Neighbourhood Liveability Research Articles

PRZESTRZENNY WYMIAR ŻYWOTNOŚCI OSIEDLA Z PERSPEKTYWY UŻYTKOWNIKÓW I USŁUGODAWCÓW

Neighbourhood liveability is a concept reflecting the perceived living conditions in a housing area. Liveability depends on one hand on the relationship between demand and supply on the local services market, and on the other hand on the spatial structure of the neighbourhood. In this paper we combine those two aspects by asking a question: what physical forms are the most effective in providing quality of life and satisfying the everyday needs of citizens? We present the results of social survey and mapping analysis conducted in 5 neighbourhoods in Poland representing big cities, medium towns and suburbs. Each case study included opinions of both the customers and services providers. The results show that there are particular spatial structures (streets, squares, passages) positively evaluated by each of the two groups, determining the neighbourhood liveability.

Social capital as a predictor of neighborhood satisfaction: an analysis of American Housing Survey national data

ABSTRACT Social capital plays a critical role in neighborhood satisfaction, which in turn contributes to healthy and vibrant communities. However, scholars in housing and community development often leave social capital variables out of analyses. This study uses the American Housing Survey (AHS) 2013 national data, the only AHS data with social capital variables, to measure whether and how social capital dimensions relate to perceived livability of neighborhoods. The research controls for household characteristics, actual and perceived neighborhood and housing attributes, and locational variables. The study uses perceived livability as a proxy to measure the satisfaction levels of residents with their neighborhoods. Overall, citizen participation is weak, while social trust, cohesion, and ties within neighborhoods are strong among the survey respondents. Most of the social capital dimensions are significantly related to perceived neighborhood livability in a positive direction. The results indicate that stronger social capital contributes to higher perceived neighborhood livability. However, the effect of social capital is different among homeowners, renter, urban, and suburban/rural households. Therefore, the important roles of social capital in promoting neighborhood satisfaction and livability require policymakers to pay more attention to social capital factors in neighborhood needs assessment and community development practice.

Objective and Subjective Physical Measures of the Neighbourhood Environment among Older People

This paper aims to explore the relation between objective and subjective neighbourhood walkability and its impact on the physical activity level of older adults. The correlations were used to signify older people's level of physical activity in Johor Bahru neighbourhoods, Malaysia. The results show residents in a highly dense area with higher accessibility to facilities perceived higher walkability level but showed a lower actual physical activity level. People living in high intersection density areas who recognised high walkability demonstrated higher physical activity level, while residents in a highly dense area with higher accessibility show lower physical activity level. This implies that neighbourhoods with high intersection density demonstrated a highly walkable environment rather than neighbourhoods with high density and high accessibility.

Identifying community priorities for neighborhood livability: Engaging neighborhood residents to facilitate community assessment.

Identifying community-driven priorities to improve health outcomes is crucial toward achieving health equity. Seldom are communities experiencing health disparities included in community health assessment (CHA) and health improvement planning efforts (Pennel, McLeroy, Burdine, Matarrita-Cascante, & Wang, 2017). The purpose of this project was to conduct a CHA using a socio-ecological framework and community engagement (CE) process. In this paper we describe an exemplar engaging local residents as community facilitators to assess indicators of neighborhood livability, challenges and lessons learned, and implications for public health and community/public health nursing. Community residents were trained to facilitate focus groups and participated in analyzing these data. Data analysis yielded five neighborhood livability indicators and priorities reflecting the social determinants of health. Engaging community residents as stakeholders in CHA and health improvement planning is critical for identifying structural factors affecting neighborhood livability and priorities to improve health and well-being. Public health and health care system partnerships employing inclusive CE practices are necessary to improve overall population health outcomes. Public health nursing's role as strategy and system leaders can contribute toward the success of these cross-sector partnerships with diverse communities and populations.

Community-level predictors of Australian children's dental caries and injury.

