Waterfront Revitalization Research Articles

Urban Revitalization in Small Cities across the Atlantic Ocean

City centers and riverfronts across the Atlantic Ocean have undergone substantial transformation over the last two decades. This paper analyzes walk-only precincts and waterfront revitalization in two pairwise cases (PCs) of small city exemplars on two continents in locations at about the same latitude but separated by the Atlantic Ocean. The argument is twofold. First, to be fully effective, city center revitalization interventions need to be coordinated with appropriate institutional programs to create collaborative management opportunities among multiple civic and business agents. Second, multiple cultural offerings, environmental amenities, and pro-active leadership positionalities have contributed positively to the evolution of waterfront community economic redevelopment opportunities in riverfront locations. The methods involved multiple site visits to cities of various sizes on the Iberian Peninsula and the Northeast of the United States at different times during the last twenty years, extensive literature reviews and syntheses, data analyses, assessment of policy priorities, and interviews with employees in various economic sectors, business owners, residents, elected officials, planning professionals, and community leaders. Two of the main conclusions are that, to be fully effective, the public space interventions on the Iberian Peninsula had to be coordinated with appropriate regulatory and institutional programs to generate collaborations with multiple civic and business agents and that the Northeastern cities have attempted to revitalize their riverfronts by conserving water-based and urban historic assets and amenities from further erosion due to downpours and floods as well as socio-economic and cultural transformations.

Which Spatial Elements Influence Waterfront Space Vitality the Most?—A Comparative Tracking Study of the Maozhou River Renewal Project in Shenzhen, China

Urban waterfront renewal, especially public space improvement, is important for regaining waterfront space vitality. However, existing studies constrained by sparse and hard-to-access data are hard to explore how changes in spatial elements during waterfront renewal would affect space vitality. Waterfront space vitality comprises social vitality represented by public behaviors and economic vitality represented by urban functional facilities. Taking the Maozhou River renewal project in China as an example, we collect spatial elements and vitality on corresponding periods in 2018 and 2020 (before and after the renewal construction) and use multiple linear regression models to assess the relationships. We find that the functional diversity (e.g., commercial and cultural facilities) and design quality (e.g., path density and the shoreline’s proximity to the water) are the two most influential spatial elements affecting space vitality during waterfront renewal. Overall, the use of two-time datasets has generated strong evidence for measuring waterfront revitalization.

URBAN WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION THROUGH LANDSCAPE DESIGN ENHANCING SOCIAL-CULTURAL CONDITIONS OF EL-MINA, TRIPOLI

The concept of waterfront revitalization has been a prominent notion in the field of urban planning and is considered an effective strategy to enhance deteriorated sites and inspire the identity and authenticity of communities. Nevertheless, there is no definite prescription for success when it comes to linking waterfront landscape design with improving the social and cultural site conditions in a deteriorating historical area. This paper examines the revitalization of the waterfront through greenway design in El-Mina, Tripoli, Lebanon in order to put emphasis on the local culture of the city and create socio-cultural opportunities for the area of study and better improve the quality of life of its residents. The research employs a mixed method approach, where both qualitative and quantitative methods are applied. The qualitative approach is based on theoretical study and the analysis of three case studies and the quantitative part of the study consists of both a survey and simulations to understand the various struggles and problems that the residents of the zone of study face and to find the optimum landscape design proposal that links the waterfront to the existing urban fabric along with sustainable environmental solutions to enhance the surrounding heritage context through the design of a Cultural Park that is applied on a lot by the city’s waterfront. A set of design recommendations regarding the connectivity of landscape waterfront spaces to heritage spaces were then issued and developed based on the synthesis of the simulation results and urban analysis.

