URBAN REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
CONSERVATION
Urban Redevelopment - demolition and
reconstruction or substantial renovation of
existing buildings or infrastructure
Redevelopment Area - the community
redevelopment area described
Urban redevelopment plan - a plan, as it
exists from time to time, for an urban
redevelopment project
Urban Redevelopment and Associated
terms
Urban Regeneration - creating new urban
structure in poor quality neighborhoods
Urban Revitalization - revive the older
parts of the cities
Urban Reconstruction - To demolish the
existing urban structure and create a new
one.
Urban Clearance - Demolishing the
existing urban structure and creating
completely new urban characteristics
Urban Renewal - a program of land
redevelopment in areas of moderate to high
density urban land use.
Adaptive Reuse - process of reusing an old
site or building for a purpose other than
which it was built or designed for, such as
an industrial mill into housing.
Urban Retrofitting - To furnish an urban
area with new or modified urban entities
A.
Urban Conservation - include encouraging
continued occupation and maintenance of
buildings of architectural or historic
significance and providing for new
development compatible with them
Preservation - maintaining a place in its
existing state and preventing further
deterioration.
Reconstruction - Returning a place to a
known earlier state and is distinguished
from through restoration by the introduction
of new material and elements.
URBAN CONSERVATION EXAMPLES
AROUND THE WORLD
1. The restoration of the historic center
of Quito, Ecuador
2. The redevelopment of the
Gasometer in Vienna, Austria
3. The regeneration of the Battersea
Power Station in London, UK
4. The preservation of the historic city
of Yazd, Iran
B. URBAN RENEWAL
Urban Renewal - strategic process to
improve specific areas of a city that are
poorly developed or underdeveloped.
● also known as Urban regeneration
in the United Kingdom and In the
United States, it is called Urban
redevelopment and Urban renewal
● process by which land is
redeveloped where there is decay
● A lot of modern attempts were made
in the late 19th century in
developed nations and an intense
phase was experienced in late 1940
under the rubric reconstruction
● Until 1970, displaced owners
received only ‘compensation’ as
specified in the amendment to the
US constitution
Importance of Urban Renewal
Due to high population pressure, urban area
boundaries are increasing at a really higher
pace than ever before. This has led to a
tremendous rise in the rate at which urban
sprawl is happening across the country.
Due to the constant expansion of urban
areas into agricultural hinterland, urban
areas are becoming highly unsustainable
as large quantities of urban land and
buildings are abandoned and left
dilapidated and the cities are expanding
more outwards. Many communities go to
extreme lengths to revitalize their cities such
as destroying abandoned homes and
developing high-speed rails along the center
of the neighborhood, however one thing is
clear that future redevelopment within a city
is possible only through urban renewal. In
addition, it is clear that urban renewal is an
important part of any city’s urban planning.
ROBERT MOSES – urban renewal and
infrastructure.
● Influential in the development
of modern urban
infrastructure.
● Known as New York City’s
“master builder”
JANE JACOBS – urban renewal
● Criticized the urban renewal
projects of the 1950s. She believed
these policies destroyed existing
inner-city communities and their
economies. She also thought that
modern planning policies separated
communities and created unnatural
city areas.
Advantages of Urban renewal for a city’s
growth
1. Preservation of Country’s
History– A city can capitalize its rich
history by removing blighted
structures and remodeling
dilapidated buildings and homes in
the neighborhood
2. Clearance of Slums–This is one of
the benefits, urban renewal helps in
eliminating Slums and creates new
interest throughout the
neighborhood
3. Reduction in Crime–it has been
noted that there is a reduction in
crimes in the cities and areas being
renewed.
4. Improved Housing stock–with the
development of projects like Rocket
landing, a neighborhood
contemporary development has
helped create partnerships
5. The Economic growth– Economic
vibrancy can also be noticed with
 time with the construction of new the sociological correlates of urban decay,
renewable projects such as crime.

Major Disadvantages of the urban

renewal
● Seizing of property - Someone’s 1. Redevelopment as a
property might be seized in an means of Urban Renewal
improper manner causing him or her ● It is a process of
problems. cleaning old and
● No proper planning - Sometimes poor-quality
the plans are not properly made structures with new
causing more harm than benefit. structures.