Social determinants of oral health are complex and have been described by conceptual frameworks. A widely embraced model of children's oral health was published by Fisher-Owens et al. (2007), identifying theoretical constructs influencing oral health. The current study aimed to investigate community-level constructs described in the conceptual model. The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children is a cross-sequential dual cohort study, with a representative sample (n=10090) of Australian children. Generalized estimating equations were applied to model seven waves of carer-reported oral health and community measures. In the final model, children living in Queensland had a 1.48 (CI 1.35-1.62) increased odds of dental caries over time. Children in low socio-economic status (SES) areas (OR 1.32 CI 1.20-1.44) had an increased odds of caries. The state of Queensland (OR 1.24 CI 1.05-1.46) and poor neighbourhood liveability (OR 1.17 CI 1.05-1.31) were predictors of dental injury. By modelling available community measures, this study found SES and rurality were predictors of caries over childhood. Our results highlight the difficulty of applying conceptual models to oral health. The use of qualitative studies and realist reviews should be considered to complement statistical models to provide contextualized insights into funding, policy and service delivery on children's oral health.

The Relation between Objective and Perceived Physical Characteristics of a Neighborhood Environment for Older People

This paper aims to investigate the relation between objective and perceived neighbourhood walkability and its influence on the physical activity level of older adults. The relationships were used to measure older people's neighbourhood liveability, whereas physical activity relates to older people's quality of life in Johor Bahru neighbourhoods, Malaysia. The study outcomes show residents in a highly dense area with higher accessibility to facilities perceived higher walkability but showed a lower physical activity level. Residents in high intersection density areas who recognised high walkability demonstrated higher physical activity level, whereas residents in a highly dense area with higher accessibility show lower physical activity level.Keywords: Active ageing; physical neighbourhood environment; neighbourhood liveability; quality of lifeeISSN: 2398-4287 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v4i11.1732

Implementing the Supermanzana approach in Barcelona. Critical issues at local and urban level

ABSTRACT To improve neighbourhood liveability and urban sustainability, Barcelona is seeking to re-organize its urban structure into superblocks, designed to discourage cut-through traffic and promote multiple uses of street space. Despite its potential, this approach is not without its limits, that should be properly taken into account. The implementation of the Supermanzana model in the Poblenou neighbourhood is explored in this paper to analyse its potentialities and constraints. Temporal synchronization between the urban level and the neighbourhood level turns out to be particularly important to reduce conflicts and criticalities.

Exploring the perceived impacts of a public high school closure for urban liveability in a Canadian midsized city

ABSTRACTPublic schools are more than educational institutions; they are essential to creating liveable neighbourhoods. Despite their importance, public schools are being permanently closed across North America, and particularly in the Canadian province of Ontario. In 2015, one of Ontario's public school boards made the decision to permanently close the province's oldest public high school, located in the urban core of the historic midsized city of Kingston. While the school is not scheduled to close until late 2019, the established fate of this prominent public asset has important consequences for the liveability of Kingston's urban core. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to document residents’ perceived impacts of the decision to close to Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute (KCVI) on liveability in the school's catchment area. We observed widespread dissatisfaction with the decision to close KCVI (85%), with large proportions of respondents (above 40%) anticipating KCVI's closure to negatively impact neighbourhood liveability in various ways in the future. Approximately one-quarter of respondents indicated that they have considered moving as a result of the decision, and among these, concerns about negative impacts to household-level well-being were particularly acute. Given the socio-demographic profile of respondents who have considered moving, these findings suggest that the closure of KCVI could have a destabilising effect on the neighbourhoods within the KCVI catchment area by driving families out of the city's urban core. Our findings suggest that policies to address concerns of under-enrolment are short-sighted and undermine efforts of other sectors to promote liveable communities.

Potential for sustainable use of trees in hot arid regions: A case study of Emirati neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi

This paper explores the future of landscapes in arid, coastal regions based on 4 water-energy regimes, using a case study of villa neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It examines the potential for the planting of 15 selected tree species for carbon storage under various water-energy regimes to create carbon neutral (or negative) villa neighborhoods. Recent improvements to solar photovoltaic and reverse-osmosis desalination technology have lowered the carbon emissions for water production by over 99% relative to current gas-powered multi-stage flash desalination (0.08 kg CO2/m3 vs.12.8 kg CO2/m3). This allows trees planted in hot, desert climates to utilize treated ocean water while net sequestering between 1.7 and 38.2 kg C/tree/yr depending on species. When planted in existing neighborhood open spaces, we find that net carbon storage rates from trees are significant (15–800%) relative to operational emissions rates for building energy (cooling, lighting, equipment) when households are supplied from 100% renewable energy sources. Thus, as technology advances, landscape design strategies in the region could evolve to maximize planting to sequester carbon while also creating more comfortable outdoor spaces that enhance the livability of neighborhoods. This study provides a first step in identifying the potential for landscape architectural design to employ a tree-based, neighborhood scale, carbon storage strategy in arid regions such as those in the Arabian Peninsula. As nations move towards a carbon-neutral future, it is imperative to develop innovative solutions that address urban sustainability, especially in resource-challenged and extreme climate regions where new urban development is planned.

