Quantitative Diagnosis of Ontological Narrative Capacity in Historic and Cultural Districts: An Event-Space Study of Chaozong Street, Changsha

As global urban development shifts towards stock upgrading and cultural tourism consumption, historic and cultural districts have become crucial spatial carriers for reshaping local identity and driving urban regeneration. Although the literature explores cultural value, current research remains limited to macro-scale assessments, leaving a gap in micro-scale, quantitative identification of spatial narrative capacity. To address this, the concept of ontological narrative is introduced, and a three-dimensional framework integrating physical space, functional formats, and historical events is constructed. Using event space as the unit of measurement, a mixed-methods approach combining spatial syntax, kernel density estimation, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process is applied to Chaozong Street in Changsha. The findings indicate that narrative intensity exhibits a spatial pattern of main-axis agglomeration and deep-alley attenuation. High-value nodes concentrate along primary streets with high accessibility. Conversely, narrative efficacy declines in branch alleys and functionally deficient zones. Furthermore, a four-quadrant diagnosis reveals widespread structural decoupling, such as high historical value paired with low vitality. This shows that historical assets require functional activation to become effective narratives. This research provides a precise analytical tool, grounded in node diagnosis, to counter homogenized urban renewal by fostering differentiated cultural expression.