Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies, 1983. / Bibliography: leaves 158-159. / by David Cymet Lerer. / M.C.P.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. Thesis. 1972. M.C.P. / Bibliography: leaves 213-217. / M.C.P.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. Thesis. 1971. M.C.P. / Bibliography: leaves 125-132. / M.C.P.

Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2017. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 84-86). / The process of neoliberal globalization has long been touted for its success in increasing connectivity the world over. However, a closer look reveals that while capital has rendered many borders invisible and gained a new flexibility, those most devastated by the unending need for profit remain largely boxed in. Political organizing is often constrained by a sectoral focus and an emphasis on hyper-local conditions. As the roots of multiple oppressions become increasingly entangled, we must also break our resistance free from boundaries and globalize our social movements. In this project I depart from traditional social science methodology and use fictional storytelling to consider community impacts of neoliberal globalization. Synthetic case studies of three women of color protagonists from around the world urge readers to grapple with experiences of colonialism, race, gender, caste, class and sexuality, among others. The characters lives push readers to recognize the limitations to our current methods of political organizing and activism, and to imagining alternative possibilities and paths to liberation. / by Priya Johnson. / M.C.P.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-134). / by Ruijue Peng. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2011. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-148). / This thesis explores the relationship between urban planning and public art, and questions the efficacy of past and current models, whilst pushing us to develop new ones. It strives to glean the most salient issues universal to all instances of public art, and uses four case studies to illuminate such issues in practice. Tilted Arc by Richard Serra and Metronome by Jones and Ginzel adhere to a conventional model of public art - an object in a public space, commissioned by a small group of "experts," with an essentially passive role accorded to audience. The Gates and the work of artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles emphasize ephemerality, integration and participation. While vastly different from one another, the latter two also strive to engage more directly with urban planning and political processes. Tilted Arc is the watershed public artwork, and sets the stage upon which the other three case studies unfold. Within the context of New York City's neoliberal transformation, this thesis seeks to situate public art's role in the process, capping the story with The Gates in 2005. With modernist notions of public art losing relevance, this thesis argues that unrealistic expectations are still all-too-often placed on public art, using vestigial notions of the relationship between artist and audience. Simultaneously such outdated ideas undermine the potential for us as urban planners and public art producers to find new ways of working together in the service of cities that are "revitalized, cosmopolitan, just and democratic."' Instead this thesis argues that we deconstruct concepts of form, process, and audience/intention, and reconstitute new models for public art in our cities. Optimistically I argue that such thinking is already underway in cities like New York. It is fundamental that we consider how to refine and consolidate what is working for public art, and integrate such aspects into urban planning and policy from the outset. With both public art and urban planning at a crossroads, the potential exists to think and act boldly as we move forward. Professional silos need to be regularly challenged - collaboration will be the most important ingredient needed to redefine and shape the trajectory of public art in the 21st century. / by Samantha C. Earl. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-112). / by Andreas Siemers. / M.C.P.

Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2016. / This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. / Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 180-196). / Government institutions across the world are currently experimenting with randomized household-selection engagement methods designed to maximize the diversity and representativeness of their sampled citizen participants. Varieties of "mini-publics" have been asked to deliberate on topics as wide-ranging as electoral reform and health care policy. As they have become more widespread, the focus of randomly selected citizen bodies has also been moving from topics debated at the national and state level to more practical questions affecting specific cities and communities. In this thesis project, I examine what happens when a city planning agency develops its own "mini-public" that is neither a one-off event nor supervised by elected officials. The heart of my research is an investigation of the Toronto Planning Review Panel, a "civic lottery" initiative begun in fall 2015 by the City of Toronto Planning Division intended to cover a broad spectrum of city planning topics over the course of multiple years. I present initial analysis of not only what the Panel looks like in practice, but also how it performs as a deliberative body. Though I consider the outlook of both volunteer and professional participants, I place special emphasis on the convening agency's perspective. I make a contribution to the extensive theoretical discussion by assessing the potential long-term ramifications for governance when city agencies form "mini-publics." While I present evidence to show that the Panel's contributions toward social justice and effectiveness immediately strengthen the legitimacy of the Planning Division's staff reports, I also argue that the Panel's popular element could eventually serve to validate the entire Planning Division within Toronto's larger "deliberative system." / by Theodore Krolik. / M.C.P.

Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 37-39). / This paper develops a Repeat-Sales Price Index on an unbalanced panel of residential real estate properties. Facilitated by price index creation, this study analyzes the change in housing price levels in South Boston, Massachusetts over the period of time of a major adjacent redevelopment, The Seaport. The main purpose is to determine the effect of large scale urban redevelopment projects on adjacent housing prices over time. Using comprehensive residential sales data from The Warren Group, this paper offers an analytical tool that can be utilized by stakeholders such as policy makers, investors, developers and homeowners. It informs a deeper understanding of the potential effects of large scale redevelopment on affordable housing and gentrification, investment returns, urban land theory and homeowner equity. During the study period from 1996 - 2017, results show that South Boston housing in the "Closest to the Seaport Redevelopment" distance quartile range earned an additional 6.21% in annual price growth than South Boston housing in the "Furthest from the Seaport Redevelopment" distance quartile range. This result is compared with a composite Boston housing benchmark of 15 zip codes (excluding South Boston and The Seaport). Results demonstrate that South Boston residential real estate located closer to the Seaport grew a total of 130% more than South Boston residential real estate located further away from 1996 - 2017, statistically significant with 95% confidence. / by Samuel Philip Weissman. / M.C.P.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-121). / Hyde Square is an example of an inner city neighborhood turnaround that linked physical to social changes. In the past, planners, architects, and government have tried to transform distressed urban neighborhoods unsuccessfully through either social or physical agendas. Hyde Square is an important case study in that it shows a successful approach to linking physical to social changes to revitalize a distressed urban neighborhood. This thesis answers how physical interventions helped to build and reinforce the social fabric of Hyde Square. It concentrates on three physical interventions and two repercussions led by a local non-profit agency, the Neighborhood Development Corporation of Jamaica Plain beginning in the late 1980s. These include the Hyde Square Cooperative Housing, the Stop & Shop Supermarket, and Walden Garden, and two repercussions: the 1-4 Family Housing Program and the Hyde Square Main Street Program. These five interventions have stabilized the decline of the neighborhood, provided a physical manifestation of positive change, improved the image of the neighborhood, and spurred other development. They have reinforced and improved the physical and social fabric allowing for a sense of place, safety, and pride in the neighborhood. By paying special attention to elements of timing, design, and history, the physical interventions have reinforced the social-political work of neighborhood institutions and organizations. These physical interventions have stimulated and encouraged the revitalization momentum by producing physical, social, and economic benefits for the neighborhood. Each intervention's success created opportunities for other physical interventions to occur producing a cycle of events. Their collective results have revitalized the neighborhood. The analysis of the Hyde Square efforts shows that a conscious integrated revitalization effort that meshes government policies, good design, and a strong community organizational infrastructure is essential to successfully turning a neighborhood around. It is through the framework of collaborative efforts of residents, organizations, and institutions, in partnership with government and the private sector, that strategic physical interventions can be instrumental in revitalizing distressed urban neighborhoods. / by Geraldine Campos. / M.C.P.