Right-sizing shrinking cities: a landscape and design strategy for abandoned properties

Abstract

Much popular and academic attention is paid to population deconcentration and economic decline in so-called shrinking cities. In this paper we react upon several theories of urban decline with a novel analysis of abandoned properties in the United States, using foreclosure-driven residential vacancies (FDRVs) as a proxy for abandoned properties. We empirically examine the amount and type of abandoned land in some of the cities hardest hit by the mortgage crisis, and present a relevant landscape and design strategy to show that landscape architects are well positioned to redesign this newly available land. To help develop a systematic set of stages and actions for right-sizing initiatives, we catalogue several examples of current initiatives to address abandonment, paying attention to roadblocks inherent to this landscape and design strategy. This strategy presents a useful model with which designers can tackle the difficult and controversial issue of right-sizing.

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