Visions for the Humble District
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
The remnants of the industrial economy often surround the downtowns of major cities and form a large part of the fabric of what many would consider to be insignificant neighborhoods. These combined semi-industrial and residential zones typically form barriers between first ring gentrified neighborhoods and the city core, producing in-between waste lands, lost economies and failed communities. Ironically, while the focus often is directed to the showcase block of the downtown and hip new restaurants in the historic suburban neighborhood, it is the in between zone that actually has the most potential for true economic development.
In recent years many of these quasi industrial and residential zones have been absorbed by hospital and university expansions as well as new arenas, stadiums, exposition centers, and the next half baked version of No Dough. However, seldom are these industrial zones re-energized with significant investments in cultural facilities which are more typically reserved for the showcase locations of the downtown. One of several major exceptions is the Frank Gerry designed Guggenheim Museum located in an aging industrial district in Bilbao Spain. It is here that a new model of urban gentrification can be recognized where art becomes the engine of the urban renaissance. This model involves the use of public art and cultural facilities as a promoter of community regeneration. In particular, unpopular and stigmatized urban neighborhoods can now be revitalized more than ever in the current economy when underutilized land and aging and often functionally obsolete buildings are reclaimed.
Tags: art, Culture, Real Estate Development, Retail, urban gentrification, urban renaissance
Posted in Retail | 1 Comment »