PRES 6990 | Preservation Thesis
Committee:
Alex López, Edson G. Cabalfin, PhD, and
Fallon Samuels Aidoo, PhD
Abstract
Neoliberalism, the political-economic philosophy that emerged in the 1970s-1980s, impacts historic preservation efforts in cities in the United States. However, this intersection of neoliberalism and historic preservation remains understudied, particularly in historic districts. This thesis investigates the following question: What neoliberal mechanisms are at play in historic districts, and how do they operate? This study addresses these questions by conducting a qualitative analysis of the Architectural District in Miami Beach (focusing on Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue). This research aims to raise awareness about how neoliberal mechanisms shape historic districts, providing a foundation for future studies to examine their implications further and explore potential alternatives. The study contributes to an understanding of neoliberal urbanism and historic preservation discourse by offering empirical evidence of how economic and policy-driven forces shape preservation in the U.S. Southeast region.
This research employs descriptive methods to systematically document and categorize three of the most predominant neoliberal mechanisms: first, retrenchment of public finance; second, transformation of public space and regulation of civil society; and third, commodification or marketization of historic districts. Qualitative methods employed include archival research, field observations, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, photographic documentation, and descriptive analysis. The thesis draws theories about neoliberalism primarily from scholars such as David Harvey, Noam Chomsky, and Neil Brenner, Jamie Peck, and Nik Theodore.
Findings indicate that neoliberal mechanisms have accelerated corporate-led urban transformations by laying the ground for entrepreneurial cities; neoliberal policies encourage tourism-centered economies and prioritize capital extraction over local cultural continuity. These processes manifest through the branding of heritage sites, attracting customers, not citizens. The mechanisms encourage entrepreneurial preservation strategies and transform urban space by creating a curated, idealized version of the historic district, maintained through surveillance and the presence of law enforcement, which ensures adherence to a branded code of conduct by displacing those deemed out of place. By mapping and analyzing these neoliberal approaches, this study provides a spatial and historical understanding of their impact on preservation efforts.
