Date of Award

Spring 6-1-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Department

Landscape Architecture

First Advisor

Tiago Torres-Campos

Second Advisor

Theodore Hoerr

Abstract

Residents of the Olneyville neighborhood in Providence, RI are at the cusp of being gentrified and forced to relocate. Revitalization of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway and the redevelopment of adjacent neighborhoods such as the West End and Federal Hill are attracting investors' attention on undeveloped post-industrial properties in Olneyville. This study aims to determine how gentrification can be reduced to minimize the impacts on the inhabitants of Olneyville Specifically, it investigates the social and physical conditions and designs potential solutions that can regenerate the urban brownfields in a way that fortifies the neighborhood from gentrification. In this context, "Regenerate" is defined as to repurpose a piece of undeveloped post-industrial mill property critical to the health and welfare of the community.

In developing the comprehensive regeneration strategies appropriate to this specific neighborhood and environment, the thesis studies the relationship between brownfields and gentrification. The work analyzes the neighborhood from different perspectives and research methods conducted on both urban and site scales. The strategies are divided into three parts: landscape frameworks, cultural programming, and economic indicators. The major focus of the design investigation lies on the landscape frameworks as primary vehicles for the regeneration of the post-industrial brownfield sites.

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