Creative Placemaking as a Guide to Redevelopment in Detroit

Previous research on creative placemaking has established the practice as challenging, divisive, and problematic. Without focusing on what creative placemaking could do, prior research describes what creative placemaking should stop doing. When creative placemaking is presented as a positive, effective practice, the evaluation and criteria for selection is fuzzy, without providing enough measurable context on how change is accomplished. I introduce a new creative placemaking framework that identifies twelve criteria that assist in rejuvenating the local economy, combating race and inequality in a post-industrial Detroit, and adopting major ideas of past planning and development strategies. To accomplish this research, I developed a new evaluation framework and analyzed three differently defined creative placemaking programs in Detroit, including a comprehensive mapping component. I found that Detroit’s current creative placemaking strategies are capable of actualizing the criteria set within this research in varying ways. The three programs vary in definition, outcome, project selection, and evaluation; however, each program does not consistently demonstrate the ability to extend critical factors to the marginalized, self-managed residents of Detroit. Given this, I recommend a new program similar in approach to ArtPlace that persistently enhances city systems, increases livability factors to the marginalized, increases social capital, and discourages gentrification and displacement in Detroit.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201