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ETD Abstract Container

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Maneuvering Global Spaces by Marketing Local Places: The Process and Practice of Downtown Revitalization in Columbus, Ohio

Knox, Jay K.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308318908

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Geography.
Due to changing local, national and global economies, the process and practice of downtown revitalization in many Midwestern cities have undergone significant changes over the last several decades. The form and function of downtown are no longer a strictly local issue, but have socio-economic processes across geographical scales. This thesis provides a comprehensive review of the practice of downtown revitalization in Columbus, Ohio paying particular attention to how the geographic concepts of “space” and “place” have been used in the construction of modern downtown areas. While the early practice of downtown revitalization was concerned with the redevelopment of obsolete and abandoned local downtown areas, more recent revitalization initiatives by Midwestern cities are focused on maneuvering global spaces by marketing local places. Recognizing the increasing spatial mobility of human and business capital across the globe, cities seek to attract, capture, and retain these elusive flows in their cities. In order to accomplish this task cities have turned to increasingly innovative and entrepreneurial planning to establish downtowns that are competitive “global places.” Through the implementation of carefully planned downtown revitalization strategies and aggressive place marketing over the last two decades, the Columbus downtown has been transformed into a mixed-use environment. Unlike early downtown renewal projects aimed at functionality and urban design (every city wanted a convention center, waterfront park, indoor mall, and sports arena) the new global competitive environment requires cities to set themselves apart, creating “sticky” places in downtown. This research shows that the importance of “place” in a world which mobile capital increasingly treats as “place-less” has only been enhanced as cities seek to distinguish themselves in the urban hierarchy. The construction and marketing of local places for global consumption in many cities usually starts with downtown. In an effort to create a globally competitive city, growth coalitions not only must concern themselves with local amenities, such as art, culture, entertainment, and social media, but must have an iconic national and global image.
Daniel Sui, PhD (Advisor)
Edward Malecki, PhD (Committee Member)
Jennifer Evans-Cowley, PhD (Committee Member)
156 p.
Geography; Urban Planning
space place downtown revitalization Columbus globalization

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Knox, J. K. (2011). Maneuvering Global Spaces by Marketing Local Places: The Process and Practice of Downtown Revitalization in Columbus, Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308318908

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Knox, Jay. Maneuvering Global Spaces by Marketing Local Places: The Process and Practice of Downtown Revitalization in Columbus, Ohio. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308318908.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Knox, Jay. "Maneuvering Global Spaces by Marketing Local Places: The Process and Practice of Downtown Revitalization in Columbus, Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308318908

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1308318908
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.