What term describes the process of changing the appearance or visual identity of an area?

The term that best describes the process of changing the appearance or visual identity of an area is urban re-imaging. This process often involves initiatives aimed at altering how an area is perceived, often to attract new residents, businesses, or tourism. Urban re-imaging may include physical changes to buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure as well as branding efforts that work to create a particular identity or image for the area in question.

In contrast, urban transformation typically refers to broader changes that may involve socio-economic shifts and urban renewal, rather than just changes in appearance. Urban landscaping focuses more on the design and enhancement of outdoor spaces, such as parks and gardens, rather than the identity of an area as a whole. Urban development generally encompasses the broader process of constructing new buildings and improving infrastructure, which may include but is not limited to visual alterations. Hence, urban re-imaging specifically emphasizes the visual and identity aspects, making it the correct answer.