Comparaison des centres-villes aux États-Unis et en Europe

Abstract

Comparison between U.S. and West European city centres. The notion of city centre is still very discussed : it may have a spatial, functional, but also psycho-sociological definition. Moreover some urbanists wonder if the city centre is still useful. However the big cities developed through the centuries with « central parts » we cannot let die and thus we must peculiarly study this area which is at the same time privileged and often very depreciated. The features of the U.S. city centres are very different from Old Europe ones : they developed later in more swiftly grown towns very marked by the building of railroads now no more used. On the contrary the intensive motorization allowed the scattering of far suburbs and needed a new deal of shops and services. In such conditions, the city centres got quickly damaged to a level unknown in Europe : they have been abandoned, ruined, left insecure, often surrounded by Black communities and their dilapidation has been very important. However some firms have begun to reconquest those areas and little by little the authorities have been interested in their renewal. A good example is that of the twin towns of Minneapolis- Saint Paul. In Europe, history and a different urban development preserved the centres from such a serious situation : they remain more populated and more lively. Thus some signs of crisis appear and we must not let the hearts of European cities become as repellent as U.S. ones some years ago. The European States had different policies according to the circumstances (no intervention, systematical urban policy or total rebuilding after the war destructions). When we compare the different features of the cities and the urban policies, we can say the renewal is more easy in the United States than in Europe. This allows to emphasize some peculiarly efficient renewal policies.