Morphological approach for the typological classification of waterfront revitalization

Researchers from multiple disciplines have proposed classification systems for waterfront transformations: generational (according to the date of their construction) and functional (based on the function assigned to the land post-harbor use). However, an analysis based on the spatial features of the former port areas and their meaning for the waterfront transformation has been missing. This contribution is an attempt to fill this gap by proposing a classification based on morphological approach. It uses selected case studies based on cluster sampling method, following a fractal reading approach of the waterfronts, to capture a representative sample and to generalize the study following a deductive logic. Using satellite images and maps, this article first identifies the areas where the waterfront was revitalized and then it analyzes the type and function of these spaces according to the classical classifications existing in the literature on the subject. A morphological approach used as methodology framework was based on the analysis of satellite images and the cartography of the waterfront areas with simplification algorithm on ArcGIS. The resulting morphological classification of waterfront transformations reveals the relationship between the built form of the former port areas, classified here as convex, concave, or linear spaces, and the kind of revitalization type respectively classified as ribbon-shaped, convergence, or dilatation. The conclusions about the relationships between the built form available for waterfront transformations and the most appropriate type of revitalization can provide concrete indications for a sustainable future transformation of port cities, especially cities whose reconversion is lagging behind.

Green areas in public space ‒ factor activizing urban waterfronts

The problem described in this study concerns the processes accompanyingthe revitalisation of waterfronts in urban public areas. This article has beenan attempt to analyse the latest waterfront transformations and to extend theknowledge on shaping of public green spaces in riverbank areas.The purpose of the study was to analyse and introduce the typology of urbangreen areas located along the waterfronts, concentrated around continuouswalking or cycling routes. Another assumption of the author was to indicate thefactors determining the vitality and activisation of these areas.The applied research methodology was based on factors shaping the coastalspace, which the author presented as a group named “waterfront linearity”.Moreover, his paper examines the latest waterfront revitalisation undertakenin Rouen, Bordeaux, Lyon.The conclusions found in this paper constitute an important element of researchstudies devoted to the ways of shaping green areas in the immediate vicinityof rivers as well as studies in the area of environmental psychology.

Oran’s Front de Mer Projects 1891–1961: Premises of a Modern Urbanism

This article reviews the urban revitalization and modernization actions of Oran’s Front de Mer, from the late nineteenth to the middle of the twentieth century. Throughout this period, when Algiers was undergoing a transformation based on the classical Haussmannian urban model, Oran stands out as an atypical example for the development of its urban planning projects. The research evidence, extracted for the first time from archival documents, reveals an advanced use of urban design concepts from the 1960’s, similar to the American model of waterfront revitalisation and deck urbanism developed in France.

Human well-being and natural capital indicators for Great Lakes waterfront revitalization

Revitalization of natural capital amenities at the Great Lakes waterfront can result from sediment remediation, habitat restoration, climate resilience projects, brownfield reuse, economic redevelopment and other efforts. Practical indicators are needed to assess the cultural, health, and socioeconomic benefits of these investments. We compiled U.S. census-tract scale data for five Great Lakes communities: Duluth/Superior, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Cleveland. We downloaded data from the US Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and non-governmental organizations. We compiled a final set of 19 human well-being (HWB) metrics and 26 metrics representing attributes of natural and seminatural amenities (natural capital). We rated the reliability of metrics according to their consistency of correlations with metrics of the other type (HWB vs. natural capital) at the census-tract scale, how often they were correlated in the expected direction, strength of correlations, and other attributes. Among the highest rated HWB indicators were measures of mean health, mental health, home ownership, home value, life success, and educational attainment. Highest rated natural capital metrics included tree cover and impervious surface metrics, walkability, density of recreational amenities, and shoreline type. Two sociodemographic covariates, household income and population density, had a strong influence on the strength of associations between HWB and natural capital and must be included in any assessment of change in HWB benefits at the waterfront. Our findings are a starting point for applying already available HWB and natural capital indicators in a waterfront revitalization context.

