Streets of Stability and Change: a Comparative Analysis of Dublin City-centre Streetscapes (1972-2002)

Studies on city streetscapes are relatively rare in the retail literature despite the fact that retail offerings at any point in time approximate the volume and nature of societal consumption. This study examines past and present composition of streetscape activity and street ownership in Dublin city centre. The data generated will constitute a historical record of both the degree of stability and the degree of change in the Dublin streetscape. Findings illustrate the volatility of the street and the importance for central places of fulfilling both social and economic roles. The study also identifies the need for more innovative and carefully targeted interventions to regenerate specific tertiary street s. Finally, the study concludes that an analysis of change in retail provision over time provides a relatively accurate barometer of socio-cultural change