● Expensive – It may turn out to be ● Redevelopment
very expensive covers demolition,
clearance and
Objectives and Need of Urban Renewal rebuilding of an entire
area with new
● Re-planning and restructuring of Structure with new
concerned urban area Dimensions and
● Designing more effective and Space.
accessible local transport and road ● It can transform an
networks within the concerned urban underutilized area
area into an economically
● Rationalizing land uses within the viable and productive
concerned urban area part of the community.
● Redeveloping dilapidated buildings
into new buildings as per effective Other needs for redevelopment are
standards mentioned below:
● Providing more open space and ● Optimal utilization of land by
community facilities accommodating a larger population
● Preserving sites, buildings and ● Costs a lot to maintain the old and
structures of historical, cultural or dilapidated structures.
architectural value ● Need for enhancement of
● Preserving local characteristics community facilities
● Enhancing townscape with urban ● Increase in parking requirements
design ● Creation of more open spaces
● Crime reduction
Urban renewal is a comprehensive
scheme to redress complex urban 2. Reuse or Rehabilitation of
problems including deficient, obsolete or Land as a means of Urban
deficient housing, inadequate Renewal
transportation, sanitation and other facilities, ● already existing old
traffic congestion, haphazard land use, and structures are
repaired and
 transferred back to
their original purpose
● comparatively
inexpensive as
compared to
Redevelopment.
3. Conservation or
Preservation as a means of
Urban Renewal
● Conservation is
mainly concerned
with those parts of the
built environment that
hold some sort of
architectural or
historical significance
Process
It ensures all activities are carried out
through proper and acceptable standards.
● The area to be improved so as to
ensure quality like housing
conditions, drainage problems etc.
● Investigation of existing conditions
and characteristics of the area to be
renewed.
● Prepare physical development plans
such as community facility plan, land
use plan and future improvement
program of a set area.
● Establishing a relocation program
when renewal will necessitate
popular displacement.
● The last step in the urban renewal
process is a final implementation of
the renewal program and its
evaluation.
Before a final implementation following
points must also be considered –
● sanitization of the community
● Identifying sources of finance, land
acquisition
● Displacement and relocation
● Site preparation and the site
improvement
● land allocation.
A final conclusion about how the urban
renewal should be achieved – With
numerous ways and methods of practice
are available in the market to make
changes, it is important to pick one that is
the most effective
C. ADAPTIVE REUSE
Adaptive reuse - type of rehabilitation that
has fueled the restoration of historic
communities around the world in recent
decades. Adaptive reuse is a type of
redevelopment that employs existing
building stock for modern living purposes,
even if that current building stock was
created for outmoded uses in the past.
OBJECTIVES OF ADAPTIVE REUSE?
● REDEVELOPMENT
● RENOVATION
● PRESERVATION
WHY ADAPTIVE REUSE IS IMPORTANT?
● significantly reduce the raw material
consumption of the building industry.
Adaptive reuse does not require
demolition, an energy intensive
process, or the raw materials
consumed by new-build
construction. This reduces pollution
and energy waste
-Maintains cultural heritage - preserves
culturally significant sites that might
otherwise be bulldozed or left to degrade to
make way for new buildings or parking lots
-Slows urban sprawl - When looking for
new construction sites, builders must
frequently choose land outside of a city
center because land within a city is usually
held by historic buildings or more expensive
real estate
"urban sprawl," - the unregulated
extension of metropolitan areas, which
contributes to air pollution and other
environmental problems, unsafe traffic
patterns, increased infrastructure costs, and
social isolation.
- Creates a new community beacon -
Adaptive reuse architecture is both useful
and frequently aesthetically pleasing. The
Tate Modern art gallery in London, for
example, is housed in a building that was
originally known as the Bankside Power
Station, a decommissioned electrical plant
“New ideas must use old buildings,”
- JANE JACOBS
Types of Applications for Adaptive
Reuse in Architecture
Adaptive reuse is a term that refers to
adapting an existing structure for a new use
or purpose
Adaptive Reuse Historic Preservation -
Historic preservation allows for using new,
efficient architectural materials to meet
current building codes while still paying
homage to the structure’s history
Adaptive Reuse Renovation - Renovation
typically involves repairing and refinishing a
building while preserving the building’s
original purpose. Adaptive Reuse
Integration
Adaptive reuse integration - involves
preserving the original structure by
enclosing it inside a new building.
