Transit-Oriented Development as a Tool of Urban Transformation Addressed at Urban Regeneration Processes

Abstract

AbstractTransit-oriented development is a theoretical and practical framework that represents an important tool for municipalities, private actors and citizens to enhance urban transformation. Furthermore, there has been a growing interest to understand and implement this concept within urban planning practice. Mixed land use is an element that influences the transit-oriented development level of an urban area; therefore, it is important to further understand the role of this element and find paths to strengthen it and use it for urban regeneration processes. The main objective of the principle of mixed land use is to create more vibrant, well-connected and sustainable urban patterns. Adding to that, urban structures with a high mixed land use percentage provide citizens with a sufficient amount of services within walking distance and therefore decrease car dependency structures. However, areas with low mixed land use patterns will reproduce less dense, car-dependent urban areas. This research intends to provide tools to measure and assess mixed land use in an urban context so that it could be applied in urban regeneration processes. This research wishes to expand the scope of previously done studies in the sense that it will evaluate six parameters within mixed land use and at the same time expand the knowledge of the influence of TOD in urban regeneration projects. The study case that was assessed was Citylife, which is one of the biggest urban generation projects in Europe. The parameters measured were complementary uses, access to local services, access to parks and playgrounds, affordable housing, housing preservation, and business and services preservation. The methods that were used to perform the evaluation of these parameters are mapping, using geoinformation systems, specifically Qgis. Other methods used were literature review and observations. The conclusions describe the weakest and strongest parameters that were evaluated and the way in which Citylife could increase mixed land use patterns.KeywordsMixed land useUrban regenerationComplementary usesAffordable housingAccess to local servicesHousing preservationTransit-oriented developmentMixed urban patterns