ABSTRACT A key feature of Canada’s urban system is the uneven distribution of population and economic growth. The 2011 Census showed that in the past five years more than 80% of the country’s growth was concentrated in the 10 largest Canadian Metropolitan Areas. As a result, more than 33% of Canada’s population centres lost population while another 27% experienced slow growth. Despite affecting a third of the country’s communities, population loss was concentrated primarily in remote communities with a population of less than 10,000. To better understand the processes and effects of slow growth and shrinkage in Canada this research was guided by three questions: • How do planners, economic developers and local officials define slow growth, decline and shrinkage? • What factors cause a community to implement growth appropriate planning tools and strategies and; • What components should be part of growth appropriate planning and economic development strategies? These questions were addressed using a qualitative survey which was answered by 70 participants in 51 communities. Overall there was little variance in how respondents defined decline and shrinkage. Given their stigma, each term was primarily associated with population loss, vacant structures and a variety of problems including financial stress and the loss of employment opportunities. When asked approximately 80% of Canadian communities used at least one progressive planning tool or strategy. The implementation of these tools was largely in response to the effects of slow growth and shrinkage as well as future economic outlook, support from local actors (municipal staff and officials, residents, local businesses) and senior governments. Few communities however used these tools to acknowledge or explicitly deal with their slow growth or shrinkage as it was feared that accepting either trend would scare away future investment. Almost all of the research participants agreed that areas of slow growth and population loss required different planning strategies than those experiencing rapid growth. These strategies included altering existing strategies to meet local needs and or creating entirely new planning tools and strategies, collaborating with other professionals, amending existing or creating new roles for planners, leverage local resources for community improvements and using an approach which equally addresses a community physical, economic, environmental and social needs. In addition, respondents noted that more research was required on how to plan in growth challenged areas and in particular, small rural communities.

Baigiamojo magistro darbo tyrimo objektas yra vidutinio dydžio besitraukiančių miestų centrinių dalių funkcinė ir erdvinė struktūra. Nagrinėjamas Rokiškio miestas, kaip besitraukiantis miestas, susiduriantis su panašiems miestams būdingomis problemomis. Analogų studijoje, miesto raidos procesai lyginami su pasaulio miestuose vykstančiais procesais, remiantis pasauline praktika, ieškoma būdų problemoms spręsti. Siekiant suvaldyti miesto traukimąsi ir pagerinti miesto gyvenamosios aplinkos kokybę bei miesto įvaizdį, kuriama Rokiškio, kaip ekologiško miesto, vizija. Detalesnio tyrimo objektu pasirinkta Rokiškio miesto funkcinė ir erdvinė struktūra bei miesto pietinė dalis ir su ja susijusios urbanistinės bei aplinkos kokybės problemos. Į nagrinėjamą teritoriją įeina masinės statybos gyvenamieji rajonai ir pramonės teritorijos, t.y. itin problematiškos zonos. Darbas pateikiamas aiškinamajame rašte, grafinėje medžiagoje (planšetuose) ir miesto pietinės dalies koncepcijos makete. Darbas atliekamas remiantis moksline literatūra, pasauliniais analogais, juos lyginant, vertinant, darant išvadas ir jų praktiką pritaikant Rokiškio miestui. Aiškinamąjį raštą sudaro penki skyriai: Įvadas, analitinė – metodinė dalis, analitinė – tiriamoji dalis, eksperimentinė – projektinė dalis ir išvados; taip pat literatūros šaltinių, iliustracijų, lentelių sąrašas ir priedai. Darbo apimtis – 111 p. teksto be priedų, 69 iliustracijos, 12 lentelių, 53 bibliografiniai šaltiniai. Atskirai pridedami darbo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The goal of Master thesis is to investigate the functional and spatial structure of mid-size shrinking cities. The object of this study is Rokiškis town – a shrinking town, encountering regular problems of this kind of town. Comparative analysis between Rokiškis and similar foreign towns is made, seeking for tools and examples of problem solving. In order to suppress the process of town shrinking and to ameliorate the quality of living environment, together with the overall image of the town, the vision of Rokiškis as an ecological town is being established. Detailed study of Rokiškis functional and spatial structure, and also of southern part of the town is made. Problems concerning urban planning and the quality of living environment are investigated. The studied territory gathers mass housing blocks as well as industrial territories – and these are the zones of very complex problems. Master thesis is presented by a textual part, graphical drawings and conceptual paper model. Thesis is based on the references of scientific literature, analogues of foreign countries, while comparing and evaluating them, and making conclusions The textual part has 5 chapters: introduction, analytical-methodical part, analytical-research part, experimental-project part and conclusions; references list, illustrations‘ list, tables list and extras included. Master thesis has 111 pages, without extras, 69 illustrations, 12 tables, 53 bibliographical references, extras included.

