11.439
Revitalizing Urban Main Streets
Workshop explores the integration of economic development and physical planning interventions to revitalize urban commercial districts. Covers: an overview of the causes of urban business district decline, revitalization challenges, and the strategies to address them; the planning tools used to understand and assess urban Main Streets from both physical design and economic development perspectives; and the policies, interventions, and investments used to foster urban commercial revitalization. Students apply the theories, tools and interventions discussed in class to preparing a formal neighborhood commercial revitalization plan for a client business district. Limited to 15.
Spring 2009 · Revitalizing Urban Main Streets: St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans
This course focuses on the physical and economic renewal of urban neighborhood Main Streets by combining classroom work with an applied class project. The course content covers four broad areas: 1. An overview of the causes for urban business district decline, the challenges faced in revitalization and the type of revitalization strategies employed; 2. The physical and economic development planning tools used to understand and assess urban Main Streets from physical design and economic development perspectives; 3. The policies, interventions, and investments used to foster urban commercial revitalization; and 4. The formulation of a revitalization plan for an urban commercial district.
Readings
- Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization . New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 5, pp. 133-174. ISBN: 9780815335979.
- Keating, W. Dennis, and Janet Smith. “Neighborhoods in Transition.” Chapter 2 in Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods . Edited by W. Dennis Keating, Norman Krumholz, and Philip Star. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1996, pp. 24-38. ISBN: 9780700607907.
- Barnett, Jonathan. “How the Metropolis Split Apart.” In The Fractured Metropolis . Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996, pp. 95-118. ISBN: 9780064302227.
- Lewis, Peirce. New Orleans: The Making of an Urban Landscape . Chicago, IL: Center for American Places, 2009, pp. 1-36, 50-53, 65-70, 95-100, 124-129, 132-137, 143-147, and 154-171, figures 1-8, 11, 12, 15a, 15b, 16, 19, 20, 45, 46, 57, 58, and 63. ISBN: 9781930066601.
- Hirsch, Arnold R. “Simply a Matter of Black and White: The Transformation of Race and Politics in 20th Century New Orleans.” In Creole New Orleans: Race and Americanization . Edited by Arnold R. Hirsch and Joseph Logsdon. Baton Rouge, IL: Louisiana State University Press, 1992, pp. 262-320. ISBN: 9780807117743.
- Eadie, C. E. “Earthquake Case Study: Loma Prieta in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, California.” In Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction . Authored by K. C. Topping, C. C. Eadie, R. E. Deyle, and R. A. Smith. Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Company, 2003. ISBN: 9781884829253.
- Jacobs, Allan. “Clues” and “Seeing Change.” In Looking at Cities . Authored by Allan Jacobs. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1985, pp. 30-83 and 99-107. ISBN: 9780674538917.
- Klein, William B. “Citizen Participation: Whose Vision Is It?” In Planning and Community Equity: A Component of APA’s Agenda for America’s Communities Program . Chicago, IL: American Planning Association, 1994. ISBN: 9781884829055.
- Moughtin, Cliff, J. C. Moughtin, Rafael Cuesta, Christine Sarris, and Paola Signoretta Laurea. “Analysis.” In Urban Design: Method and Techniques . Burlington, MA: Architectural Press, 2003. pp. 73-98. ISBN: 9780750657181.
- Lopez, Guillermo. “Public Space Design.” Urban Land 65, no. 3 (March 2006): 60-64.
- Zielenbach, Sean. In The Art or Revitalization: Improving Conditions in Distressed Inner-City Neighborhoods . New York, NY: Routledge, 2000, pp. 23-32, chapter 2. ISBN: 9780815335979.
- Moe, Richard, and Carter Wilkie. In Changing Places: Rebuilding Community in the Age of Sprawl . New York, NY: Holt Paperbacks, 1999, pp. 100-141, chapter 4. ISBN: 9780805061840.
- Chapple, Karen, and Rick Jacobus. Retail Trade as a Route to Neighborhood Revitalization , April 2008.
- b. “Egleston Square Plan, Revitalizing Urban Main Streets Class 2003.” (Please see 11.439 Spring 2003 on OCW.)
- c. “Broad Connections Plan, Revitalizing Urban Main Streets Class 2005.” (Please see 11.439 Spring 2005 on OCW.)
