Lecture 9: Urban Reimaging Flashcards
What are centrifugal forces and centripetal forces? Give eg for each
- Centrifugal forces: factors that influence ppl, biz, industries to move away fr central city area to suburbs, rural areas beyond city
- suburban n
- counterurban n - Centripetal forces: factors that influnce ppl, biz, industries to move back into towns & city
- reurban n (due to regenerat n & reimage of city)
Define central city
Part of the city comprising the CBD & other central areas eg inner city and zone of discard
NOTE:
not to be confused with city centre -> refers to CBD of city
What are reasons for changes in central cities? (Hint: what forces?)
(A) Centrifugal
1. Centrifugal forces, resulted in inner city decline (fr 1950s onwards)
2. Deindustrialisation, leading to inner city decline
3. Other enabling factors (enhancements to tech eg transport, communications, digital tech)
(B) Centripetal
1. Centripetal forces (+ve factors)
2. Gentrification process (1970s onwards)
(C) Urban regen n (fr 1980s onwards)
Define Urban Reimaging and urban regeneration
Changing of percept n of city thru ‘place promot n’, where publicity & marketing is used to put forward selected images of a place or places to a target audience
->create a brand new identity
urban regeneration is long-term process involving social, econ, physical action to reverse decline, help improve living condit n of ppl in neighbourhoods experiencing deprivat n
What are reasons for urban reimaging? (ie Why cities reimage themselves?). Briefly explain
- change undesirable (existing) urban image
up until 1930s, global industrial activity was conc in UK, Europe, N. America, in cities as secondary, manufacturing sectors from which these cities wealth are derived.
large amt capital tend to be tied up in industrial plants needed to generate economics or scale, so profit -> achieved thru large-scale product n, so sectors displayed high degree of geographical inertia (industries prefer remain in og locat n despite no more og comparative advantage)
in 1950s, shift fr high to low income econ caused deindustrial n, industries bcame associated w urban derelict n, econ decline, pollu n
this put greater emphasis on urban reimage to enhance, promote reconstructed, +ve urban image - econ regen n
firms in svc sector more footloose (can b located anywhere)
cities now find themselves in stiff competit n w cities all over world
competit n intensifying attract investmt, biz, ppl
cities thus need establish new advantage for themselves thru urban reimage to attract investmt fr investors, tourism - desire to differentiate cities fr each other to b globally competitive
econ urban , social urban, environ regen
support local startups, encourage new biz, investmt
create community where all participant contribute, coexist
land recreation, dvlop green spaces redevelopmt of abandoned sites
there is increased incentive for cities to project, assert new, +ve, unique image to differentiate themselves from rest
What are urban reimage strategies?
- Dvlop flagship projects & iconic-architecture building
- Use mega-events to rejuvenate city, change its image
- Leverage on city’s cultural heritage
-Dvlop 24h cities
What are positive impacts of urban reimaging on achieving SUD? Give some examples
i. Econ and social
- Econ impacts (eg availability of jobs)
- Social impacts (eg provis n of attractive public spaces or quality housing)
ii. Provide new, attractive spaces for urban dwellers
eg build of National Stadium in SG created new space consist of retail at Sports Hub, public space in form of waterfront boardwalks and boulevards ard Kallang Basin & sporting facilities
iii. Be a catalyst for dvlpment of areas in decline thru creat n of new jobs, btr housing & transport infra, or soaces of leisure & recreat n -> can directly impact quality of life and standard or living
Eg.
London Docklands Dvlpment Corporation established to regenerate areas east of London. It could grow tertiary sector, thus created 80 000 jobs (urban econ sustainability).
The housing situat n there also improved, from 83% council housing to 45% owner-occupied in 17 years (urban social sustainability)
eg2
Bilbao, Spain, Guggenheim museum is part of efforts regen, reimage city thru dvlopmt new subway line, drainage, air/water clean-up systems, build airport w residential, leisure, biz complexes in town.