ABSTRACT A key feature of Canada’s urban system is the uneven distribution of population and economic growth. The 2011 Census showed that in the past five years more than 80% of the country’s growth was concentrated in the 10 largest Canadian Metropolitan Areas. As a result, more than 33% of Canada’s population centres lost population while another 27% experienced slow growth. Despite affecting a third of the country’s communities, population loss was concentrated primarily in remote communities with a population of less than 10,000. To better understand the processes and effects of slow growth and shrinkage in Canada this research was guided by three questions: • How do planners, economic developers and local officials define slow growth, decline and shrinkage? • What factors cause a community to implement growth appropriate planning tools and strategies and; • What components should be part of growth appropriate planning and economic development strategies? These questions were addressed using a qualitative survey which was answered by 70 participants in 51 communities. Overall there was little variance in how respondents defined decline and shrinkage. Given their stigma, each term was primarily associated with population loss, vacant structures and a variety of problems including financial stress and the loss of employment opportunities. When asked approximately 80% of Canadian communities used at least one progressive planning tool or strategy. The implementation of these tools was largely in response to the effects of slow growth and shrinkage as well as future economic outlook, support from local actors (municipal staff and officials, residents, local businesses) and senior governments. Few communities however used these tools to acknowledge or explicitly deal with their slow growth or shrinkage as it was feared that accepting either trend would scare away future investment. Almost all of the research participants agreed that areas of slow growth and population loss required different planning strategies than those experiencing rapid growth. These strategies included altering existing strategies to meet local needs and or creating entirely new planning tools and strategies, collaborating with other professionals, amending existing or creating new roles for planners, leverage local resources for community improvements and using an approach which equally addresses a community physical, economic, environmental and social needs. In addition, respondents noted that more research was required on how to plan in growth challenged areas and in particular, small rural communities.

The aim of the work is to introduce a different way of looking at the process of urban planning in the so-called shrinking cities. The plan of endless development is questioned. The stagnation scenario, as a form of conservation, is presented as a certain level of natural development of the city. The potential of forgotten parts of the city is emphasized. The postcultural landscape meets man.

No description available.

