This thesis examines the influence of municipal policy visioning initiatives on the transformation of industrial cities into cybercities. The emergence of the cybercity is mapped, and the role of municipal policy visioning initiatives in its development is examined. Two fields guide this research: communication and urban studies. The cybercity concept draws on both fields, and both are necessary to answer the research questions posed: How do municipal policy visioning initiatives influence a city's transformation into a cybercity? Montreal is used as a case study, and document analysis forms the core of the research strategy. Industry profile reports, government statistics and official organization websites provide supporting evidence. The policy visioning document examined supports the development of Montreal as a cybercity only where that development coincides with the city's development as a creative city. Improvements to future municipal policy depend on the inclusion of specific benchmarks that enable the effectiveness of policies to be measured.

Much has been written on postwar suburbs in North America, and their impact on society. What are missing are histories of the housing that exists within these suburbs, and how both the idea behind suburbs, and the realities of the time, had an impact on the design of such housing. For this work, Bramalea, Ontario, was chosen as a case study location to begin exploring suburban housing design. Begun in 1958, Bramalea was unique in that it was designed as Canada's first suburban satellite city, which meant it was planned as a self-sufficient community. Houses in Bramalea were a product of both their location, but also of outside influences. Economic conditions, technological advances, and design trends, all influenced the history and evolution of suburban housing. Popular culture and the changing ideas about the nature of suburbs also played an important role in the houses that were built in Bramalea.

An initial analysis into the present problems which will affect the future growth of the Western Cape resulted in the conclusion that the situation of the Coloured population is the factor most urgently requiring positive planning resolutions. Understanding the area's problems leads one to conclude that the main thrusts must be directed towards increased opportunities for the residents to fulfil their potential, and towards a greater involvement in the decisions made about their future. The arrangement of the thesis was thus developed around the three interrelated notions of administrative structure, human resources and social development, physical and economic resources. An unbound 'process diagram’ is provided in the back cover to facilitate an understanding of the sequence adopted. The administrative and planning activities of various local authorities, particularly the Cape Town City Council, were investigated with respect to the relationship between their actions and the causes of problems on the Flats. The complexity of social problems necessitated a consideration of the concept and the theory of social development. This was defined as the process whereby the individual and/or group is enabled to increasingly participate in and contribute to the growing flow of social transactions over time. By adopting Social Development as the goal for the Cape Flats and developing objectives for its six primary subsystems (housing, education, employment, recreation, community and civic), the subsequent form of the thesis was established.

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This study focuses on how real estate developers in Philadelphia view their responsibility to build housing units that are accessible to people living with disabilities. It relies on data collected by interviewing major developers who build several different types of housing, including high-end condominiums, university residential housing, mid-price townhouses, loft conversions, rehabilitation of historic properties, and affordable housing projects. The researcher finds that developers possess only limited knowledge about accessibility requirements. They do not regard people with disabilities as a submarket of consumers to whom they could sell their units. Interestingly, virtually all of them cited a family member or close friend with a significant disability, creating both awareness and an emotional connection to disability issues. Yet such personal connections did not necessarily prompt them to voluntarily add accessible features to their housing units. Instead, the developers acknowledged that government regulations are the spur that can oblige them to build more accessible housing. Surprisingly, they expressed less antagonism toward such regulations than the researcher expected. In general, their view was that if such regulations force all developers in the greater Philadelphia market to incorporate accessible features and costs into their developments, then their individual firms will not be placed at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace. / Urban Studies

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Sheri L. Smith / This paper suggest that a force, when encompassed in a tripod body, the host town, the area community, and the University, can succeed in making necessary improvements to a struggling community, provided this effort is embedded in a shared conceptualization of revitalization planning that will enliven, regenerate, and produce. The result of this effort depends on the balanced exchange between the various stakeholders of higher education within the host communities, and local governments who can all share mutual responsibilities as planners while applying the concept of university community partnership to the City of Fort Valley, a target area and Fort Valley State University. The exchange between stakeholders is used to establish why they, as an inclusive community, should apply this model to distinguish each party's roles then determine the concepts and recommendations that could be utilized to accomplish the ultimate goal of revitalization.

<p> With rapid urbanization and population growth, the severity of environmental and social issues in Shanghai, China is increasing, threatening the health and safety of human and ecological populations. Increased production through urban farming can help alleviate some of these problems. This body of research is a study of the existing practice and future potential of urban farming in Shanghai. Space limitations, rapid urbanization, an influx of immigrants, both from rural China as well as foreigners, make Shanghai an interesting context for a study of urban agriculture potential. Survey analyses reveal that the vast majority of people living in Shanghai are interested in growing their own food, and have an interest in seeing a growth in the urban farming movement. I have explored and analyzed public perceptions of potential design strategies to accommodate urban farming, as well as understandings about, reasoning of, and motives for growing food within the city limits. Through research and integrated methodologies, I begin to reveal who the urban farmers in Shanghai are, narrating pieces of their stories. This research also includes an introductory study of the potential for incorporating urban farming into the existing urban fabric in Shanghai based on availability of vacant, developing, or existing vegetated surface area. The goal of this portion of the study is to begin to develop an understanding of the spatial potential for increased urban farming opportunities. Based on this research, which illustrates the scope and character of urban farming in Shanghai and the quantity of available land, proposed strategies are outlined to encourage the growth of urban farming in Shanghai.</p>