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
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
What are reasons for urban reimaging? (ie Why cities reimage themselves?)
- change undesirable (existing) urban image
- econ regen n
- desire to differentiate cities fr each other to b globally competitive
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)
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
- ‘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)
Briefly describe develop flagship projects 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
Briefly describe using 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
