Alternatives to permanence : reflections on temporary use in planning

Abstract

As cities shift from centers of production to centers of consumption all over the world, the profile of temporary initiatives will continue to grow. Temporary uses not only have a rising profile in the context of economic revitalization and commercial/cultural placemaking; they have also been recognized by municipal governments, private design firms, and community organizers as a means of engaging and involving citizens in the planning process. Temporary use for the most part doesn't generate non-permanent outcomes. However, an alternative pathway to permanence through temporary use planning may be used to build consensus and solicit the unexpected. This approach addresses a range of urban planning and development goals from raising real estate value and stimulating development, to promoting diversity and affordability, creating economic opportunity and prosperity, fostering communities of creative entrepreneurs, and evolving more sustainable urban forms. This thesis examines why and how temporary use may be implemented as a more common practice among urban planners and designers. Part I is a review of existing theories and typologies of temporary use. Part 11 is a case study analysis of former and current temporary use projects initiated by private and public actors. Part III proposes a toolkit and process for city planning through temporary use. The temporary planning toolkit is a set of planning tools which can be combined, adapted, and re-ordered as an alternative to more traditional methods of urban planning. Part IV-a conceptual proposal for Sidewalk Labs and the Quayside waterfront redevelopment in Toronto-demonstrates how temporary planning tools and processes can be deployed in an actual setting, and reflects on the facilitating role of technology in futuristic public engagement.