Translating vacancy into vibrancy: understanding place attachment in historically disinvested neighborhoods

Abstract

Place attachment is a dynamic emotional bond that occurs in meaningful physical settings and is a human phenomenon recognized in cultures and places across the world (Scannell and Gifford 2017, Brown et al. 2002; Korpela, 2012). Place attachment has positive impacts on quality of life, life satisfaction, and overall well-being (Scannell and Gifford 2017; Anton and Lawrence 2014). Vacant land contributes to a resident's lack of place attachment at an individual and community level (Nemeth and Langhorst 2014; Hadavi et al. 2021). Neighborhoods with high vacancies often undergo revitalization leading to gentrification and the drastic changes to resident's environment can lead to feeling a loss of place (Shaw & Hagemans, 2015). The purpose of this research project was to understand how vacant lots affect resident's place attachment by looking at their relationship to their home and neighborhood. More specifically, this study explored the implications that place attachment can have on design strategies for future development in high vacancy neighborhoods. With current methods in place attachment research showing that the methods can influence place attachment of residents (Van Auken et al., 2010; Madgin et al, 2016), the influence research methods have on residents' perception of place attachment was also examined in this study. For this study, the participants are residents from two neighborhoods in Eastside Kansas City, Missouri with high amount of land vacancy including Ivanhoe and Oak Park Neighborhood. In six in-depth interviews (n=6), using an approach offered by PLAYCE studio, participants used photo cards designed for aiding in photo-elicitation interviews. Residents were asked a series of questions about their place attachment to their home and community, and how vacant lots impact their sense of place. Then participants created a collage about what they envision the future of their neighborhood becoming. These photo card questions and collage were used with the interview to encourage deep thought and aid discussion about their place attachment. Using the photos to aid in questioning helped participants think creatively about their answer while reducing pressure to find the appropriate words. The qualitative findings of this study provide insights into the future interventions of vacant land use regarding redevelopment and land use with consideration of improving resident’s place attachment. Examining the impact vacant lots have on residents’ attachment to their neighborhood helped gain a better understanding of the potential ways to establish a framework for future design and development of these vacant lots. This framework can be utilized by community-based organizations and professionals for generating placemaking strategies that rebuild communities (Brown et al. 2002; Manzo and Perkins 2006; Marshall and Bishop 2015) impacted by vacant lots as shown with the three projective designs.