- Farr, Douglas. “Sustainable Neighborhoods.” Chapter 7 in Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature . New York, NY: Wiley, 2007, pp. 125-167. ISBN: 9780471777519.
- Beatley, Timothy. “Building a Sustainable Economy.” Chapter 7 in Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities . Washington, DC: Island Press, 1999, pp. 369-404. ISBN: 9781559636827.
- Karlenzig, Warren. How Green is Your City? The SustainLane U.S. City Rankings . Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers, 2007, pp. 1-9 and 117-118, skim category rankings pp. 171-197. ISBN: 9780865715950.
- Hoyle, Cynthia L. “Traffic.” American Planning Association, Planning Advisory Service, 1995.
- Sendich, Emina. “Planning and Urban Design Standards.” American Planning Association. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN: 9780471475811.
- Goody, Clancy, and Associates. “Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue, Albany.” City of Albany, NY, September 2000, pp. 59-67.
- Ferguson, Bruce W., Mary M. Miller, and Cynthia Liston. “Retail Revitalization.” Economic Development Commentary 19, no. 4 (Winter 1996).
- Hernandez, Manuel Martinez. Impact of Commercial Development on Inner City Revitalization: An Analysis of Projects in Boston . M.C.P. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001, pp. 7-19 and 113-126.
- Brandes Gratz, Roberta. “Rebuilding Place, Valuing Transit.” Chapter 5 in Cities Back from the Edge . Authored by Roberta Brandes Gratz and Norman Mintz. New York, NY: Wiley, 2000, pp. 113-137. ISBN: 9780471361244.
- Hinshaw, Mark. “Design Review, APA Planning Advisory Service Report #454.” February 1995, pp. 19-32.
- Case Scheer, Brenda. “Introduction: The Debate on Design Review.” In Design Review: Challenging Urban Aesthetic Control . Authored by Brenda C. Scheer and Wolfgang F. E. Preiser. New York, NY: Springer, 1998, pp. 1-10. ISBN: 9780412983511.
- Boston Main Streets Commercial District Guidelines, 1999.
- Edelman, Murray. “Space and the Social Order.” Journal of Architectural Education 32, no. 2 (1978): 2-7.
- Wilson, Phoebe Wall. “A Day in the Life of a Neighborhood Place.” In Everyday Urbanism: Updated and Expanded . Edited by Margaret Crawford and Kaliski John. New York, NY: The Monacelli Press, 2008, pp. 120-135. ISBN: 9781580932011.
- Sanoff, Henry. Community Participation in Design and Planning . New York, NY: John Wiley, 2000, pp. 8-14, 37-104. ISBN: 9780471355458.
- Rypkema, Donovan P. “Commercial Gentrification: Beyond the Rhetoric.” Talk given at Urban Main Street Forum, Boston, MA. June 25, 2002.
- Houston, Lawrence O., Jr. “BIDS: Business Improvement Districts.” Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute and International Downtown Association, 1997, pp. 59-72.
- Stokvis, Jack R., and James A. Cloar. “CRM: Applying Shopping Center Techniques to Downtown Retailing.” Urban Land, April 1991, pp. 7-11.
- Houston, Lawrence O., Jr. Business Improvement Districts . Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute and International Downtown Association, 1997, pp. 8-19.
- Vidal, Avis, Sudhir Venkatesh, Prudence Brown, and Robert Chaskin. Building Community Capacity . Edison, NJ: Aldine Transaction, 2001, pp 123-157. ISBN: 9780202306407.
- Goody, Clancy, and Associates. “Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue Albany.” City of Albany, September 2000. pp. 73-93.
Spring 2005 · Revitalizing Urban Main Streets: Hyde/Jackson Square & Roslindale Square, Boston
This course focuses on the physical and economic renewal of urban neighborhood Main Streets by combining classroom work with an applied class project. The course content covers four broad areas: 1. an overview of the causes for urban business district decline, the challenges faced in revitalization and the type of revitalization strategies employed; 2. the physical and economic development planning tools used to understand and assess urban Main Streets from physical design and economic development perspectives; 3. the policies, interventions, and investments used to foster urban commercial revitalization; and 4. the formulation of a revitalization plan for an urban commercial district.
Readings
- Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization . New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 5, pp. 133-174. ISBN: 0815335989.
- Keating, W. Dennis, and Janet Smith. “Neighborhoods in Transition.” In Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods . Edited by W. Dennis Keating, Norman Krumholz, and Philip Star. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1996, chapter 2, pp. 24-38. ISBN: 0700607897.