Adaptive Reuse Facadism - Facadism
preserves a building’s facade while
demolishing and modernizing the rest of the
building. Facadectomy preserves the curb
view of the community’s historic footprint.
Adaptive Reuse Infrastructure - Most
adaptive reuse focuses on buildings,
however some innovative adaptive reuse
projects transform outdated or unused
infrastructures into needed space for
housing, office space, community centers,
and more.
ADAPTIVE REUSE AS A STRATEGY FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND
REGENERATION
Building Density and Social Intensity -
the necessity of adaptive reuse by saying
that “For many ecological reasons — land
and energy use, available infrastructure — it
is better to have more intense environments
than to continue the sprawl of suburbia.
Retrofit in Post-Industrial Landscapes -
Originally built on the outskirts of cities,
many industrial complexes have been
engulfed by the sprawling urban
environment.
Reframing the Urban Fabric of Shrinking
Cities - The shrinking city phenomenon is a
process of urban decline with complex
causes ranging from deindustrialization,
internal migration to population decline.
D. REHABILITATION
Urban rehabilitation - a pivotal component
of redevelopment strategies, represents the
intentional process of rejuvenating existing
urban areas.
Preservation of Cultural Heritage: One of
the primary objectives of urban rehabilitation
is the preservation of cultural heritage.
Historical buildings and landmarks are not
merely relics of the past; they are keystones
of identity and continuity within
communities. Through adaptive reuse and
sensitive restoration, these structures are
transformed into functional spaces while
retaining their architectural and cultural
significance
Improving Infrastructure and
Environmental Sustainability: Urban
rehabilitation encompasses the upgrading of
infrastructure to meet modern standards
and promote environmental sustainability.
Dilapidated roads, outdated utilities, and
inadequate public spaces are revitalized
Fostering Economic Development and
Innovation: Urban rehabilitation stimulates
economic growth by creating opportunities
for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Mixed-use developments attract businesses
and residents alike, fostering a vibrant
economic ecosystem.
Conclusion: Urban rehabilitation, as a
cornerstone of redevelopment strategies,
holds the key to building cities that are not
only visually appealing but also socially
cohesive, economically robust, and
environmentally sustainable. By preserving
cultural heritage, improving infrastructure,
promoting inclusive planning, and fostering
economic development, urban rehabilitation
becomes a catalyst for positive
transformation
Example of urban rehabilitation
HIGH LINE NEW YORK CITY
● Early Years (1930s-1980s): The
High Line was originally constructed
in the 1930s to eliminate street-level
train accidents. However, with the
rise of interstate trucking, rail traffic
declined, and the last train ran on
the High Line in 1980.
● Abandonment and Community
Advocacy (1980s-1990s): After its
closure, the High Line faced
demolition threats. However, a group
of activists, the Friends of the High
Line, advocated for its preservation
● They envisioned transforming the
structure into a public space,
inspired by the Promenade Plantée
in Paris.
● Rehabilitation and Park
Construction (2000s): In 2006,
after years of advocacy and
fundraising, the city government
committed to preserving the High
Line. Landscape architects James
Corner Field Operations and
architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro
were enlisted to design the park.
The rehabilitation project involved
transforming the disused railway into
an innovative urban park featuring
landscaped gardens, art
installations, and public spaces.
● Opening and Success
(2009-present): The first section of
the High Line opened in 2009, and
subsequent sections were
developed and opened to the public
 over the following years. The park
quickly became a major attraction,
drawing both locals and tourists. Its
unique design, incorporating the
railway's industrial heritage with
modern amenities, contributed to its
popularity.
● Impact on the Neighborhood: The
High Line's rehabilitation had a
significant impact on the surrounding
neighborhoods, including Chelsea
and the Meatpacking District.
Property values increased, and new
businesses and developments
emerged, transforming the area into
a trendy and desirable part of the
city.

In summary, the rehabilitation of the High

Line represents a successful urban
revitalization effort, turning an abandoned
railway into a vibrant public park that has
not only preserved the city's industrial
heritage but also contributed to the social
and economic revitalization of the
surrounding community