A Multi-Criteria Decision for Touristic Revitalization of Historic Waterfront Based on AHP Analysis: A Case Study of Ezbet El-Borg City, Damietta, Egypt

This research finds an approach to support multi-criteria decision-making about the touristic revitalization of the waterfront for the purpose of conservation and sustainable development. The waterfront revitalization strategy is an effective way to preserve the neglected heritage, enhance identity and authenticity, and improve the quality of life. This paper presents a systematic multi-criteria approach and an analytical method in decision-making to revitalize the waterfront of Ezbet El-Borg city, Damietta, Egypt. The waterfront was analyzed according to the criteria of sustainable revitalization. The AHP method was used as an analytical tool to prioritize these criteria to make them measurable, and then suggest an effective strategy for revitalization through the prioritizing alternatives to waterfront functions then used to rank the best prospects for revitalization. The study found the most successful option is to revitalize the historic waterfront of Ezbet El Borg, due to its heritage features. This kind of revitalization plays an essential role in sustainability, as it enhances the city's identity, conservation opportunities, economic development, and quality of life. Applying this approach allows policymakers to develop strategies for waterfront revitalization, and to evaluate the best solutions for the revitalization process with regard to preservation and sustainable development.

Towards an effective participatory process for a sustainable urban waterfront development

During the early time of waterfront development, public only paid little attention to this area, but after a series of urban waterfront revitalization success story, people are starting to reclaim their waterfront. Two main values of economy and environment are always competing over waterfront’s future land-use pattern. Citizen participation in an urban waterfront development is believed to hold a significant importance since the urban development is addressed for citizens’ prosperity. However, strong public participation does not necessarily guarantee for a success waterfront development. This paper attempts to figure out what is the best scenario to make public involvement in the planning process to contribute to a successful and sustainable waterfront development. Four waterfront city development stories that represent different planning cultures were examined here to understand to what extent the participatory process contributed to the environment, economy, and social values. The findings from the case studies were reconstructed to develop a planning model aimed to best accommodate public interest without compromising other values. Citizens were invited for discussions at the initial phase. Next, an evaluation method was proposed to come up with a guideline that would guide the planning process at the latter phase.

A Case Study on Waterfront Revitalization Project for the Downtown Regeneration in Harbor City

A Case Study on Waterfront Revitalization Project for the Downtown Regeneration in Harbor City

A Sustainable Historic Waterfront Revitalization Decision Support Tool for Attracting Tourists

Waterfront revitalization would be an effective strategy to preserve heritages, conserve the contaminated or abandoned site and inspire the identity and authenticity. However, there is no decision support tool to quantify and evaluate the sustainability accreditation of waterfronts in tourism attraction. This research aimed to identify the most potential waterfront typology in tourism attraction and develop the waterfront sustainable revitalization (SWR) index assessment model. The SWR index can assist policy makers and urban developers to analyze the heritage waterfronts using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The research found out the historic waterfront has the highest potential in tourism attraction among other typologies. And, pollution moderator is mostly important sub-criterion in tourism absorption (WC2.2 = 0.1294); followed by Identity (WC1.2 = 0.1272) and Safety and well-being (WC1.3 = 0.1043). The SWR index can be applied in any waterfronts in heritage cities around the world, while this research implemented it as a case study in Bandar Maharani, Muar, Malaysia. It resulted Bandar Maharani was ranked as grade C; means, usable waterfront to which extent environmental, social and physical revitalization are needed. The SWR index can be coupled with other decision-making methods in future, to reduce its inconsistencies and increasing accuracy.

The Cultural Heritage in the Postindustrial Waterfront: A Case Study of the South Bank of the Tagus Estuary, Portugal

In examining the process of waterfront revitalization of the South bank of the Tagus Estuary during the postindustrial era, it is possible to discern a commitment to appropriation and valorization of heritage and cultural identity inherited from preceding economic cycles. Using a qualitative approach, backed up by a detailed analysis of territorial planning instruments, strategic documents, and intervention projects, we identify three main ways of appropriation, aimed to add value to the heritage and cultural identity, considering them as follows: (a) resources for the promotion of various activities, (b) drivers in strengthening territorial identity, and (c) elements of territorial differentiation. Analyzing these aspects, the article presents a proposal for the classification of the actions proposed for their implementation, namely: conservation of cultural heritage, adaptation of heritage to new uses and functions, appropriation of symbolic elements, promotion of cultural events, and raising awareness of cultural heritage among local communities.

