Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-149). / This research examines practices that achieve an urban fabric unique to its cultural heritage by promoting innovation in local building industries while embracing notions of urban livability. Prevailing urban livability theorists argue that built form is a physical manifestation of the expression of culture and agree that cultural heritage is important to a community's sustainability and identity. The central hypothesis is that "Quality" in the built environment in Bhutan is accomplished only by employing traditional building practices. "Quality", as defined here, is achieved when two factors are satisfied: 1) the construction is equal to or above established standards and, 2) the construction practice possesses the distinct characteristics of the culture. This hypothesis is tested through five case studies of current buildings in urban centers and through various discussions with design professionals, construction practitioners, government officials and others in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan is at the forefront of cultural heritage initiatives and has been celebrated for its progressive Gross National Happiness (GNH) development vision, a document that articulates the criteria for defining the distinct characteristics of the Bhutanese culture. However, the government has been challenged to implement this vision while facing the rapid development of its nascent urban centers. As part of the conclusion, the thesis proposes the establishment of a research institute, The Housing Research Institute of Bhutan, for the study of responsible building practices in support of GNH. The mission would be to inform design, development and construction processes formulated from the collection and dissemination of information, promotion of knowledge exchange, and support of research on materials, regulation, management and design through building demonstration projects. The institute will act as a conduit for the convergence of information and priorities between industry, contractors, government agencies and the public. / Alexis Anne Bennett. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 73). / by Belinda Louie Luscinskas. / M.S.

Thesis (S.M. and M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-178). / The thesis of this work is to better understand the competitive effects of developing second-home master-planned communities in an environmentally oriented fashion. The competitive effects, are understood by examining the "traditional" land development approach and comparing it to the approach used in two case studies in this research-Spring Island and Dewees island. These measurements and comparisons are used to understand and nform the effectiveness of an environmentally-oriented development approach, whereby these development strategies can be put forth and adopted as an approach to create value in future residential developments. The study derives its information from personal interviews and secondary research on the two developments. The research then presents a comprehensive synopsis of the competitive strategies so that the subtle relationships between consumer preferences, development risks, and market feasibility can be better understood. This thesis is intended to better inform community developers of the benefits, financial and otherwise, that one can capture through a whole-systems approach to master-planned community development. A whole-systems approach to residential development is defined by taking the three primary drivers for decision-making, economics, community and environment, and actively considering the interconnections between the systems in a balanced orientation. This concept is often referred to as the 'solutions multiplier' effect. This thesis finds that residential community developers in the South Carolina Low Country secondhome market can generate significant premiums and differentiate their communities in a highly competitive marketplace, while making better decisions that are more responsive to a project's social, aesthetic, environmental, and economic site through a whole-systems market-based development approach. It will be shown that bringing these three primary drivers together and capitalizing on their interconnections has realized multiple benefits over their competition while creating a new community development prototype. / by Jeffrey William Rapson. / S.M.and M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-112). / In the 1970s and 80s, the rapid development of San Francisco's Financial District encroached upon Chinatown's intimately-scaled neighborhood. Developers took whole city blocks that housed low-income immigrants to build the glass and steel office towers that define the city's current skyline. In response, the Chinatown community organized to downzone the neighborhood, which effectively froze the neighborhood from any further development. Today, the continual influx of immigrants who are dependent on Chinatown's services demand greater affordable housing in the neighborhood. As affordable housing becomes scarcer citywide and as Chinatown's building stock ages, neighborhood leaders want to know how to meet the high need for well-maintained affordable housing within the neighborhood. This thesis will examine the barriers that prevent affordable housing development in San Francisco's Chinatown. While affordable housing is a citywide issue not limited to Chinatown, the city's efforts have been targeted at redevelopment of outlying and industrial parts of the city rather than within existing neighborhoods. Special neighborhood zoning, cultural values of residents and property owners, intra-community politics, and its particular history make the development a highly contested issue. I will argue that the neighborhood's zoning (including bulk limits and inclusionary requirements) has been too restrictive to develop viable affordable housing in Chinatown and will propose rezoning as one mechanism for affordable housing development. / (cont) I will further illustrate the impacts of zoning changes in height and density on the neighborhood's urban form. The thesis will also provide insight into incentives and partnerships with public and financial institutions that can motivate long-time property owners to rehabilitate or redevelop their properties. My conclusions and proposals will be informed by key informant interviews with current property owners, residents, community organizers, and city officials in Chinatown and San Francisco. My hope is that by examining Chinatown as a case study and developing regulatory and economic strategies to encourage affordable housing development, it will also serve as a resource for other low-income built-out urban neighborhoods. / by Bryant Tan. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-62). / by Rosa M. Quiros. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-131). / by Lesley D. Cummin and Andrew H. Popik. / M.S.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-114). / In the process of rapid expansion, many cities have turned their backs on the rivers that helped form and nurture them. Due to the perceived low cost of their existing infrastructure, many rivers have become open or enclosed sewerage and drainage channels. In the past few decades, better scientific understanding and improved management practices have spurred a global river restoration and conservation movement. This thesis studies the paradigm shift from controlling urban streams as landscape features and liabilities to managing whole watersheds as ecosystems and assets. It examines examples of successful river restoration and conservation projects, and uses the lessons learned from these examples to suggest improvements to the management of the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe River in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh City River Environmental Sanitation project of the late 1990s in the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Basin was the first of its kind in Ho Chi Minh City. The project has been hailed as a successful urban regeneration project which exemplifies good practice. This thesis analyses the merits and missed opportunities of these projects and suggests ways to incorporate other ecological and cultural functions into the Nhieu Loc Thi Nghe River, drawing on lessons from successful river restorations in the United States and South Korea. / by Tran N. Le. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Jennifer Gilbert. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1991. / Title as it appears in the June, 1991 M.I.T. Graduate List: The illegal commercial subdivision process. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-121). / by Anuradha Joshi. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2002. / "June 2002." / Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-85). / Gloucester, Massachusetts has long been regarded as the quintessential working port in the Northeast and the home of commercial fishing in America for several hundred years. Today, Gloucester's working port is threatened by dwindling fish stocks, strict land-use regulations and development pressures. The expansion of the tourism sector is spurned because 1) it is not fishing 2) it is not to be trusted, that it could turn against Gloucester and degrade the unique, authentic character of the city. I argue that managing Gloucester's waterfront as an attractive, appealing destination and protecting the working port are not antithetical concepts. In fact, combining both of these notions might be the best way to protect Gloucester's identity and preserve its living heritage. Planning should endeaver to mitigate any potential conflict between the two, and wherever possible, bind their fates together to create a sustainable, authentic place. This thesis is divided into analysis and recommendations. The analysis covers Gloucester's present situation through an exploration of the city's history and culture, and is paired with a review of the global waterfront revival movement and discussion of a number of postmodern trends as they relate to Gloucester. The combined findings of this local and cultural analysis form the basis for the urban design recommendations in the second part of the thesis. The recommendations are divided into three categories: policy issues, physical improvements and institutional reforms. / by Laurie Reyna Pessah. / M.C.P.