Building Pentimento: A Framework for Maintaining Cultural Identity in Urban Development

Abstract

This paper examines the theoretical frameworks of cultural identity in the context of urban developmental applications in Atlanta, Georgia. By providing a brief historical overview of urban development practices in the city and connecting those practices to impacts on individual and collective identities, the goal of this paper is to bridge theoretical scholarship with practical application. This is done by examining identity construction, place, neighborhood change theories, and national and international models for culturally sustainable development. This paper will provide a foundation for conceptualizing the strategic tools and processes that integrate cultural identity into operational aspects of local urban development frameworks.