Urban and Social Impacts of Waterfronts Development, Case Study: Jeddah Corniche

Waterfront development has always been a common topic of interest in urban studies. Through the special nature of coastal areas, urban development of these places has its own characteristics that influenced by the typology, view, land value and environmental factors.In addition, social factors, that include community characteristics, local culture and traditions affect and receive effects from this development. Development of waterfronts plans should adhere to the notion that the waterfront is an inherently public asset.Planning a waterfront development, required the city officials or a developer to start by envisioning a network of well-connected, multi-use public spaces that fit with the community's shared goals. By orienting waterfront revitalization around public spaces, new urban design should enhance the quality of existing destinations and that results in a whole city identity that is greater than the sum of its parts.This research discusses both urban and social impacts of waterfronts development, taking Jeddah Cornish development as a case study.The research aims at pointing out the main impacts of waterfront development on both Jeddah Urban development and social development. The research's methodology follows both quantitative and qualitative methods, and conducting a community survey that measure the main impacts of Cornish Jeddah development project.The research concludes the main impacts of waterfront development to assure its sustainability.

Revitalizing urban waterfronts: identifying indicators for human well-being

Waterfront cities worldwide have begun the process of regenerating and developing their formerly industrial waterfronts into land uses that reflect a post-industrial economic vision of mixed urban uses supporting a diverse economy and wide range of infrastructure. These revitalization projects require distinct planning and management tactics to determine project-defined successes inclusive of economic, ecological, and human well-being perspectives. While empirically developed templates for economic and ecological measures exist, the multi-dimensionality and subjective nature of human well-being is more difficult to assess. Through an extensive review of indicator frameworks and expert interviews, our research proposes an organizational, yet adaptable, human well-being indicators framework for the management and development of urban waterfront revitalization projects. We analyze the framework through the lens of two waterfront projects in the Puget Sound region of the United States and identify several key factors necessary to developing project-specific human well-being indicator frameworks for urban waterfront revitalization projects. These factors include: initially specify goals and objectives of a given project, acknowledge contextual conditions including prospective land uses and projected users, identify the stage of development or management to use appropriate indicators for that stage, and develop and utilize data sources that are at a similar scale to the size of the project.

Pursuing design excellence: Urban design governance on Toronto's waterfront

This paper explores the governance of urban design on Toronto's waterfront. It examines the formation, mandate and powers of the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) – now branded Waterfront Toronto – and critically evaluates the urban design policies, tools and mechanisms that have been put in place to support waterfront redevelopment and pursue a goal of ‘design excellence’ since 1999. The paper traces the key decisions that led to the creation of the TWRC by the federal, provincial and municipal governments and details the ambitious planning and design vision that emerged for the waterfront, but also argues that the TWRC was awarded a limited institutional mandate to fulfil its aims and objectives. The latter sections of the paper describe how a series of design-sensitive tools and mechanisms were introduced alongside the statutory planning framework for the waterfront to counter the governance and financial challenges faced by the Corporation. The paper contends that the Corporation is currently overseeing a broadly positive redevelopment programme that has been able to deliver a high quality public realm on the waterfront and facilitate design-led real estate development. An innovative public engagement strategy has been coupled with neighbourhood ‘precinct’ planning and design peer review to achieve these outcomes. It is argued that these positive shifts have begun to counter the long history of faltering post-industrial development and ‘jurisdictional gridlock’ that has plagued Toronto's waterfront since the 1960s.

Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Waterfront Revitalization

Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Waterfront Revitalization

GREEN URBAN WATERFRONT MANAGEMENT CASE OF SOLO, INDONESIA

Solo is a city located in Central Java, Indonesia with 501.650 inhabitants in 2011. It hosted in 2010 the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing & Urban Development (APMCHUD) as big events for this city. Besides APMCHUD is an award for Solo urban renewed images since 2005 which one of them is urban waterfront revitalization. Applying the Lourenço meta-analysis for urban growth areas which is specific in urban waterfront management, a better apprehension of the sequence of interdependencies that exist can be addressed to expand the concepts of redevelopment of urban areas. It can be done within a continuum process associated to planning and investment cycles. The applicability of the proposed model is tested by comparing the idealized evolution to the observed urban waterfront in Solo, for a period of eight years, from 2005 to 2013. This enables the discussion of conceptual issues related to the legitimizing of LCA and the present contribution. Although the complete cycle is not yet observable, it is possible to confirm that the relevant nature of this tool allows for an earlier awareness of the cycle progression anomalies and, therefore, a potentially better adjustment between observed and ideal behaviors, if these anomalies are monitored and addressed. This paper will address Solo profile and planning process, major outcomes due to urban waterfront applicability of LCA models and framework for the sustainable management.

