Case Study: Urban Redevelopment and Renewal in Smithfield
Smithfield is located in north inner-city Dublin. Once one of the poorest areas in Dublin, experiencing high levels of urban decay, it subsequently became an area targeted for massive urban renewal and redevelopment. The area underwent significant commercial and residential developments, which led to it becoming newly fashionable in the first decade of the twenty-first century.
Managing information and thinking:
Go to the RTÉ Archive website, www.rte.ie/archives, click on ‘Search’ and look up ‘Urban Renewal in Smithfield Square’. Watch the video and then answer the following questions regarding the renewal plan:
1. What was Smithfield Market known for? 2. What four areas of Smithfield did the plan focus on? 3. What concerns did the existing residents have for any planned redevelopment of the area?
1. Explain the key differences between urban redevelopment and urban renewal.
2. Using one of the urban areas discussed in this chapter, explain how urban redevelopment/renewal has benefitted the area and the people living there.
