Critic: The perennial image of the "city on a hill" associates elevated locations with elevated purposes.
Conclusion
The new concert hall cannot fulfill the purpose of a civic building.
Evidence (because)
The new concert hall is far from the center of the city.
A successful civic building is the art museum, which is in a densely populated area and thus encourages social cohesion and makes the city more alive.
Evaluate
The author seems to be assuming that .
He also seems to assume that if something is far from the center of the city it will not do those things.
Goal
Let's look for an answer attaching the New Concept in the Conclusion, "the purpose of a civic building" to language from the evidence, like being close to the city, encouraging social cohesion, and making the city more alive.