Urban Development And Revitalization Related To City And Regional Politics In Utica, New York

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between urban development and revitalization as related to regional politics, through past and current examples in order to identify key issues that are preventing the City of Utica from embarking on, and sustaining long-term revitalization. The work begins with a comprehensive look at settlement patterns, transportation infrastructure, industrial development, regional politics, and shifts in government and industry as related to changing population and market conditions in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Chapter 2 investigates recent and current methods that the City of Utica is using to encouraging revitalization, through analyzing the present administrations initiatives, how the recent revitalization of a small area downtown is influencing future plans, and by examining the current funding programs available that promote revitalization. Chapter 3 looks at a case study of Greenville, South Carolina, a comparable city to Utica, in order to highlight issues that Utica faces, but to offer an example of how a city and region worked together to overcome obstacles and achieve sustainable long-term revitalization. This work seeks to identify key issues that are preventing Utica from moving forward with revitalization efforts, along with providing information and case studies that support why overcoming these obstacles is critical for the future development of the city. Utica has an opportunity with a new administration focused on correcting past problems and establishing regional connections, along with utilizing the momentum of recent rehabilitation and revitalization projects, to encourage future redevelopment that benefits the city and region.