Accidental and ideal island cities: islanding processes and urban design in Belize City and the urban archipelagos of Europe

This paper explores processes of islanding, de-islanding, and re-islanding in the context of island cities. Although today popularly associated with rural, peripheral, and isolated landscapes, concepts of the ideal city coincided in Medieval and Renaissance Europe with emergent notions of the ideal island. Major European cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, and Copenhagen were established on densely urbanized small islands. In accordance with dominant political and military philosophies, they were subsequently developed through comprehensive urban design into vast yet coherent urban archipelagos. In contrast, the contemporary development of Belize City as an island city took place through piecemeal land reclamation, absent comprehensive urban design, resulting in a very different kind of urban archipelago. Neither the coherent European island cities nor Belize City are generally regarded as islands today, yet their histories of urban development evidence the impact of spatial attributes of islandness on urban form. Comprehensive urban design efforts are currently directed at land reclamation and waterfront revitalization in Belize City, aiming to restore Belize City’s island city status. We argue that cities can be islanded, de-islanded, and re-islanded in the minds of their inhabitants and that it is necessary to recognize the connection between ideal islands and ideal cities in order to understand the islanding process in full.

URBAN WATERFRONT SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT WITHIN LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS Case: South European Cities

This research develops a monitoring tool for urban plan-process based on Life Cycle Analysis by Lourenço. A special project of urban waterfront revitalization is proposed as a contribution to legitimize the LCA model. This research also proposes the influence and the success key factors of its behavior plan-process.The model is tested through benchmarking for six waterfront cities in South Europe. Bilbao in Spain, Genoa in Italy, and Lisbon in Portugal are considered as the success projects since the urban strategy has a strong link with the urban waterfront area notified by the high intensity of the cycle for each phase. Porto and Viana do Castelo in Portugal are considered as the success projects which have a similar behavior for the action and living phase which might be due to the same project under national policy and the projects touch economic and social opportunity of the people. Aveiro in Portugal shows rupture in the beginning, followed by high intensity in the next period which has similar behavior with ideal behavior of LCA model.This research shows the applicability of LCA Model to monitor waterfront revitalization projects and enables the discussion of conceptual issues related to the legitimizing of LCA and the present contribution. The behavior of urban waterfront area and the time dimension can be monitored and the influenced factors of the behavior can be noticed with the success key factors, those are: Planning: does the urban waterfront become the focus of the city planning? Action: does the project persistence in the design proposal? andLiving: does the urban waterfront touch social, culture and economic of the people activities?.

A city looks to its past to discover its future: a retrospective case study examining the evolution of an artificial white-water river development

In the 1980s, waterfront redevelopment became a widely accepted strategy related to transforming derelict urban centres from ports to playgrounds. The primary motivating forces behind waterfront redevelopment have been either economic or the ‘abandoned doorstep’ argument with secondary considerations related to improving quality of life by creating open space opportunities for recreation and tourism. While these primary motivating forces behind waterfront redevelopment have been well documented, little attention has been given to the role that unique recreational developments can play in waterfront revitalization efforts. The purpose of this case study was to examine how the construction of an artificial white-water river contributed to a community's revitalization 25 years after its development. Data collection included content analysis of written material dating back 25 years, individual interviews and a focus group with community leaders. At the onset of the construction project, four goals were identified which included to: (1) begin redeveloping the urban core, (2) develop a recreational water feature, (3) extend the park system, and (4) create a fish passage. Findings are categorized based on the a priori goals of the project 25 years ago in addition to two emergent themes: a renewed community identity and operational challenges. The city's ability and vision to develop a comprehensive strategy with a variety of uses has contributed to the role this artificial white-water river has played in revitalizing the community.