Date of Completion

2024

Thesis Type

College of Arts and Science Honors

Department

Geography

First Advisor

Dr. Pablo S. Bose

Keywords

citizen engagement, urban planning, waterfront revitalization, place branding, progressive politics, public access

Abstract

This research focuses on methods of citizen engagement in the Burlington waterfront revitalization from 1980-2024, finding that the values of citizens and the Progressive Coalition shaped the physical elements of revitalization, including public access, low-cost activities, and a mixed-use and equitable built environment. Additionally, the Downtown Waterfront is a centerpiece of the City’s place branding efforts, which aim to create a sense of place for residents and attract visitors and businesses to Burlington. I conducted research through the urban political ecology framework, utilizing interviews with key informants, archival research, and analysis of land use photographs throughout key planning and development stages. This thesis contributes to the literature on waterfront revitalization as a case study for small American cities that currently struggle with similar postindustrial degradation and conflicts. The primary research questions are: how did Burlington’s waterfront transition from a primarily industrial space to a primarily recreational one? Did citizen engagement impact the planning processes of the various stages of development from 1980-2020? If so, how?

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