{"id":{"repo_id":"central-wash","oai_identifier":"oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1174"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/central-wash/oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1174","repository":{"repo_id":"central-wash","name":"Central Washington University","base_url":"https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Renewing Spokane: A study of motivating forces behind downtown revitalization projects","abstract":"This study examines the motivating forces behind downtown urban renewal projects through qualitative interview research. Using Spokane, Washington, as a case study, interviews were conducted with key players in downtown revitalization, including public administrators, private developers, and non-profit representatives. While neoliberal theory indicates that economic return serves as the primary motivation for investment, interview questions were designed to uncover whether additional motivating factors stimulate renewal work. Results indicate that those conducting renewal projects are primarily motivated by economics, but additionally cite heritage preservation values and community development as significant factors. Moreover, contemporary renewal projects are found to be small-scale endeavors, undertaken by individual private investors as government involvement has significantly diminished. Revitalizers tended to express frustration with a lack of investor and public awareness regarding renewal opportunities, suggesting that increased information dissemination might promote further renewal work within mid-sized urban downtowns. Issues with neoliberal policies in addressing contemporary urban issues are also discussed.","abstract_html":"This study examines the motivating forces behind downtown urban renewal projects through qualitative interview research. Using Spokane, Washington, as a case study, interviews were conducted with key players in downtown revitalization, including public administrators, private developers, and non-profit representatives. While neoliberal theory indicates that economic return serves as the primary motivation for investment, interview questions were designed to uncover whether additional motivating factors stimulate renewal work. Results indicate that those conducting renewal projects are primarily motivated by economics, but additionally cite heritage preservation values and community development as significant factors. Moreover, contemporary renewal projects are found to be small-scale endeavors, undertaken by individual private investors as government involvement has significantly diminished. Revitalizers tended to express frustration with a lack of investor and public awareness regarding renewal opportunities, suggesting that increased information dissemination might promote further renewal work within mid-sized urban downtowns. Issues with neoliberal policies in addressing contemporary urban issues are also discussed.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mowery, Kara K."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Resource Management","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Mathew Novak","Elvin Delgado","Patrick T. McCutcheon"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:36:37Z","subjects":["revitalization","preservation","renewal","downtown","Spokane","urban","Geography","Historic Preservation and Conservation","History","Other Geography","United States History","Urban, Community and Regional Planning","Urban Studies","Urban Studies and Planning"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/164","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Mathew Novak","Elvin Delgado","Patrick T. McCutcheon"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Mowery, Kara K."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-08-06T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Resource Management"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["revitalization","preservation","renewal","downtown","Spokane","urban","Geography","Historic Preservation and Conservation","History","Other Geography","United States History","Urban, Community and Regional Planning","Urban Studies","Urban Studies and Planning"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/164"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study examines the motivating forces behind downtown urban renewal projects through qualitative interview research. Using Spokane, Washington, as a case study, interviews were conducted with key players in downtown revitalization, including public administrators, private developers, and non-profit representatives. While neoliberal theory indicates that economic return serves as the primary motivation for investment, interview questions were designed to uncover whether additional motivating factors stimulate renewal work. Results indicate that those conducting renewal projects are primarily motivated by economics, but additionally cite heritage preservation values and community development as significant factors. Moreover, contemporary renewal projects are found to be small-scale endeavors, undertaken by individual private investors as government involvement has significantly diminished. Revitalizers tended to express frustration with a lack of investor and public awareness regarding renewal opportunities, suggesting that increased information dissemination might promote further renewal work within mid-sized urban downtowns. Issues with neoliberal policies in addressing contemporary urban issues are also discussed."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Renewing Spokane: A study of motivating forces behind downtown revitalization projects"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Mathew Novak","Elvin Delgado","Patrick T. McCutcheon"],"dc:creator":["Mowery, Kara K."],"dc:date.available":["2015-08-06T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study examines the motivating forces behind downtown urban renewal projects through qualitative interview research. Using Spokane, Washington, as a case study, interviews were conducted with key players in downtown revitalization, including public administrators, private developers, and non-profit representatives. While neoliberal theory indicates that economic return serves as the primary motivation for investment, interview questions were designed to uncover whether additional motivating factors stimulate renewal work. Results indicate that those conducting renewal projects are primarily motivated by economics, but additionally cite heritage preservation values and community development as significant factors. Moreover, contemporary renewal projects are found to be small-scale endeavors, undertaken by individual private investors as government involvement has significantly diminished. Revitalizers tended to express frustration with a lack of investor and public awareness regarding renewal opportunities, suggesting that increased information dissemination might promote further renewal work within mid-sized urban downtowns. Issues with neoliberal policies in addressing contemporary urban issues are also discussed."],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/164"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["revitalization","preservation","renewal","downtown","Spokane","urban","Geography","Historic Preservation and Conservation","History","Other Geography","United States History","Urban, Community and Regional Planning","Urban Studies","Urban Studies and Planning"],"dc:title":["Renewing Spokane: A study of motivating forces behind downtown revitalization projects"],"dc:type":["Text"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Resource Management"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:36:37Z"}