oso, new river, sea waterfronts, industrial, tech parks created away fr urban ctr, create cleaner living environ w much ease transport, access leisure fac, econ opportun
Urban images typically … while …
exaggerate certain features (physical, social, cultural, econ, political or combinat n of these)
reducing or even excluding others
What are negative impacts of urban reimaging in the matter of redvlopment of cities ? Give examples
- Diverting public expenditure to prestigious dvlopment -> deepen deprivat n in city’s other sector
eg Rio olympics 2016 - Rio city hall displaced more than 77,000 people from their houses in favelas or poor communities (and also 2014 FIFA world cup)
eg London Docklands, lowly skilled ppl bcame unemployed due to skill mismatch for newly created jobs in tertiary svc sectors
- ‘carnival mask’ of urban dvlopment -> impression of regen n oni created, do little to solve underlying social, econ issues
eg
Greece, 2011, almost went bankrupt due to excess public spending, some ppl linked Greece’s debt crises w Athens’ host of 2004 Olympic Games - constestat n & tensions btw urban dweller & urban representat n produced
- urban dwellers not passive, wld b critical w city image
eg
SG authorities permitted hving 2 integrated resorts w casinos (MBS & Resorts World Sentosa). BUT, this was met w much resistance from general public and religious, civil society grps over fears of gambling addict n (can cause family breakdowns) and higher crime rates - Omission and/or misreptresentat n of histories & social identities
- image of city are partial (unfair), merely present selective impression of cities (oni appeal external audiences eg investors, tourists, etc.)-> may clash w those held by city’s residents
eg
Bugis village, boat quay, etc. in SG thrive today in retail, F&B, entertainment spaces capitalising on places’ histories. BUT, nvr reference to back-breaking work of coolies & ppl working there, or deficient living condit n & opium addct n once rife (historial identity appears lost thru reimaging)
eg2
Vancouver’s public library resemble Colosseum in Rome
design was criticised as racist, eurocentric, ignoring the multi-cultural nature of city like recent asian immigrant, first Nation Canadians
Explain develop flagship projects and iconic architecture as strategy to re-image city
- Large-scale, high-investmt project/events eg build major new museums, art galleries, theatres
–> to lead, encourage other enterprises/investmt into an area - Improve/change locat n’s image to boost commercial success
–> creat n of job opportun & associated industries eg Hotel, F&B, Logistics & Recreational/Tourism sectors will oso benefit fr such flagship projects - engage in reimaging project thru: regenerate urban environ, build flagship project, then ‘market’, promote new image
eg vancouver public library, Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain hv iconic design attract ppl
eg MBFinancial centre + Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort +. Art Science Museum
- initiallly when MBS, RWS built, tourists no. raised by 8% w many mainland Chinese tourists come to SG
- tourism make up 10% of SG’s GDP
- but need consider other impact, eg rising addiciton to gambling, alcohol
- cld b seen as attempt to bring in rich foreginers, may neglect needs of locals (reflect SG wealth gap, one of widest in world)
Explain mega-events as strategy to re-image city
- using mega-events can help regenerate, reimage city if facilities built take into consideration local community needs
- large-scale, high investmt project/event eg build sports faci to lead, encourage other enterprise/investmt into an area
- improve image to boost commercial success
eg Olympic games, commonwealth games - catalyst for econ dvlopmt
=> more than just build stadium; events associated w building act as magnet, attract biz/investmt
=> create job opportun, associated industries eg hotel, f&b, logistic;
recreational/tourism sector oso benefit
eg Barcelona Olympics in 1992
unemploymt fell by 52% fr 128000 in 1986 to 61000 in 1992
no. of roads increased by 15%, 17% increase in new sewage system, 78% increase of green area, beach -> promote tourism
BUT - Athens Olympics, 2004 no help rejuvenate econ, many sports venues abandoned, unmaintained after event, not meet need of locals, so contributed to Greek Debt crisis in 2011
- beijing olympic showcase beijing as vv modern, up & coming city but some -ve social impact for its communities
5 million residents evicted to create space for infra
Explain leveraging on city’s cultural heritage as strategy to re-image city
eg albert docks, liverpool
- was in bad shape in 1970s, derelict, 40% stay in poverty
- Now, beatles statutes unveiled in 2015, supported w flagship dvlopmt
-> Liverpool One (attract ppl, tourists)
promote itself as city of culture, focus on rich history in popular music (eg Beatles), performance, visual arts
=> large scale integrated shopping, leisure, residential complex welcomed 390 million visitor, generate 4.1 billion pounds in econ activity since 2008. Created 4700 jobs, boost local econ by 24%
=> foster sense community, pride in city thru event, charitable initiative, support for local youth
- heritage tourism promote preserv n community historic rcs
- common in many city to find areas strongly identified w particular ethnic grp
eg Liverpool Chinatown, UK - regenerated in 1990s, part of revitalis n western fringe Liverpool city centre - programme include Chinese cultural centre, Chinese Arch at entrance
=> this might be a limit, as it is not in favour of liverpool general, now face econ downturn, high prices
Explain 24-hour cities as strategy to re-image city
- positioning city as one w vibrant nightlife, other entertainmt facili is way of reimaging
- make diff type of svc available round the clock
eg shop, eat, drink 24/7 in New York, Glasgow cities - for some city, night life bcome main attract n
eg Leicester Square, London ‘grimy by day, glamour by night
Paris - late-night dining, drinking in plenty of 24 h restaurants
More live music venues close at abt 5am, & late-night kebab shops, supermarkets
BUT
- might favour activities eg gambling, drinking alcohol and cause addiction, violence, health problems, well-being issues
eg ~70% of local crime audits published in 1998,1999 identified alcool as public order issue
- late night noise, vandalism, litter, fowling of pavemt, doorsteps
- manpwr needed to police city area, ensure security, and increase energy consumpt n fr nightlife activities -> entail high costs
What can be concluded from urban reimaging efforts?
- Must recognise NOT all strategies may improve liveability for urban dweller, esp when certain grp of society r marginalised
- need consider whose liveability is affected, as strategies may help a city climb in liveability ranking but does this translate to btr liveability for local or large sect n of pop n
- thus, must think and ask who benefits the most fr these strategies
