Urban assets and urban sustainability: Challenges, design and management

Abstract

Urban assets are key resources, often seen as part of critical infrastructure. They consist of physical elements (often natural or historic) in the city and are linked to quality of life. Innovative people and businesses are also crucial urban assets, necessary to ensure a sustainable urban future. This paper examines the importance of place-making (utilizing such assets) for such a future. It lays out the challenges (e.g., sprawl, brownfield sites, dereliction) facing many cities and the design elements and institutional mechanisms (e.g., local character, density, mixed uses, investment, leadership) to enhance place-making and branding for urban development, growth or revitalization. The paper illustrates the use and enhancement of urban assets for a sustainable economic and environmental future with brief case studies, emphasizing finally the case of an industrial city - Hamilton, Ontario. © 2007 WIT Press.