vardouro and the community Porto do Capim, Vila Nassau and Frei Vital. According to the methodology we had a day by day visited and conversation to the old and business people, as well as the housekeepers living in the area Taking part of their cultural religious events gave us the opportunity to improve our understanding about the community values and habits. Moust of information were collected from the Comissão Permanente de Desenvolvimento do Centro Histórico de João Pessoa, the Biblioteca do Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional and of the Coordenadoria do Patrimônio Cultural de João Pessoa. Therefore, weve chosen the qualitative research as the method for this work. The methodological sources were: half structured interviews with technicians and studious of the urban question, former dwellers of the Centro Historical, the Comissão de Mulheres do Porto do Capim and the other representatives of the community.Moreover, weve been using the observation and analytical description of the study area . We focus on structural elements such are: the memory, the tradition, the feeling of belonginess and the cultural patrimony. We interpreted the use of this space by the government together with the business enterprises, representing the finance capital interests, as an available geographic area good for investments and activities concerning to the reproduction of the Capital on the evidence that the control of this space keeps its importance, even if its functionalities were change along the time as well as the agents who are in charge on this control. On the other side, is important to detach that the cultural practices and the people day-to-day, which are inherent to the way of life in the Porto do Capim, Vila Nassau and Frei Vital, represent the inhabitants resistance to the changes brought about by the revitalization process.

The purpose of this research is to seek out Indigenous perspectives on literacy in Indigenous Language Revitalization (ILR), and to explore the role of print literacy in ILR in British Columbia. The central research question of this study is: does print literacy play a role in language revitalization? Through qualitative interviews and an extensive literature review, this thesis explores community-based language revitalization initiatives in Indigenous communities, as described by Indigenous language champions and scholars. In international forums, literacy is often discussed in terms of development goals, functionalism, and economic success. However, literacy is “socially and historically situated, fluid, multiple, and power-linked” (McCarty, 2005, p. xviii), and it is inextricably linked to political, historical, and cultural contexts (Grenoble & Whaley, 2005). This study concludes that these contexts are vital to defining the role of literacy in Indigenous communities. Every community has its own historical, political, social, environmental, technological, and philosophical context for language learning, and as such, literacy plays a different role in every community. Furthermore, the role of literacy can be expected to change over time, much like languages shift over time. This research also demonstrates that literacy, situated within Indigenous-controlled education and language initiatives, can contribute to larger goals of decolonization. / Graduate

This thesis examines the work of nonprofit organizations collaborating with communities to build civic capacity in North Highland Park, a neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. Place-focused planning strategies during the twentieth century diminished civic capacity in the community and fostered isolation. Today, collaborative community work in Highland Park is incorporating the assets, resources and knowledge held in the community into strategies to improve quality of life using collaborative learning. A case study approach closely analyzes community engagement and revitalization processes in North Highland Park between 2011 and 2017. Nonprofit organizations mobilized and led a group of community-based collaborators, including nonprofit staff members, government officials, nonprofit funders, and residents. In Highland Park, nonprofit organizations collaborate with communities, emphasizing shared ownership and collaborative learning, to build civic capacity in the community.

This is an investigation into language ideologies, and the significance of same, among activists working to revitalize the Ojibwe language. Better inclusion of indigenous community members is necessary to spread the Ojibwe language. Improved competence in using--and strategically chging--language ideologies is necessary by language activists. Matters of orthography, storytelling, Elder status, state institutionalization, indigenous leadership, and decolonization reveal underlying ideologies of language, any of which can help or hinder efforts to reverse language shift. This is shown through participant observation in and around an Ojibwe language immersion school in Wisconsin.

