Governing the urban innovation economy : trade-offs between equity and growth
Name
1193556334-MIT.pdf
Size
2.01 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
87577e1ebd8886472672caf30f447841
Author(s)
Yang, Carolyn Weng.
Advisor(s)
Karilyn Crockett.
Date Issued
2020
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The corporate expansion of technology companies offers cities attractive promises of innovation-driven economic growth and job creation. These promises land in the built environment as plans for mixed-use, real estate projects that provide job opportunities and living accommodations close to transportation hubs. This thesis examines two master plans: Cambridge Crossing, a biotechnology innovation destination in Cambridge, and Downtown West, Google's transit village in San José. Each case study begins with a comparison between the city's master plan language and the proposed development's master plan language to examine how real estate and technology companies cater to a city's hopes for economic growth. Findings from these case studies reveal potential trade-offs between equity and growth experienced by surrounding neighborhoods and communities. Corporate and real estate interests give insight into the unprecedented growth of innovation and employment districts, while community organizations bring to light the equity concerns around housing affordability, job access, public space, and access to transportation. Tensions between perspectives supporting and opposing these master plans bring to light what is at stake with plan implementation. Finally, community resistance and advocacy efforts provide an initial blueprint for how collaboration between corporations, city governments, and community-centered coalitions can bring back a right to the city that enables more inclusive economic growth.
Description
Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, May, 2020
Cataloged from the official PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 70-79).
Subjects
Urban Studies and Planning.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
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MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
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