Explaining the stakeholders’ perspectives about urban regeneration policy: a grounded theory study in downtown Tabriz city, Iran

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent decades, urban regeneration has become increasingly important as a policy focusing on inner cities and deteriorated urban areas in the Global South. This policy consists of multiple stakeholders involved in its process, which requires profound research to solve acute problems and modify inefficient practices. Therefore, the current paper’s primary purpose is to explain stakeholders’ attitudes about urban regeneration in downtown Tabriz (Iran) as a second-tier middle eastern city based on grounded theory. Data collection was conducted through semi-structural interviews with 32 key stakeholders in the study area. The coding steps were also categorized using Atlas.ti software. Results indicate that the main forces, sub-factors and contextual conditions have been behind urban regeneration. Furthermore, gentrification and technocracy were recognized as the dominant approach in downtown Tabriz city. Consequently, by interpreting and reflecting on conceptual categories, “rent-oriented, growth-based and unbalanced regeneration” was called a core phenomenon.