Killing Time?

Here is my thesis abstract. Hopefully this time it's a bit more clear! Also, I think you would prefer to read the abstract than the 15 pager I have to submit.

Ps- There's this french girl who works at the bar/cafe at the school and good god she is rude. She is the only one on the staff who has absolutely no manners and she is ALWAYS cranky. I'm not really sure how she has this job when there are so many unemployed friendly people. But I guess whatever. I got my fricken coffee.


Thesis Statement
Within the next 5 years Cochrane, Alberta will be “complete”. Having utilized all the space within the Town Boundaries, there are two directions that the town could continue to grow. The first and more convenient option would be to simply annex more land around the town. The other possibility is to grow inwards, redeveloping the already developed areas. This does not mean demolition projects and re-appropriation of public space. With an overwhelming number of satellite cities developing across Canada around major urban centers, and an ever increasing amount of sprawl (particularly around Calgary and Toronto) a new model of adapting and retrofitting suburbia in a series of rational and acceptable phases has become necessary. This thesis will examine ways of engaging the community, the political entities and the developers in a discourse around these topics, aiming to reduce apathetic tendencies of citizens and encourage user defined development rather than corporate model development.

Methodology
Part I
The first phase of the thesis involves the development of several strategies and “experiments” to test the community engagement and create discourse and discussion within different age groups, user groups and political bodies. This includes school children, senior citizens, local architects and developers, town council and neighbourhood associations. Not unlike an integrated design process, the approach will bring to the table a number of points and counterpoints which stimulate thought and interaction. These experiments will utilize and embrace the digital environment and preferences as spaces of interaction and participation within various networks. An online database will be created to house the research and organize the ideas, accessible to the participants and rest of the community for feedback and review.
Part II
The second phase of the thesis will be the development of several short proposals relating to the various phases which may be considered for future growth. The intention is to promote economic and social vitality and consider environmental impacts in a future market which may not revolve around the local oil industry. The collection and organization of information during Part I will develop the guidelines and basis for this portion of the work, therefore making it a collaborative project proposed by not an individual but the collective.