Planning practitioners and academics continually search for ways to help revive ailing downtowns and to better understand the factors that influence the success or failures of downtown revitalization. Most of the literature dealing with such revitalization attempts focuses on either larger urban areas or small rural municipalities -- much of it is based on anecdotal evidence drawn from a very limited number of observations (Filion, et al. 2004; Gratz and Mintz, 1998; Leinberger, 2005; Robertson, 1995, 1999). For the most part, downtown revitalization strategies have focused on either physical or functional improvements. For the mid-size city (population between 50,000 to 500,000), the need for new remedies grounded in an understanding of their present day downtown challenges, is becoming increasingly evident. Recent studies have observed that those mid-size cities ranked as having successful or very successful downtowns all shared distinctive attributes such as high levels of pedestrian activity; a strong tourist or visitor appeal; a well-preserved historical district; attractive natural features such as waterfronts; and the presence of a university in the downtown (Bunting et al. 1999; Filion et al., 2004; Lederer and Seasons, 2005). This dissertation focuses one such factor – the presence of a university. It examines the university role(s) in downtown revitalization and collaborative partnerships between community and university. Collaborative planning theory was used to help conceptualize this research by providing further insights into the dynamics, nature, and roles of these “town-gown” partnerships. Community-university partnerships continue to grow and appear to be helping meet the challenges and complexity of downtown planning issues. However, little empirical research is available on the role of universities in downtown revitalization initiatives, especially in mid-size cities. Using a conceptual framework that included a literature review, field trips, a web-based questionnaire survey, and telephone interviews, information was collected about mid-size city downtowns, roles of universities, university and downtown revitalization, and community-university partnerships. Given the review of the available literature and the information provided by surveyed respondents, universities appear to be playing an important role in downtown revitalization primarily through economic development and human capital investment. The ability for partners to engage more freely in a mid-size city is apparent because they are more readily known and available to each other unlike their counterparts in larger urban centres. Strong leadership, relationship building, accessibility, and open lines of communication limit issues of mistrust and alienation amongst partners. Collaborative planning theory (Healey, 1997, 2003) helped illustrate the importance of mutual learning and relationship building to members who have or are involved with a community-university partnership. Although the roles of partners varied, the weight placed on such roles must be considered as of equal value. The planning process in building vision, capacity building, and negotiating outcomes can be led by community and facilitated by university partners – two very different roles yet weighted equally. The research also suggests that the use of collaborative planning for downtowns is appropriate in settings where collective action is necessary to help provide resources toward revitalizing ailing downtowns. Planners, therefore, must handle a number of roles: listening, educating, facilitating, mediating, advocating, communicating, and organizing. For the university, service learning also plays an important role in educating and developing community -- especially in downtown revitalization. It challenges universities to broaden their missions towards becoming “engaged” campuses supporting not only what is important to them within their own domain but outside as well (i.e. their host community). However, the degree of collaborative effort with universities (i.e. faculty, staff, and students) is dependent on an institution’s culture and its level of support for community engagement and outreach. This research provides new insights into the collaborative nature of the community and university partnership. The knowledge gained from this research provides further understanding of the implications for planning by informing planners and policy-makers about how these partnerships can facilitate downtown revitalization.

As North American cities begin to age, our impermanent building methods inevitably lead to urban decay. Much of the housing stock has an expected lifespan and although this can be extended with proper and regular maintenance ultimately, much of this housing will face the bulldozer. Consequently, we are constantly engaged in the continuing cycle of urban revitalization, striving to keep our cities new and novel. This requires an immense amount of reinvestment and for some neighbourhoods, this is not an issue. This is not the case however for neighbourhoods considered to be ‘in distress’ which, face challenges not seen in more affluent areas. Revitalization efforts in at risk areas need to be more sensitive in their approach as they can displace, gentrify, and otherwise exacerbate the problems. This practicum is an exploration of that approach to renewal in grass roots fashion, using urban agriculture as a means to building community. / February 2009

Planning practitioners and academics continually search for ways to help revive ailing downtowns and to better understand the factors that influence the success or failures of downtown revitalization. Most of the literature dealing with such revitalization attempts focuses on either larger urban areas or small rural municipalities -- much of it is based on anecdotal evidence drawn from a very limited number of observations (Filion, et al. 2004; Gratz and Mintz, 1998; Leinberger, 2005; Robertson, 1995, 1999). For the most part, downtown revitalization strategies have focused on either physical or functional improvements. For the mid-size city (population between 50,000 to 500,000), the need for new remedies grounded in an understanding of their present day downtown challenges, is becoming increasingly evident. Recent studies have observed that those mid-size cities ranked as having successful or very successful downtowns all shared distinctive attributes such as high levels of pedestrian activity; a strong tourist or visitor appeal; a well-preserved historical district; attractive natural features such as waterfronts; and the presence of a university in the downtown (Bunting et al. 1999; Filion et al., 2004; Lederer and Seasons, 2005). This dissertation focuses one such factor – the presence of a university. It examines the university role(s) in downtown revitalization and collaborative partnerships between community and university. Collaborative planning theory was used to help conceptualize this research by providing further insights into the dynamics, nature, and roles of these “town-gown” partnerships. Community-university partnerships continue to grow and appear to be helping meet the challenges and complexity of downtown planning issues. However, little empirical research is available on the role of universities in downtown revitalization initiatives, especially in mid-size cities. Using a conceptual framework that included a literature review, field trips, a web-based questionnaire survey, and telephone interviews, information was collected about mid-size city downtowns, roles of universities, university and downtown revitalization, and community-university partnerships. Given the review of the available literature and the information provided by surveyed respondents, universities appear to be playing an important role in downtown revitalization primarily through economic development and human capital investment. The ability for partners to engage more freely in a mid-size city is apparent because they are more readily known and available to each other unlike their counterparts in larger urban centres. Strong leadership, relationship building, accessibility, and open lines of communication limit issues of mistrust and alienation amongst partners. Collaborative planning theory (Healey, 1997, 2003) helped illustrate the importance of mutual learning and relationship building to members who have or are involved with a community-university partnership. Although the roles of partners varied, the weight placed on such roles must be considered as of equal value. The planning process in building vision, capacity building, and negotiating outcomes can be led by community and facilitated by university partners – two very different roles yet weighted equally. The research also suggests that the use of collaborative planning for downtowns is appropriate in settings where collective action is necessary to help provide resources toward revitalizing ailing downtowns. Planners, therefore, must handle a number of roles: listening, educating, facilitating, mediating, advocating, communicating, and organizing. For the university, service learning also plays an important role in educating and developing community -- especially in downtown revitalization. It challenges universities to broaden their missions towards becoming “engaged” campuses supporting not only what is important to them within their own domain but outside as well (i.e. their host community). However, the degree of collaborative effort with universities (i.e. faculty, staff, and students) is dependent on an institution’s culture and its level of support for community engagement and outreach. This research provides new insights into the collaborative nature of the community and university partnership. The knowledge gained from this research provides further understanding of the implications for planning by informing planners and policy-makers about how these partnerships can facilitate downtown revitalization.

