Abstract

The patterns of stability or change in cities can be jarringly different between neighborhoods within the same urban area. Often it is the first-ring neighborhoods in cities that most reflect socioeconomic fluctuations. While some have experienced a downward spiral, other communities have been stable and persistent. What are the factors that have allowed some neighborhoods to thrive, while all around them are cycles of systemic change? This study examines how patterns and perceptions of built form are associated with the socio-psychological aspects of place identity and place attachment, and how this relates to stability or change in older neighborhoods. A case study approach is used to investigate two neighborhoods in Durham, and Charlotte, with similar histories, demographics, and downtown proximity, but differences in their patterns of change and fluctuation over years. Several methodologies are blended to delineate the spatial factors relating to differences in stability. Techniques include a survey instrument to measure place identity and place attachment, comparisons to measures of respondents’ perception of their neighborhood, and measures of urban form and social attributes. Our goal in this study is to develop future guidelines for urban designers and place-makers to use in the development of more stable neighborhoods.