With over 16,500 documented vacant commercial and residential units, roughly 20 miles of abandoned rail lines, a historic loss of approximately 330,000 residents, millions of gallons of annual surface water sewage discharges, and a decade-long failed water quality consent decree - Baltimore, Maryland lies at a crux of chronic challenges plaguing America’s formerly most economically and industrially powerful cities (Open Baltimore GIS [Vacancies Shapefile], 2017; “Harbor Water Alert” Blue Water Baltimore, 2017). Impending environmental threats in the “Anthropocene” (Crutzen, 2004) and increased attention to societal injustices warrant heightened inclusivity of social and natural urban functions. Socioecological inequities are often highly conspicuous in declining post-industrial American cities such as Baltimore. Chronic social, economic, and environmental perturbations have rendered some of once critical American infrastructure outdated, underutilized, and/or abandoned. Rivers, forests, rail corridors, as well as residential and industrial building stock are in significantly less demand than when America’s industrial age shaped urban landscapes in the late nineteenth/early twentieth centuries. Compounded by insensitive traditional urban development, these phenomena jeopardize urban social and ecological function. This thesis is an examination of contemporary urban ecology concepts as a systemic approach for revitalizing socially and ecologically marginalized urban areas, with an application in West Baltimore, Maryland neighborhoods. Through an examination of socioecological dilemmas and root causes, a conceptual procedure for urban blight mitigation along the Gwynns Falls corridor is proposed. Adopting an urban green infrastructure plan offers comprehensive alternative solutions for West Baltimore’s contemporary challenges. Master plans are proposed for the Shipley Hill, Carrollton Scott, and Mill Hill neighborhoods in West Baltimore. Site scale socioecological connections are suggested for the Shipley Hill neighborhood with contextual linkages in the surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, policy considerations are explored for revitalizing Baltimore’s most vulnerable landscapes. By transforming derelict industrial infrastructure to dynamic socioecological patches and corridors, this work aims to enhance socioecological equity and connectivity. Negative aspects of Baltimore’s contemporary urban condition such as blight, high vacancy rates, ecological damage, population decline, and other symptoms of shrinking cities are deeply rooted in a complex evolution of social, environmental, and economic management. Current challenges facing Baltimore can be directly linked to a long history, specifically including industrialization and systematic segregation of neighborhoods. As the United States entered a period of stability following the industrial revolution, domestic manufacturing dwindled, causing a once strong workforce population to leave industrial mega-cities such as Baltimore. This population exodus left behind prior workforce housing and industrial infrastructure, much of which now nonessential to Baltimore’s contemporary urban functions. Housing vacancies and abandoned infrastructure are most noticeable in Baltimore’s predominately minority neighborhoods. Historically marginalized by systematic segregation tactics, “redlined” neighborhoods largely continue to lack sufficient social and economic capital for adaptation to a transformative new era in Baltimore’s history. Disparities in these minority neighborhoods have shown lasting consequences and continue to suffer from financial, social, and ecological neglect. However, progressive urban planning processes pose significant opportunity for equitable inclusion of historically marginalized urban communities through the introduction of green infrastructure. Because socioecological disparities in Baltimore are incredibly complex, an equally complex solution is necessary to adequately alleviate symptoms of declining cities. Although much research and literature has been cited in systemic solutions aiming to address the totality of these issues, practical implication of these strategies remains limited. This thesis aims to identify primary drivers of socioecological inequity as well as recommend policy and spatial solutions to alleviate symptoms of shrinking cites specific to Baltimore. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning / With over 16,500 documented vacant commercial and residential units, roughly 20 miles of abandoned rail lines, a historic loss of approximately 330,000 residents, millions of gallons of annual sewage discharges, and continual annually self-reported “F’s” in surface water quality - Baltimore, Maryland lies at a crux of chronic challenges plaguing America’s formerly most economically and industrially powerful cities (Open Baltimore GIS [Vacancies Shapefile], 2017; “Harbor Water Alert” Blue Water Baltimore, 2017). Baltimore, Maryland has observed tremendous changes in social, environmental, and economic development since circa mid twentieth century. Baltimore has historically been known as an industrial powerhouse for American and global economies. However, industrial functions of port cities are in significant less demand than during the industrial revolution era. Consequently, job losses and suburbanization trends led to a population exodus from the city, leaving behind historic workforce housing and industrial infrastructure. With dramatically lower employment opportunities and nonessential railroads and streets, much of Baltimore’s initial urban development now lies vacancy, ruin, and decay. Quite simply, there is no longer a demand for some prior housing or infrastructure that served the once prosperous city nearly a century ago. Diminishment of private enterprise presence has hindered the city’s ability to maintain these vacant areas. Entire neighborhoods are sometimes like ghost towns, allowing for crime to flourish. This vagrancy is highly noticeable in West Baltimorean neighborhoods. Demographics in these neighborhoods are largely the result of segregation era politics. Historic discrimination has led to long-term marginalization and disinvestment. Significant opportunities are present in these areas for equitable redevelopment, namely green infrastructure. Vacancy and blight remediation in West Baltimore is a worthwhile cause. Adopting a green infrastructure plan offers opportunity to bolster social and environmental health. This thesis is an examination of contemporary urban ecology concepts as a systemic approach for revitalizing socially and ecologically marginalized urban areas, with an application in West Baltimore, Maryland neighborhoods. Through an examination of socioecological dilemmas and root causes, a conceptual procedure for urban blight mitigation along the Gwynns Falls corridor is proposed. Master plans are proposed for the Shipley Hill, Carrollton Scott, and Mill Hill neighborhoods in West Baltimore. Site scale socioecological connections are suggested for the Shipley Hill neighborhood with contextual linkages in the surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, policy considerations are explored for revitalizing Baltimore’s most vulnerable landscapes. By transforming derelict industrial infrastructure to dynamic socioecological patches and corridors, this work aims to enhance socioecological equity and connectivity in West Baltimore’s most vulnerable landscapes. Negative aspects of Baltimore’s contemporary urban condition such as blight, high vacancy rates, ecological damage, population decline, and other symptoms of shrinking cities are deeply rooted in a complex evolution of social, environmental, and economic management. Current challenges facing Baltimore can be directly linked to a long history, specifically including industrialization and systematic segregation of neighborhoods. As the United States entered a period of stability following the industrial revolution, domestic manufacturing dwindled, causing a once strong workforce population to leave industrial mega-cities such as Baltimore. This population exodus left behind prior workforce housing and industrial infrastructure, much of which now nonessential to Baltimore’s contemporary urban functions. Housing vacancies and abandoned infrastructure are most noticeable in Baltimore’s predominately minority neighborhoods. Historically marginalized by systematic segregation tactics, “redlined” neighborhoods largely continue to lack sufficient social and economic capital for adaptation to a transformative new era in Baltimore’s history. Disparities in these minority neighborhoods have shown lasting consequences and continue to suffer from financial, social, and ecological neglect. However, progressive urban planning processes pose significant opportunity for equitable inclusion of historically marginalized urban communities through the introduction of green infrastructure. Because socioecological disparities in Baltimore are incredibly complex, an equally complex solution is necessary to adequately alleviate symptoms of declining cities. Although much research and literature has been cited in systemic solutions aiming to address the totality of these issues, practical implication of these strategies remains limited. This thesis aims to identify primary drivers of socioecological inequity as well as recommend policy and spatial solutions to alleviate symptoms of shrinking cites specific to Baltimore.