The purpose of this research is to understand if and how downtown university campuses contribute to mid-size city downtown revitalization, how this contribution is measured, and the implications for planning practice and planning theory. To address this research question, a mixed methods approach was used which included a literature review, the use of two case studies, a survey administered to downtown businesses, a web-based survey administered to students, faculty and staff and interviews conducted with municipal planners. The two case studies were: Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Social Work (WLU FSW) in downtown Kitchener, Ontario and the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture (UW SA) in downtown Cambridge, Ontario. The findings of this research indicate that downtown university campuses do contribute to downtown revitalization in mid-size cities. The WLU FSW and UW SA campuses are not, however, a panacea for their respective downtowns, nor are they significant contributors to downtown retailing or a major catalyst. Rather, the WLU FSW and UW SA campuses act as stabilizing influences on the downtown, bringing confidence to and about the downtown for residents, potential downtown visitors and potential downtown investors. They are examples of revitalization strategies that contribute to the improved reputation of the downtown and city. They are strategies that build on existing downtown strengths (e.g. adaptive re-use of heritage buildings, the complementing of existing businesses and services) and they are part of a larger community vision for these downtowns. The WLU Faculty of Social Work campus and the UW School of Architecture campus are both examples of effective and successful university-community partnerships. Recommendations based on the findings of this research are provided for municipalities, planning practitioners and academics. This research contributes to the limited but expanding literature on mid-size cities, mid-size city downtown revitalization and university-community partnerships. Recommendations for further research are also provided.

In rapidly growing North American cities, large-scale urban developments struggle to create a distinctive sense of community. Responding to increasing trends of isolation, decentralization, cultural and artistic expressions, capitalizing on local knowledge and people, have emerged as driving forces in the creation of authentic community development. Working within the existing model of large-scale development, interrogating process and program in relation to community building, this thesis asserts that architecture and urban design must calibrate themselves in response to the emerging trends by taking a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to design. This thesis asks the following questions: What is architecture’s contribution to a creative community? How can our existing instant communities continue to evolve in response to changing needs? Where can we find public space in our contemporary communities? Can public art be used as a tool for community building? The case study site, surrounding the Jane-Finch intersection, was rapidly developed from 1960 to 1970. The imposing Palisades apartment complex, standing on the north-east corner of the intersection, has become an icon in the neighbourhood. Three distinctly modern buildings rise out of a grassy lawn to be seen throughout the larger neighbourhood. The development represents both challenges and opportunities; 4,400 people know it as home while others associate it with media reports of poverty, crime and an aging legacy of modern architecture (San Romanoway Revitalization Association 2009). Issues of identity, public space, scale and implementation are examined through case studies of highly designed architectural precedents and informal grassroots organizations to inform the design proposal. Through the re-conception of the ambiguous ground plane at the base of the Palisades apartment complex as an educational and cultural campus for the emerging arts community, this thesis demonstrates the potential role of architecture in supporting creative community building and an expanded understanding of the contradictory role of an architect as mediator, dreamer and realist.