An interpretation of urban change in New York’s SoHo

Abstract

The increasing attention paid to place and cultural context in urban studies is used as a starting point for a discussion of the lefebvrian factors (structural, experiential, and representational) that have an influence on processes of gentrification and urban revitalization more generally, as well as on the production of cultural spaces. The case of SoHo in New York is used to illustrate some elements in a representational approach to urban change, in which projected images and promotion strategies play a significant role in the neighborhood’s continuing reinvention and shaping as a “cultural” theme park. Representational factors may contribute to specific changes in land use, the experiences and behavior of social actors involved, and may also work as gatekeeping mechanisms. Selected information from field research conducted by the author is included.