Thesis Statement Revised

Thesis Statement:
By creating a central core within the downtown Columbus area, it would facilitate a revitalization effort by acting as the catalyst for growth and development.

Thesis Abstract:
By first addressing the urban planning of Columbus and developing strategies on how to improve the quality of the downtown environment, a revitalization effort can be undertaken. The revitalization would focus on creating a central core for the downtown area, something that is lacking within the current confines of Columbus. By developing a central core, it would give the downtown area an identifiable prescene with competing cities and towns. Additionally, by first focusing on a small portion of the downtown area, it would offer the oppurtunity to perfect the formula to grow with and allow the development patterns to grow radially from one central area, allowing a more natural progression rather then the randomized developments that have been appearing throughout the city.

Thesis Issues:
The primary focus of the thesis is to first develop a masterplan and strategy that would offer an example of how to build and grow from one central core. The core would serve as the urban catalyst, a place where the growth originates. The issue that currently plagues Columbus and many other cities nationwide, is that a masterplan that may or may not exist is often overlooked by city officials, who "bend" rules for developers seeking to build. By bending the rules, this leads to randomized pockets of developments in the urban area. Some developments fail to take into consideration the existing fabric of the area, creating divisions within the city.
Initially, one "core" area that has great potential is the riverfront in Columbus. It acts as a divider between the downtown area and Franklinton. Currently the riverfront is occupied by numerous buildings and a street. The riverfront has great appeal to many, the local community holds art festivals and various other entertainment events along the riverfront, which draws thousands to the downtown area. Developing and focusing the riverfront as the "core" could serve as the catalyst that Columbus needs to help in the revitalization effort.
The second portion of the thesis will address the results of the masterplan and create an architectural solution to it. The solution to the problem would need to be occupied within the "core" area that is being investigated, therefore the initial site of City Center may or may not fall within the area (depends on site analysis). The programming will also be greatly dependent on the site analysis and what is determined as a "need."