Third-Generation Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

This paper advances crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) theory and practice by introducing a holistic and integrated crime prevention theory called Third-Generation CPTED. We use Third-Generation CPTED to expand both the situational focus of traditional CPTED and the social ecology/neighbourhood focus of Second-Generation CPTED, by creating a new theory that integrates human motivation and aspirations within a neighbourhood Liveability Hierarchy. Central to our theory is the planning concept of liveability and, because safety from crime, fear, and victimization is such an integral part of quality of life, we present two underlying themes on which liveability depends: public health and sustainability. We propose some theoretical assumptions and propositions that underpin the theory and suggest areas for future research. Our contention is that a holistic and integrative Third-Generation CPTED elevates liveability from the role of basic infrastructure and habitat to providing residents with opportunities to enhance their own personal aspirations and improve their quality of life.

Traffic calming and neighborhood livability: Evidence from housing prices in Portland

This paper examines the impact of traffic calming on the livability of urban residential streets. Using geo-referenced data on the installation of 1187 calming devices in Portland (OR), I test whether the interventions locally affect housing prices during succeeding years. I provide reduced-form evidence that city dwellers pay significant premiums to limit their exposure to motor vehicles, but obtain mixed results regarding the overall price impacts of calming devices. My estimates suggest that only the most effective traffic calming measures have a detectable impact on housing prices. The implied traffic flow elasticity is −0.07: projects decreasing traffic by 16% raise home values on treated streets by 1%.

A comparison of neighbourhood liveability as perceived by two groups of residents: Tehran, Iran and Tartu, Estonia

Liveability is an important component of the sustainable urban environment, especially in residential neighbourhoods. This study presents a comparison in perceived liveability between residents living in two very different locations, Tehran, Iran and Tartu, Estonia, using a questionnaire survey (n = 102). The image-questionnaire was used to measure residents’ response towards environmental factors and to examine the relationships between the attributes of residential neighbourhoods and perceived liveability. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze the data collected from the survey. The results showed that the neighbourhood liveability was positively influenced by proportion and scale of the spaces, amount of private green areas, street character, amount of public greenery, the variety of building form, the mix of buildings from different periods, perceived crowding and social density. The study demonstrated that residents can assess the factors and that the approach worked in two contrasting locations. The results also showed a great deal of similarity in preference, although this was not the main aim of the study. The approach has potential to be incorporated into participatory urban planning models.

2457 - The Holistic Intersection Rating System (HIRS: A Novel Methodology to Measure Intersection Performance

Background Urban roadway intersections are key components of urban transportation networks. They are traditionally viewed and designed as primarily motorized-traffic facilities thus their physical and operational designs aimed at maximizing traffic throughput. Seen from a systems’ viewpoint, however, they are transport and community facilities with direct and indirect impacts on traffic functionalities, public health and the livability of communities. Thus, an integrated physical and operational design approach is necessary to design and/or analyze those intersections. Methods This study proposes a new methodology for measuring intersection performance called the Holistic Intersection Rating System (HIRS). It is based on design and technology innovation to improve operations and foster public health and community well-being. HIRS will assess the intersection design and functionalities with respect to two main categories: enabling technologies and physical design aimed at the transport functionality, and physical design and operability aimed at public health and community well-being. In particular, HIRS examines transportation intersections as system components of the urban environment. It rates the physical features of the road and the different motorized and non-motorized traffic flow design and operation parameters that equitably optimize throughput and support desired public health and community well-being outcomes. The public health and community well-being outcomes HIRS rates relate to physical and mental health, community severance, and “completeness” of intersections. Results HIRS facilitates pedestrian and cyclists’ use of intersections so intersections serve the dual needs of meaningful travel and good health while improving drivers experience and neighborhood livability and quality of life. The HIRS index may be constructed using common intersection travel efficiency and public health and community well-being indicators or indicators. The indicators can be weighed using two methodologies: the Relative Importance Index (RII) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The proposed system will be validated using an interdisciplinary industry panel of experts, and with empirical theoretical data runs. Conclusions Physical and operational design of roadway intersections, and the rating of sufficiency of such designs, are both necessary and possible for the well-functioning and use of urban transport systems and their users irrespective of modality. Tools that are dynamic and accommodating of changing designs and community values and priorities are necessary.

