Perceptions of Change in the Urban Core: A Case Study of a Satellite Campus in Kitchener, Ontario

The university satellite campus is a recent planning instrument used to revitalize struggling downtown cores. The satellite model, however, is not without controversy. To gain an insight into the debate, this study focuses on the perceptions of groups involved in bringing the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work satellite campus to downtown Kitchener, Ontario. Approaches to revitalization since World War II are examined together with the current downtown revitalization initiative in bringing university satellite campuses to downtowns. The strengths and weaknesses of the university and community dynamic are highlighted as they relate to the main university campus and host community. Based on interivews with participants from a diverse range of interested groups, the study focuses on addressing the strengths and weaknesses of a university-community arrangement. Results confirm that the satellite campus appears to be a good ‘fit’ in Kitchener’s downtown, and may contribute to a reversal of the city’s post-war urban/economic decline