Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Geography
First Advisor
Thomas Harvey
Date of Publication
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography
Department
Geography
Language
English
Subjects
Community arts projects -- Oregon -- Portland, City planning -- Oregon -- Portland, Urban renewal -- Oregon -- Portland, Neighborhoods -- Oregon -- Portland, Gentrification -- Oregon -- Portland, Alberta Arts District (Portland, Or.)
DOI
10.15760/etd.5936
Physical Description
1 online resource (144 p.)
Abstract
Art is often used as a catalyst to stimulate redevelopment and neighborhood change. This often occurs inadvertently as the presence of artists in certain communities can attract both public and private investment to revalorize economically depressed areas. Marginal neighborhoods in inner-urban areas offer inspiration and diversity to artists seeking lower-cost housing. Their presence effectively makes these marginal communities "safe" for middle-class residents looking to live in a funky, urban neighborhood. Ultimately, however, artists are eventually priced out of the communities they helped to create.
The Alberta district in northeast Portland, Oregon has used art to create an identity that distinguished it from other redeveloped neighborhoods throughout the city, having become known as the Alberta Arts District. The research presented in this thesis traces the history of the Alberta district from its roots as a thriving streetcar community through its years as a dilapidated, crime-ridden neighborhood, and into its current state as a vibrant arts district. I show how the commercial corridor along Alberta Street has evolved to reflect the changing demographic composition of the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, housing in the surrounding residential neighborhood has experienced a dramatic increase in average sale price and an upfiltering of aesthetic appearance. Many are attracted to the Alberta district for its vibrancy and diversity, the people and businesses that contribute to the diverse atmosphere may disappear as real estate becomes increasingly more expensive.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23317
Recommended Citation
Rizzari, Meredith R., "Re-imaging a neighborhood : the creation of the Alberta Arts District, Portland, Oregon" (2005). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4052.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.5936
Comments
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