How three U.S. cities are addressing the effects of urban shrinkage to create livable cities

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  • February 28, 2019
Creator
  • Hill, Jessica O'Neal
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of City and Regional Planning
Abstract
  • The purpose of this study was to identify the processes leading to the decline of a number of U.S. cities, use the identified process to examine three shrinking cities, evaluate each city's strategy for addressing the effects of urban decline, and assess if identified strategies create a livable shrinking city. Lastly, each city's distinct approach were identified and compared to the other cities regarding efficacy at creating a livable city. Since 1990 the number of shrinking cities in the world has nearly doubled, and the shrinking trend is expected to continue around the world and across the nation (Rieniets, 2005). Justin Hollander, an urban planning professor at Tufts University, believes that the kind of devastation of post-industrial cities in the Rust Belt is beginning to creep into the Sun Belt and may start to become a universal problem (Altman, 2009). More cities are likely to experience the effects of urban decline and population losses and planners must acknowledge that for some cities, shrinking is inevitable. The challenge for planners is how to plan a shrinking city to be a livable city. Livability of Three U.S. Shrinking Cities. This study examined three American shrinking cities strategies, Philadelphia, Flint, and Youngstown, for their success in creating a more livable shrinking city. Each city has taken a unique approach to address the effects of decline and population loss. Philadelphia initiated a program to clean, green and maintain vacant land in six of the city's neighborhoods. Flint has one of the nation's most comprehensive land banking operations managing the city's foreclosed property. Youngstown developed a comprehensive plan aimed at planning for a smaller, better city. Although none of these cities realized all eight criteria, each city's strategy worked towards a more livable city. Planning for a Shrinking City. Planning for a shrinking city does not mean reduced opportunities. Instead it means cities and planners must adjust their perceptions in order to capture the benefits of a shrinking city. A shrinking city struggles with its physical size and dispersed population. The city and planners must consider its remaining residents and plan to be a smaller, denser, greener city. Consolidate the population into a denser core. Remove the physical remnants of decay. Create an urban suburbia. Adaptive re-use of existing historic and sound structures. Shrinking cities should be livable places providing a high quality of services and life to residents and businesses, as well as preserving and protecting the environment.
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Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Advisor
  • Berke, Philip
Degree
  • Master of City and Regional Planning
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Location
  • Flint, Michigan, United States
  • Youngstown, Ohio, United States
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Extent
  • 94 p.
Access right
  • Open access
Date uploaded
  • December 10, 2010

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