Diversity and Economic Development in Urban Neighborhoods: A Case Analysis of Columbia City, Seattle

The purpose of this study is to explore the ways racial and socio-economic diversity potentially affect economic development in Columbia City, one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods. Case studies of diverse metropolitan neighborhoods have not considered the impacts of diversity on economic development directly, and quantitative studies regarding diversity and economic development have produced conflicting results. Therefore, this exploratory research will attempt to answer the question, how do neighborhood actors perceive the relationship between racial and socio-economic residential composition and economic development in a diverse, urban neighborhood? For this study, the author conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with neighborhood stakeholders including nonprofit leaders, government officials, business owners, and residents. The author used the interpretive approach to analyze the interviews. Results derived from the perspectives, accounts, experiences, opinions, and understanding of neighborhood informants suggest an important connection between diversity and economic development.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Urban Affairs and Planning

Department dc:contributor.department

Urban Affairs and Planning

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Jones, Mel

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Hyra, Derek S.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Taylor, Daniel B.
• Koebel, C. Theodore

• diversity
• economic development
• neighborhood
• Columbia City
• Seattle

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-03272012-090909

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31561