Arrested Development: A Deep Map Exploration of Community Building in Ontario and Spain
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Residents of incomplete planned communities suffer social isolation and a surplus of fragmented infrastructure. Because these communities failed to achieve population goals, and lack historical layers of habitation that inspire restoration investment, they are branded as "ghost towns" by the media. Nonetheless, residents perceive the success of their communities largely in relation to the maintenance of planned features like public parks. Criticism from the media also inspires reactionary community bonding. This thesis used deep mapping to tell the stories of Townsend, Ontario and Valdeluz, Spain, two similarly disregarded developments. A literature review of the causes and consequences of unsuccessful urban design informed a holistic exploration of life in these communities through on-site observation and informal interviews. The data was analyzed for qualitative correlations and detailed narratives were produced. This study provides designers with a deeper understanding of incomplete planned communities, and identifies challenges that planners of new communities will face.