ABSTRACT
The nature of many former industrial waterfronts in the post-industrial city is problematic. Typically, these sites are underutilized parcels, separated from the physical, social and economic activity of the rest of the city. The reasons for this are well documented. These were the sites of industry and served their former functions extremely well. These were the sites where the Industrial Revolution was manifest, where the wealth of cities and nations was made. Today, these sites no longer serve these functions and, more often than not, they leave us with a tragic legacy of toxic contamination. In their reconsideration, these sites pose significant issues. Their legacy is that in many cities around the world there are now large parcels of land, often contaminated, waiting for redevelopment. How should that redevelopment occur? What is an appropriate form of development? What
is the relationship of waterfront sites to contemporary city making? How can these isolated parcels be reconfigured to make connections between older city centers and the water’s edge?