- Barnett, Jonathan. “How the Metropolis Split Apart.” Chapter 5 in The Fractured Metropolis. New York, NY: Westview Press (Icon Editions), 1996, pp. 95-118. ISBN: 0064302229.
- Jacobs, Allan. “Clues” and “Seeing Change” from Looking at Cities . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1985, pp. 30-83 and 99-107. ISBN: 0674538919.
- Ryan, Brent, and Larry Sass. “First Dudley Street Vision Walk.” October 1999. Unpublished document.
- Tietz, Michael B. “Neighborhood Economics: Local Communities and Regional Markets.” Economic Development Quarterly 3, no. 2 (May 1989): 111-122.
- Moughtin, Cliff. “Analysis.” In Urban Design: Method and Techniques . Oxford, UK: Architectural Press, 2003, pp. 73-98. ISBN: 0750657189.
- Waxman, Andy. “Utilizing Economic Theories of Retail to Revitalize Inner-City Neighborhood Business Districts: The Case of Upham’s Corner Main Streets.” Master’s Thesis, MIT, 1999, chapters 4 and 6. pp. 38-51 and 65-79.
- Milder, N. David. Niche Strategies for Downtown Revitalization . New York, NY: Downtown Research and Development Center, 1997, pp. 53-81. ISBN: 0915910403.
- Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization . New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 2, pp. 23-32. ISBN: 0815335989.
- Moe, Richard, and Carter Wilkie. Changing Places: Rebuilding Community in the Age of Sprawl . New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 1997, chapter 4, pp. 100-141. ISBN: 0805043683.
- Stein, Stanley M., and Thomas L. Harper. “Power, Trust and Planning.” Journal of Planning Education and Research 23 (2003): 125-139.
- Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services and Mt. Auburn Associates. Brattleboro Market Analysis Report . pp. 1-29. Unpublished document.
- Community Partners Consultants, Inc. “The Arts District Today,” and “The Arts District Vision.” Chapters 2 and 3 in Worcester Massachusetts Arts District Master Plan . Worcester, MA: Arts District Task Force and the City of Worcester. June 2002, pp. 18-29 and 31-50.
- City of Toronto Department of Planning and Development. City of Toronto Streetscape Manual . 1996, pp. 20-21, P-3, P-4, L-1, L-3, L-8, L-17.
- Edelman, Murray. “Space and the Social Order.” Journal of Architectural Education 32, no. 2 (November 1978): 2-7.
- Wilson, Phoebe Wall. “A Day in the Life of a Neighborhood Place.” In Everyday Urbanism . Edited by John Chase, Margaret Crawford, and John Kaliski. New York, NY: Monacelli Press, 1999, pp. 120-135. ISBN: 1885254814.
- Sanoff, Henry. Community Participation Methods in Design and Planning . New York, NY: John Wiley, 2000. pp. 8-14 and 37-104. ISBN: 0471355453.
- Eastside Neighborhood Development Company. Payne Arcade Main Street Program . St. Paul, MN: ESNDC Crime and Safety Committee, Application for MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award. Unpublished document.
- Houston, Lawrence O., Jr. BIDS: Business Improvement Districts . Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute and International Downtown Association, 1997, pp. 59-72. ISBN: 087420819X.
- Goody, Clancy and Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue, Albany. City of Albany, September 2000. pp. 59-67. Unpublished document.
- Ferguson, Bruce W., Mary M. Miller and Cynthia Liston. “Retail Revitalization.” Economic Development Commentary 19, no. 4 (Winter 1996).
- Hernandez, Manuel Martinez. “Impact of Commercial Development on Inner City Revitalization: an Analysis of Projects in Boston.” MCP Thesis, MIT, 2001, pp. 7-19, 113-126.
- Gratz, Roberta Brandes. “Rebuilding Place, Valuing Transit.” Chapter 5 in Cities Back From the Edge . New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998, pp. 113-137. ISBN 0471144177.
- Hinshaw, Mark. “Design Review.” APA Planning Advisory Service Report No. 454, February 1995, pp. 19-32.
- Bernick, Michael. “New York: Commuter Town Revival.” Chapter 10 in Transit Villages in the 21st Century . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1997, pp. 271-286. ISBN: 0070054754.
