Preservation and the postindustrial city: preservation as an economic revitalization and policy tool in Pittsburgh and Detroit

This thesis examines the role of historic preservation, specifically neighborhood preservation, in the economies of postindustrial cities. The research focuses on Pittsburgh and Detroit as case studies in order to show how preservation can help improve suffering economies in postindustrial cities. Within each of these cities, several historic neighborhoods serve as case studies to further support preservation as an economic revitalization tool. This research shows many methods for protecting historic assets within postindustrial cities and the benefits this protection provides. This thesis concludes with recommendations for how Pittsburgh and Detroit, as well as other postindustrial cities, can improve their neighborhood preservation efforts.