Urban Life Cycles: Dynamics of Decline and Growth in Commercial Districts

City undergoes life cycles such as development, growth, and decline. Cities experiencing decline occur due to changes in population and industrial structures, and these declining cities may have different physical characteristics and usage patterns compared to growing cities. Specifically, the central areas of cities, often referred to as downtown or main street, concentrate various facilities as the focal point for employment, commercial activities, and urban administration. However, as a city enters the decline phase, vacant storefronts increase, new construction activities decrease, and pedestrian traffic on the streets declines. Such vitality declines hinder the influx of new businesses and contribute to the continued decline of the city. In this context, this study aims to compare and analyze the characteristics of entrepreneurs in growing and declining cities to derive insights for the management and revitalization of declining cities. Targeting cities in Korea with a population of over 100,000, the study distinguishes the life cycles of cities based on changes in population and employment over the past 20 years. It establishes variables for the physical environment and service characteristics of commercial districts in each city and statistically analyzes how different characteristics manifest based on the city's life cycle. Finally, the study classifies cities based on their life cycle and commercial district characteristics, proposing development strategies for each type of city.