- Scheer, Brenda Case. “Introduction: The Debate on Design Review.” In Design Review: Challenging Urban Aesthetic Control . Edited by Brenda Case Scheer and Wolfgang F. E. Preiser. New York, NY: Chapman and Hall, 1994, pp. 1-10. ISBN: 0412991616.
- Boston Main Streets Commercial District Guidelines 1999.
- Hoffman, Lily M. “The Marketing of Diversity in the Inner City: Tourism and Regulation in Harlem.” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 27, no. 2 (June 2003): 286-299.
- Rypkema, Donovan D. “Commercial gentrification: beyond the rhetoric.” Main Street News (May 2003): 2-5.
- Stokvis, Jack R., and James A. Cloar. “CRM: Applying Shopping Center Techniques to Downtown Retailing.” Urban Land (April, 1991): pp. 7-11.
- Houston, Lawrence O., Jr. Business Improvement Districts . pp. 8-19
- Chaskin, Robert J., Prudence Brown, Sudhir Venkatesh and Avis Vidal. Building Community Capacity . New York, NY: Walter De Gruyter Inc., 2001, pp. 123-157. ISBN: 0202306399
- Goody, Clancy and Associates. “Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue, Albany.” City of Albany, September, 2000, pp. 73-93.
Spring 2003 · Revitalizing Urban Main Streets: Mission Hill & Egleston Square, Boston
Topics
- Revitalization Strategies I and II
- Project Discussion
- Economic Planning Tools II: Retail Market Analysis and Economic Planning
- Physical Design Tools II: Streetscape
- Economic Planning Tools III: Asset and Capacity Assessment
- Physical Design Tools III: Image and Neighborhood Form
- Egleston Square Team Presentation
- Mission Hill Team Presentation
- Client Presentations
- Policies and Interventions I: Marketing and Promotion
- Policies and Interventions II: Business Development, Retention, and Attraction
- Policies and Interventions III: Development
- Policies and Interventions IV: Transit-Oriented Development
- Policies and Interventions V: Design and Zoning Guidelines
- Policies and Interventions VI: Safety and Sanitation
- Policies and Interventions VII: Organization and Capacity Building
- Presentation of Draft Plans
- Presentation of Draft Plans (cont.)
- Presentations of Final Plans to Clients
- Course Conclusion/Reflections
- Final Reports/Plans
Readings
- Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization. New York: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 5, pp. 133-174. ISBN: 0815335989.
- Keating, W. Dennis, and Janet Smith. “Neighborhoods in Transition.” Chapter 2 in Revitalizing Urban Neighborhoods. Edited by W. Dennis Keating, Norman Krumholz, and Philip Star. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 1996, pp. 24-38. ISBN: 0700607897.
- Barnett, Jonathan. “How the Metropolis Split Apart.” Chapter 5 in The Fractured Metropolis. Boulder, CO: Westview Press (Icon Editions), pp. 95-118. ISBN: 0064302229.
- Introduction to Main Street Sites/Issues
- National Trust for Historic Preservation. Revitalizing Urban Main Street. (Unpublished document)
- Seidman, Karl F., and Alexandra Stroud. “Case Studies of Urban Main Street Programs.” In A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 2. pp. 40-57.
- Jacobs, Allan. “Clues” and “Seeing Change.” In Looking at Cities. pp. 30-83, and 99-107.
- Waxman, Andy. “Utilizing Economic Theories of Retail to Revitalize Inner-City Neighborhood Business Districts: The Case of Upham’s Corner Main Streets.” Chapters 4 and 6, pp. 38-51 and 65-79.
- Zielenbach, Sean. The Art of Revitalization. New York: Garland Publishing, 2000, chapter 2, pp. 23-32.
- Moe, Richard, and Carter Wilkie. Changing Place: Rebuilding Community in the Age of Sprawl. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997, chapter 4, pp. 100-141.
- Seidman, Karl F. “Inner City Commercial Revitalization: A Literature Review.” Unpublished draft report, June 2002, pp. 9-30.
- SES #: 6 · TOPICS: Project Discussion · READINGS: Review various master plans and revitalization plans on reserve in Rotch Library. Take particular note of the scope of each project, the methodology used, the elements of the plan, and the level of detail offered.
- Jacobs, Allan. “Requirements for Great Streets,” and “Qualities that Contribute.” In Great Streets. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993, Part 2, chapters 1 and 2, pp. 270-308.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation. Revitalizing Downtown. pp. 43-47, 51-58.
