Demolition after decline: Understanding and explaining demolition patterns in US and German shrinking cities

Demolition is one of shrinking cities' most important strategies to deal with vacant and abandoned properties, but processes and outcomes vary between nations. How do demolition patterns differ or agree between shrinking cities in different nations, and what explains agreement or difference? This study analyzes demolition patterns in two mid-sized, isolated shrinking cities, the U.S. city of Flint and the German city of Dessau, between 2002 and 2016. We found significantly different patterns of demolition in the two cities. Demolition is more concentrated in Dessau, and more diffuse in Flint. We explain this difference in demolition patterns through three factors: housing tenure, social and physical structure, and demolition policy. Compared with Flint, Dessau has a much higher level of rental housing that concentrates in its urban center, facilitating tenant relocation into analogous units and permitting concentrated demolition. Flint's urban structure is homogenous with repetitive blocks of privatelyowned single-family housing, presenting a barrier for public intervention in vacancy. Dessau's demolition is financed by federal policy with explicit spatial intentions, whereas Flint's demolition is complaint-driven without substantial spatial consideration. The study findings indicate that demolition pattern is embedded in structural, historical, and national factors.

Automated summary

Demolition is an important strategy for shrinking cities to address vacant and abandoned properties, but it varies between nations. This study compares demolition patterns in the US city of Flint and the German city of Dessau from 2002 to 2016. The findings show distinct differences in demolition patterns, with Dessau having more concentrated demolition and Flint having more diffuse demolition. These differences can be explained by factors such as housing tenure, social and physical structure, and demolition policy.