Global ETD Search

1	Opportunities and Challenges of Citywide Main Street Programs: Examining the Urban Environment, Coordinating Structures and Political Realities in the Application of the Four Point Approach Rinn, Ryan 03 May 2012 (has links) The Main Street Four Point Approach to commercial revitalization has been applied successfully in thousands of communities across the U.S. Starting in 1995, citywide coordinated programs began applying the balanced points of organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion to urban environments. This thesis focuses on the opportunities and challenges present in five citywide Main Street programs in Boston, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Orlando and Portland through quantitative inquiry and interviews with program administrators. This thesis discusses density, capacity, volunteerism, vernacular culture, and politics as emergent themes of the urban application of the Main Street Approach and recommends expanding the breadth of definition and flexibility of each of the Four Points as to be more applicable and successful in the citywide context. Commercial Revitalization Main Street Approach Four Point Approach Density Capacity Volunteerism Vernacular Culture Social Capital Politics Organization Promotion Economic Restructuring Design Urban Commercial Revitalization Social and Behavioral Sciences Urban Studies and Planning