This thesis provides a theoretical framework for evaluating the causes of vacant land in shrinking cities. The focus of this thesis was New Orleans and St. Louis; these two cities were selected as the case studies because they are roughly of similar age, possess a common cultural and economic heritage, and have a geographic footprint which encompasses different environmental conditions. This thesis evaluated factors that contribute to patterns of land vacancy within these two cities. Factors included in this evaluation include employment and other economic and cultural opportunities, environmental and ecological conditions, social dynamics and conditions, governmental management decisions, and 'quality of life' stressors, such as proximity to major infrastructure and industrial development. The theoretical framework described in this thesis is intended to apply to other shrinking cities beyond the case studies. A geographic information system database using historical maps and population census data were created for each city and utilized to examine temporal patterns in the relationship between land vacancy and a variety of environmental, economic, and social factors. Maps from the time of the founding of each city were geo-referenced to create a depiction of the ecological conditions prior to European settlement at the sites of New Orleans in 1718 and St. Louis in 1764, respectively. Time-series data gathered from the United States population censuses were utilized to document spatial change of the two cities as they evolved. Homo sapiens like other species compete for habitat. Access to high quality habitat within the urban ecosystem is determined by contestation between individuals and social groups, through market mechanisms and through management decisions, both utilitarian and ideological. Corruption and violence may also be factors. Individual agency is a factor in this contestation but social and cultural structures can also work to limit individual choices, particularly for minorities and low income residents, and relegate many residents to suboptimum or marginal habitat. A data analysis of both New Orleans and St. Louis showed that the quantity and location of vacant land is primarily influenced by proximity to opportunities and by proximity to major risks which impact the quality of Homo sapiens habitat. The first of these is proximity to opportunities such as employment, education, and cultural resources. The second is the presence of natural hazards, such as flooding and geological hazards, as revealed by the analysis of the historical ecology of the city. The third is the impact of local government management decisions and social planning which has spatial implications, including racially-based zoning, racial covenants, redlining, and isolation from public services and facilities such as the segregation of public schools. These decisions are often the reflection of ideology and power relationships. A fourth driver of land vacancy is proximity to risks, notably industrial lands, but also the intrusion of major infrastructure projects such as the development of the railyards and rail corridor of St. Louis, the construction of the Industrial Canal in New Orleans, and the construction of Interstate highways through both cities. In some circumstances, such drivers that include the unintended consequences of utilitarian decisions. The fifth driver include socio-economic factors and the neighborhood effects of crime, and poor education. These five drivers act in different proportions in each city to influence land values which, in turn, drive levels of vacancy. This comparative investigation revealed that the impact of geophysical factors on land vacancy varies greatly between New Orleans and St. Louis. While much of New Orleans lies below sea level and is often subject to flooding and hurricanes, little of the vacant lands of St. Louis are impacted by geophysical factors. In contrast, management decisions and social planning have contributed significantly to the concentration of poverty and, in turn, land vacancy in both cities. While some of these management decisions are utilitarian in nature and intended to provide the greatest benefits for the most number of people, others are ideologically driven or reflect power relationships and in the case of both New Orleans and St. Louis, racism. Proximity to risks, such as active railroad tracks, major highways, and industrial development, also has a strong relationship to land vacancy in both cities. Land vacancy also has a strong spatial relationship with areas of low income, poor education, and crime and neighborhood effects. While an understanding of environmental history can provide a useful guide to vacant land policy, efforts to address the challenge of vacant lands must consider not only the symptoms but the underlying causes of vacancy, particularly economic and social factors. This thesis is addressed to planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, and elected and appointed government officials who work to address the challenges of shrinking cities. Though this thesis examined the causes of vacant land in two shrinking cities, future research should examine the application of the theoretical framework presented here to cities experiencing growth as well.