Evaluating Neighborhoods Livability in Nigeria: A Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) Approach

There is a growing concern about city livability around the world and of particular concern is the aspects of the person-environment relationship which encompasses many characteristics suffice to make a place livable. Extant literature provides livability dimensions such as housing unit characteristics, neighborhood facilities, economic vitality and safety environment. These livability dimensions as well as their attributes found in the extant literature have been reported to have high reliability measurement level. Although, various methods have been applied to examine relationships among the variables however structural equation modeling (SEM) has been found more holistic as a modeling technique to understand and explain the relationships that may exist among variable measurements. Structural equation modeling simultaneously performs multivariate analysis including multiple regression, path and factor analysis in the cause-effect relationships between latent constructs. Therefore, this study investigates the key factors of livability of planned residential neighborhoods in Minna, Nigeria with the research objectives of – (a) to study the livability level of the selected residential neighborhoods, (b) to determine the dimensions and indicators which most influence the level of livability in the selected residential neighborhoods, and (c) to reliably test the efficacy of structural equation modeling (SEM) in the assessment of livability. The methodology adopted in this study includes- Data collection with the aid of structured questionnaire survey administered to the residents of the study area based on stratified random sampling. The data collected was analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0 and AMOS 22.0 software for structural equation modeling (a second-order factor). The study revealed that livability as a second-order factor is indicated by economic vitality, safety environment, neighborhood facilities and housing unit characteristics first-order factors. The result shows that economic vitality (income, mobility and mobility cost) most significantly measures neighborhood livability. Also, results of the model achieved good fit indices such as CFI of 0.907 and the RMSEA value of 0.096. Thus, SEM analyses in this study offer a methodological guide on the efficacy of CFA second-order factor.

Livable Streets, Livable Arterials? Characteristics of Commercial Arterial Roads Associated With Neighborhood Livability

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Planners and engineers traditionally consolidate motorized traffic onto arterial roads that pose challenges for surrounding neighborhoods. We investigate the positive and negative impacts of commercial arterials with nodes of activity on the livability of surrounding neighborhoods. We examine 10 arterials in Denver (CO) and survey respondents in adjacent neighborhoods, asking how they view those arterials. We use factor analysis to create a typology of neighbors' perceptions of these arterials. Neighbors like arterials that they perceive as a) vibrant with good transit access and b) quiet and clean; they dislike arterials that they perceive as a) unpleasant and b) sketchy. Vibrant arterials contribute to the perceived livability of the surrounding neighborhoods, whereas sketchy arterials are negatively associated with livability, but the same arterials are often simultaneously vibrant and sketchy. Residents clearly value the social functions that arterials provide and seem less aware of traffic volumes; some low-volume arterials are not more livable than those with higher traffic volumes. Our findings are limited by the small sample size; we do not try to validate objective measures of livability with residents' perceptions.Takeaway for practice: Arterials can be good places for surrounding neighborhoods while still serving as major traffic corridors; accessibility and mobility do not always conflict. Planners should develop economic development plans for affected neighborhoods and enhance neighborhood livability by encouraging active land uses on arterials, maintaining the safety and cleanliness Livable Streets, Livable Arterials? Characteristics of Commercial Arterial Roads Associated With Neighborhood Livability Carolyn McAndrews and Wesley Marshall of arterials, and enhancing the pedestrian environment along those arterials.

