Urban Revitalization, Urban Regimes, and Contemporary Gentrification Processes
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Urban Revitalization, Urban Regimes, and Contemporary Gentrification Processes Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Michael David Webb, M.A., M.C.R.P., Graduate Program in Geography The Ohio State University 2013 Dissertation Committee: Lawrence A. Brown, Advisor Kevin R. Cox Jennifer Evans-Cowley Edward J. Malecki Copyright by Michael David Webb 2013 Abstract The urban scene has undergone significant changes in the past twenty years, as gentrification and similar patterns of upward neighborhood change, once rare and unique, have become increasingly prevalent. Meanwhile, there exists an increasing recognition within academia that the processes underlying upward neighborhood change have been in transition over the past decades (Lees, 2000). This dissertation investigates the formal and informal arrangements undergirding contemporary processes of upward neighborhood change, which I term urban revitalization. It argues that revitalization occurs at the nexus of coalition (or regime)-style governance and ‘classic’ gentrification where change is driven by neighborhood regimes, largely informal coalitions that bring together representatives from the public, private, and civic sectors. Revitalization does not occur within a vacuum, however, and the dissertation situates contemporary neighborhood change dynamics within a conceptual framework that moves from broad economic-social-political organization to on-the-ground realities, where higher, more abstract tiers set limits and possibilities on subjacent levels. The research grounds itself in three Columbus, Ohio, neighborhoods, two of which have witnessed the emergence of neighborhood regimes: Weinland Park, King-Lincoln, and Olde Towne East. Methods include exploratory quantitative data and GIS analyses, archival research, and key informant interviews. Results indicate that the rise of the cognitive-cultural economy and consumer cities, along with demographic and cultural transitions, have fomented a new vitality for the CBD and surrounding areas. Coupled with ongoing shifts toward entrepreneurial governance, this has led to the current era of revitalization. Further, trends in community development (strategic geographic targeting) and foundation giving (smart philanthropy), combined with greater institutional involvement in surrounding neighborhoods, have encouraged a more placed-based approach from the public and civic spheres, which has, in turn, engendered the rise of neighborhood regimes. Key words: cognitive-cultural capitalism; gentrification; revitalization; urban regime theory; growth machines; Columbus, Ohio ii Dedication Dedicated to my family, who believed in me through all of it. iii Acknowledgments In any undertaking of this magnitude, assistance from friends and colleagues is mandatory for one to maintain his (or her) sanity. To that end, support from my advisor, Larry Brown, has been indispensable, though I wonder if the 2 A.M. emails were truly necessary. I am grateful for the advice of committee members, who provided wonderful comments during the candidacy exam and in subsequent meetings. I also thank the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, especially Directors Dan Sui and Morton O’Kelly, for providing office space, and the Department of Geography for support. Kevlin Smith and her staff were invaluable in navigating the OSU archives. Finally, the research could not have occurred if not for the generosity of key informants – whom the IRB insists must remain nameless – in sharing their time and knowledge. I also thank my family, including my parents – David and Jenny – who have always supported me; my sister Rachel; who has kept me grounded (to put it mildly), my grandparents, who sparked and encouraged an intellectual curiosity; and other family members, who were unconditional in their love. I am also grateful for the support of friends in Columbus and beyond, who were there through the good times and the bad (more of the former than the latter). Colleagues in the Departments of Geography and City and Regional Planning, Schoenbaum Family Center, and Center for Urban and Regional Analysis have been unwaveringly supportive. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. William Ackerman, who convinced me that Geography was truly interesting, and that distance, indeed, is inconvenience with a dollar sign attached. iv Vita June 1986..……………………….……….…... Born, Lima, Ohio June 2007….………………………………….. B.A. with Honors, Geography and Linguistics, with research distinction in Geography, The Ohio State University June 2009….………………………….……….. M.A., Geography and M.C.R.P., City and Regional Planning, The Ohio State University September 2009 to March 2010…………........ Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Geography, The Ohio State University January 2010 to September 2010……………. Graduate Research Associate, Schoenbaum Family Center, The Ohio State University September 2010 to present………………….... Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Geography, The Ohio State University Publications Webb, M.D. and C. Girves. 2011. Affordable Housing and ‘Mixed’ Income Neighborhoods. Ohio Planner’s News 61(4), 4. Brown, L.A. and M.D. Webb. 2012. Home Ownership, Minorities, and Urban Areas: The American Dream Writ Local. Professional Geographer 64(3), 332-357. Webb, M.D. and L.A. Brown. 2012. Neighbourhood Change in an Era of Promoting the American Dream. Regional Science Policy and Practice 4(4), 509-534. Brown, L.A., M.D. Webb, and S-Y Chung. 2013. Housing Foreclosure as a Geographically Contingent Event: Columbus, Ohio, 2003-2007. Urban Geography 34(6), 764-794 Fields of Study Major Field: Geography v Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ ii Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... iv Vita................................................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Review of Relevant Literature ...................................................................................... 6 Chapter 3: Conceptual Framework and Research Design ............................................................ 35 Chapter 4: Weinland Park ............................................................................................................. 65 Chapter 5: King-Lincoln ............................................................................................................. 109 Chapter 6: Olde Towne East ....................................................................................................... 143 Chapter 7: Summary, Analysis, and Concluding Observations .................................................. 167 References .................................................................................................................................... 196 Appendix A: Key Informants ...................................................................................................... 215 vi List of Tables Table 4.1: Weinland Park historic Census data………………………………………………... 67 Table 4.2: Housing and built environment investments in Weinland Park………………….… 98 Table 4.3: Infrastructure investments in Weinland Park………………………………….…… 101 Table 5.1: Civic, business, and planning organizations serving King-Lincoln…………….….. 113 Table 5.2: Overall and African-American population of Columbus, 1840-1940………….…... 113 Table 5.3: King-Lincoln historic Census data…………………………………………….…… 121 Table 6.1: Olde Towne East historic Census data……………………………………….…….. 145 Table A.1: Key informants by affiliation………………………………………………….…… 215 Table A.2: Key informants by neighborhood of expertise……………………………….……. 215 vii List of Figures Figure 1.1: Plan of the dissertation ……………………………………………….……………. 5 Figure 3.1: Conceptual model …………………………………………………….…………… 37 Figure 3.2: Columbus CBD and surrounding neighborhoods ……………………….………… 63 Figure 3.3: Study area neighborhoods, landmarks, and surrounding environs …………..…… 64 Figure 4.1: Weinland Park reference map ………………………………………………..….… 68 Figure 4.2: Weinland Park Neighborhood Plan development recommendations ……….….... 81 Figure 4.3: Weinland Park Collaborative ‘Family Tree’ ………………………………….....… 89 Figure 4.4: Map of recent and proposed investments in Weinland Park ………………….……102 Figure 5.1: King-Lincoln reference map ………………………………………………….…… 112 Figure 5.2: Map of King-Lincoln’s civic, business, and planning organizations ……...….……114 Figure 5.3: Map of recent and proposed investments in King-Lincoln …………………….….. 125 Figure 5.4: PACT organizational chart