Beyond Lively Streets: Suburbs and the life of the high Street

Main finding
Many city managers and policy-makers measure the health of the city core in the number of pedestrians (vitality) and economic investments (viability). The underlying conflict between the locals – the people who live in the city - and the visitors is seldom addressed. This case study from Toledo - made by direct observation, investigations of land use, demographic, social and economic data - suggest a loss of the traditional urban functions from this part of the city. With the adaptions of the central parts of Toledo to attract visitors the core has lost its historic centrality. The study shows that the socio-economic situation of Toledo is not only affected by transformations in the core but also by transformations happening in other parts of the city. Lively streets can sometimes give the impression of being lively city cores, but are actually in serious decline.

Description of method used in the article
The methods for this article were a study of public life on the streets of the historic city, and second, a building use study that mainly – but not exclusively – focuses on ground floor businesses. The methods in the first study consisted of systematic direct observations, while the second included surveying and interviewing.

Verdict
Policy implications