A Tale of Two Neighbourhoods: Some Evidence of Leadership, Learning, and Liveability

Research on community-based organisations’ potentials and capacities to mobilise community at grassroots levels are emerging rapidly. Yet, inadequacy in terms of understanding how these grassroots institutions participate within Local Agenda 21 processes persists. Despite the establishment of Local Agenda 21 for sixteen years in Malaysia, research on the development of community leadership and learning in mobilising community remains scarce. This paper thus attempts to assess community leadership and learning through participation in Local Agenda 21 programs. Triangulated data collection methods comprising document analysis, experts’ interviews, and case study approach were undertaken to evaluate the development of local sustainable initiatives implemented by two community-based organisations within the platform of community participation facilitated by the City Council of Petaling Jaya. Building on Purdue’s leadership and trust framework as well as instrumental and communicative learning concepts, this qualitative study finds that continuous participation resulting from a continuous charismatic leadership has caused the local neighbourhoods to keep learning. This finding suggests that neighbourhoods participating actively in sustainability platform may substantially contribute to social dimensions of neighbourhood liveability, depending on the extent of community leadership and learning.

Dog park users: An examination of perceived social capital and perceived neighborhood social cohesion

ABSTRACTDog parks have the potential to be sites that engender community benefits. The purpose of this study is to examine whether dog parks, as places providing social interaction opportunities with other dog owners, can engender perceived social cohesion. Dog parks represent small-scale places where social interaction can occur to improve the personal connections and interpersonal interactions that facilitate neighborhood livability and urban quality of life. The theoretical frameworks of bridging and bonding social capital were explored, in terms of weak/bridging and strong/bonding social ties, as aspects affecting perceived neighborhood social cohesion. We hypothesized that both bridging/weak ties and bonding/strong ties were precursors to neighborhood social cohesion but explored the extent to which weak and strong social ties impact social cohesion in a simultaneous or stepwise manner. Our findings indicate support for the latter.

Traffic Calming and Neighborhood Livability: Evidence from Housing Prices in Portland

This paper examines the impact of traffic calming on the livability of urban residential streets. Using geo-referenced data on the installation of 1,187 calming devices in Portland, Oregon, I test whether the interventions locally affect housing prices during succeeding years. I provide reduced-form evidence that city dwellers pay significant premiums to limit their exposure to motor vehicles, but obtain mixed results regarding the overall price impacts of calming devices. My estimates suggest that only the most effective traffic calming measures have a detectable impact on housing prices. The implied traffic flow elasticity is -0.07: projects decreasing traffic by 16% raise home values on treated streets by 1%.

Form & Structure of urban Housing in Duhok City

This Research is an attempt to describe the existing urban form and structure of the residential area in Duhok city as an example for other cities in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. The research will study and analyze the spatial characteristic and typologies of urban housing and the transformation of its form and structure. The aim of the research is to identity the main urban form elements and livability of city neighborhoods to provide guidelines related to the future housing development. To achieve research objectives the research used “Qualitative” Methods to study and analyze the urban patterns of Duhoks neighborhoods, identify their typologies, layouts and design concepts. The Residential area in the city will be studied and analyzed by assessing settlements that represent the different residential typologies in Duhok City based on the rate and date of the development. On the other hand, the analysis of the urban patterns: the alignment and types of housing building, streets and open spaces, provide overlooking in the very detailed physical pattern of urban housing on higher scale. The main means for collecting the Data are: Observing and reviewing the maps, plans and documents from local government institutions. The results of the research identify challenges and opportunities facing future neighborhood development and provide guidelines for improving the efficiency of housing environment in the city.

Too busy or too far away? The importance of subjective constraints and spatial factors for sports frequency

Previous studies on the association between the availability of sports facilities and sports participation have neglected the influence of subjective constraints that individuals experience with regard to sports participation. This paper investigates to what extent constraints experienced by sports participants are associated with their spatial circumstances and whether these subjective constraints or objective spatial circumstances have a greater impact on sports frequency. Based on a survey among 776 adults in urban and rural municipalities in the Netherlands, regression analyses revealed that constraints were related to neighbourhood liveability and distance to indoor sports facilities and swimming pools. Time constraints had a strong negative effect on sports frequency, but the effect of distance to indoor facilities and swimming pools was even more important. Our results furthermore indicate a growing need for flexibility in the spatiotemporal organization of sports activities and an increased importance of the public space for sports participation.