No description available.

In dem vorliegenden paper wird die Position begründet, dass die Regulierungsstrukturen des deutschen öffentlichen Verkehrs reformiert werden müssen, wenn die Aufgabenträger und Unternehmen in die Lage versetzt werden sollen, den zukünftigen Herausforderungen der sich verstärkenden regionalen Disparitäten begegnen zu können: Schrumpfende Städte und dünn besiedelte ländliche Gebiete benötigen andere Mobilitätslösungen als Ballungsräume. Allerdings behindern die bestehenden finanziellen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen des öffentlichen Verkehrs die Entwicklung bedarfsgerechter lokaler Mobilitätskonzepte. Gleichzeitig wird auf diese Weise der Status quo – die kostenträchtigen und unattraktiven Standardleistungen – konserviert. In einem ersten Schritt werden die Ergebnisse der Analyse verschiedener Fallstudien von Gebieten und Städten dargestellt, die mit Prozessen des Bevölkerungsschwunds konfrontiert werden. Die hier ausgewählten Fallbeispiele aus Ostdeutschland werden als exemplarisch für einen generellen Trend betrachtet; diese Vorgehensweise wird durch die entsprechenden demografischen Prognosen gedeckt: Eine rasant ansteigende Zahl von Gebieten und Städten wird in den nächsten 30 Jahren mit der hohen Herausforderung konfrontiert werden, Schrumpfungsprozesse zu bewältigen. Die Analyse konzentriert sich auf zwei Fragestellungen: (1) Auf welche Weise beeinflusst eine schrumpfende Bevölkerung den öffentlichen Verkehr? (2) Welche Maßnahmen und Strategien wurden bislang von den betroffenen Aufgabenträgern und Unternehmen realisiert, um mit den neuen Herausforderungen umzugehen? Die Fallstudien zeigen, dass sich die Schrumpfungsprozesse je nach den spezifischen regionalen Bedingungen unterscheiden. In einem zweiten Schritt wird die zentrale These des papers diskutiert: Entsprechend der Analyse der finanziellen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen wird argumentiert, dass diese Strukturen eine lokale Entwicklung adäquater Strategien des downsizing verhindern. Im dritten Schritt wird dargelegt, auf welche Weise die Rahmenbedingungen des öffentlichen Verkehrs reformiert werden müssen, um vermehrt Lösungen für regionale Anpassungen zu befördern. Solche Gebiete, die absehbar am stärksten durch den Bevölkerungsschwund betroffen sein werden, sollten als offizielle Experimentierräume ausgewiesen werden, so dass hier neue Mobilitätslösungen nicht auf die sonst üblichen (rechtlichen) Barrieren stoßen. So könnten etwa Gutschein-basierte Lösungen erprobt werden, die bisherige Lösungen für die öffentliche Bezuschussung ablösen könnten. / The paper argues that the governance of public transport in Germany needs to be reformed if transport authorities and transport companies want to address the challenges posed by increasing regional disparities: „Shrinking cities“ and thinly populated rural areas need mobility solution different from those in agglomerations; yet, the structures of funding and regulating public transport discourage the development of „custom-made“ local mobility concepts while preserving the status-quo of a costly and unattractive standard service. In a first step we will present our analysis of several case studies of districts and cities confronted with a process of „population drain“. Backed by the relevant demographic projections we take the eastern German cases chosen here as exemplary for a general trend: Coping with „shrinking processes“ will be a major challenge for an increasing number of districts and cities in the next 30 years. The analysis focuses on two questions: (1) How does a decreasing population affect public transport? (2) Which measures and strategies have local transport authorities and companies so far adopted to cope with the new challenges? The case studies show that shrinking-patterns differ according to a set of regional characteristics. In a second step the central hypothesis will be discussed: analysing the regulation and financing tools which form the governance regime of public transport we argue that these structures inhibit the local development of adequate „downsizing“ strategies. In a third step we suggest how governance structures must be reformed to make them fit for more regional diversity. Those areas most severely affected by a „population drain“ should be declared „governance laboratories“ where experiments with new mobility solutions are granted special tolerance and regulatory innovations such as a voucher-based system of public funding may be tested.

No description available.