- Goody, Clancy & Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue. Albany, City of Albany, September 2000, pp. 37-44, and 68-74.
- City of Boston Transportation Department. Streetscape Guidelines for Boston’s Major Roads. 1999, pp. 1-26.
- City of Toronto Department of Planning and Development. Streetscape Manual. 1996, pp. 20-21, P-3, P-4, L-1, L-3, L-8, and L-17.
- Glickman, and Servon. “More than Bricks and Sticks: What is Community Development Capacity.” CUPR Working Paper No. 132. New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers University, 1997.
- McKnight, John L., and John P. Kretzmann. Mapping Community Capacity. Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 1996, pp. 1-21.
- Lynch, Kevin. “A Walk around the Block.” In City Sense and City Design: Writings and Projects of Kevin Lynch. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1980, pp. 185-204.
- Ryan, Brent, and Larry Sass. “First Dudley Street Vision Walk.” October 1999.
- National Trust for Historic Preservation. Revitalizing Downtown. pp. 75-93.
- Seidman, Karl F. “Marketing and Promotion.” Chapter 5 in A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 1. pp. 45-55.
- Seidman, Karl F. “Economic Restructuring.” Chapter 6 in A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 1. pp. 56-70.
- Grossman, Karen Doyle. Connectors and Conduits: Reaching Competitive Markets from the Ground up. Washington DC: Aspen Institute, 2002, pp. 2-5, 12-32.
- Community Partners Consultants, Inc. Arts District Master Plan. Worcester, MA: Arts District Task Force and City of Worcester, July 2002, chapter on Economic Development.
- Goody, Clancy & Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue. Albany, City of Albany, September 2000, pp. 59-67.
- Ferguson, Bruce W., Mary M. Miller, and Cynthia Liston. “Retail Revitalization.” Economic Development Commentary 19, no. 4 (Winter 1996).
- Hernandez, Manuel Martinez. “Impact of Commercial Development on inner City Revitalization: An Analysis of Projects in Boston.” Thesis Urb. Stud 2001 M.C.P. pp. 7-19, 113-126.
- Gratz, Roberta Brandes. “Rebuilding Place, Valuing Transit.” Chapter 5 in Cities Back from the Edge . New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998, pp. 113-137. ISBN: 0471144177.
- Tsao, Camille. “Transit as a Mechanism for Revitalization.” Chapter 3 in Transit as a Catalyst for Urban Revitalization. MIT DUSP Thesis, 1998, pp. 27-38.
- Bernick, Michael. “New York: Commuter Town Revival.” Chapter 10 in Transit Villages in the 21st Century. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997, pp. 271-286.
- Cooper-Marcus, Claire. “Design Guidelines: A Bridge between Research and Decision-Making”. Center for Environmental Design Research, University of California Berkeley, October 1985, pp. 1-17.
- Scheer, Brenda Case. “Introduction: The Debate on Design Review.” In Design Review: Challenging Urban Aesthetic Control. Edited by Brenda Case Scheer, and Wolfgang F. E. Preiser. Chapman & Hall, 1994, pp. 1-10.
- Hinshaw, Mark. APA Planning Advisory Service Report #454. In Design Review. February 1995, pp. 19-32.
- Boston Main Streets Commercial District Guidelines. 1999.
- Seidman, Karl F. “Crime and Public Safety.” Chapter 7 in A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementing Urban Main Streets. Vol. 1. pp. 71-76.
- Houston, Lawrence O., Jr. “BIDS: Business Improvement Districts.” Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute and International Downtown Association, 1997, pp. 59-72.
- Stokvis, Jack R., and James A. Cloar. “CRM: Applying Shopping Center Techniques to Downtown Retailing.” In Urban Land. April 1991, pp. 7-11.
- Ryan, Brent D. “Philadelphia’s Center City District and the Privatization of the Public Sphere.” Projections 1, Spring 2000, pp. 58-79.
- Goody, Clancy & Associates. Strategic Revitalization Plan for Central Avenue. Albany, City of Albany, September 2000, pp. 79-93.
- Synthesis - Ideas
- Synthesis - Elements of the Plan
- Synthesis- Final Plan Integration, Key Findings and Themes
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-11 units
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2009
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2005
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2003
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.