Urban Neighborhoods Research Articles

Small Businesses and the Social Fabric of Urban Neighborhoods

Small Businesses and the Social Fabric of Urban Neighborhoods

Profiles of Risk and Promotive Factors Associated With Aggression and Other Problem Behaviors Among Middle School Students in an Urban School System

This study’s goal was to identify patterns of risk and promotive factors across multiple social-ecological domains and their associations with adolescents’ problem behaviors (aggression, substance use, and other delinquent behaviors), victimization, and distress symptoms. Participants were a mostly African American (79%) sample of 2711 middle school students (Mage = 12.7; 52% female) in urban neighborhoods who completed measures of 13 risk and promotive factors and adjustment. Ratings were also obtained from teachers. Latent profile analysis identified four subgroups: high risk/low promotive (10% of the sample), moderate risk/low promotive (36%), low risk/low promotive (15%), and low risk/high promotive (38%). Subgroups varied in student- and teacher-reported aggression, problem behaviors, victimization, and distress. The findings indicated that risk and promotive factors tend to operate together and in distinct patterns rather than in isolation. This suggests researchers move beyond variable-centered analyses of limited sets of risk and protective factors.

Outside Interior

This paper proposes an idea of the traversed boundaries of inside and outside, by examining various mechanisms of how the inside and the outside could traverse each other within the context of everyday life in an urban neighbourhood in Jakarta, Indonesia. It argues on the (in)significance of interior entities in defining the interiority of an urban context, especially in an urban setting where the cultural and climatic context encourages more outdoor events and activities. An inquiry into everyday life in an urban neighbourhood was performed in order to reveal various possibilities for mechanisms in which the inside and outside could be extended and exchanged. The making of interior is not merely defined by the presence of interior entities contained within the physical boundaries. Various mechanisms of traversing the inside and outside could further define the nature of the urban interior of everyday life, where the interior could become independent from its physical boundaries. These mechanisms suggest the possibility of alternative types of urban interior that might emerge due to the occupation of space (whether inside or outside) by the events that take place alongside the everyday habitual routines. The emergence of outside interior is made possible by the porosity of the boundaries, which allow for the exchange of atmospheric condition, the exchange of programs and actions, and the movement of objects across the boundaries of inside and outside.

Effects of microclimate on disease prevalence across an urbanization gradient.

Increased temperatures associated with urbanization (the "urban heat island" effect) have been shown to impact a wide range of traits across diverse taxa. At the same time, climatic conditions vary at fine spatial scales within habitats due to factors including shade from shrubs, trees, and built structures. Patches of shade may function as microclimate refugia that allow species to occur in habitats where high temperatures and/or exposure to ultraviolet radiation would otherwise be prohibitive. However, the importance of shaded microhabitats for interactions between species across urbanized landscapes remains poorly understood. Weedy plants and their foliar pathogens are a tractable system for studying how multiple scales of climatic variation influence infection prevalence. Powdery mildew pathogens are particularly well suited to this work, as these fungi can be visibly diagnosed on leaf surfaces. We studied the effects of shaded microclimates on rates of powdery mildew infection on Plantago host species in (1) "pandemic pivot" surveys in which undergraduate students recorded shade and infection status of thousands of plants along road verges in urban and suburban residential neighborhoods, (2) monthly surveys of plant populations in 22 parks along an urbanization gradient, and (3) a manipulative field experiment directly testing the effects of shade on the growth and transmission of powdery mildew. Together, our field survey results show strong positive effects of shade on mildew infection in wild Plantago populations across urban, suburban, and rural habitats. Our experiment suggests that this relationship is causal, where microclimate conditions associated with shade promote pathogen growth. Overall, infection prevalence increased with urbanization despite a negative association between urbanization and tree cover at the landscape scale. These findings highlight the importance of taking microclimate heterogeneity into account when establishing links between macroclimate or land use context and prevalence of disease.

Development of a protocol for using geo-trackers to identify zoonotic enteric pathogen transmission pathways in a pilot study in Kenya

Abstract Humans and animals can be exposed to fecally-transmitted pathogens in both private and public domain environments. Animals may also acquire pathogen infections from these two environments and transmit them to humans through different pathways. Evidence on how often and where interactions occur between the two environments could improve the effectiveness of public health programs for preventing zoonotic disease transmission and response to disease outbreaks. This study aimed to develop a protocol for using geo-trackers to measure the spatial-temporal movement and interaction between animals and children in households and public areas in low- and middle-income categories of urban neighbourhoods in Kenya. It also aimed to identify opportunities and challenges for the scale-up of these methods’ for surveillance of other zoonotic diseases of public health significance. One commercial geo-tracker device with the best technological performance and usability that met pre-defined criteria for the study context was identified. Community engagement meetings were then conducted to gather input on a proposed study protocol. Afterwards, infants and animals were geo-tracked in 10 households in urban informal settlements of Kibera and Jericho, Nairobi over two consecutive weeks with iterative improvements to protocols. The effectiveness of the geo-tracking exercise was evaluated through in-depth interviews with Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and infant caregivers. Animal and infant behaviour and battery reliability of the geo-trackers were also monitored; and observed opportunities and challenges in implementing the protocol during the exercise were documented. Community members were receptive and accepted the use of geo-trackers on animals and children. In pilot testing, there was no change of behaviour from 10 infants tracked. Discomfort was observed for up to 30 min after the placement for some of the seven animals tracked, but the animals quickly adjusted. The battery for all geo-tracker devices lasted for the 24-h geo-tracking period. Some caregivers and CHVs were concerned whether the geo-trackers could record personal information. It was shown that geo-tracker devices can be successfully deployed to study animal-child interactions and movement in different categories of urban neighbourhoods. Recommendations have been made on the lessons learnt from the study to help scientists who would use geo-trackers for future community-based human and animal research. One Health impact statement Assessing human and animal risks of acquiring enteric infections from environmental contamination, or contributing to pathogen contamination of the environment requires understanding spatial-temporal patterns of human and animal movement between private households and the community. Movement of domestic animals is relevant for understanding household-community spatial patterns of pathogen transmission because animal ownership and contact with humans is common, and free-roaming animals carrying enteric pathogens can spread diverse faecal pathogens between environments. The community-based participatory research approach of this study evaluated implementation feasibility from the lens of technical usability and reliability of geo-tracking devices, as well as social acceptability and ethics related to using such devices for the community-based study of human and animal subjects in urban settings. Evidence and recommendations from this study will be useful to anyone interested in understanding human-animal-environment interactions and their contributions to infectious disease transmission.

Sense of community (SOC) in gated urban neighborhoods: Empirical insights from Accra, Ghana

ABSTRACT Despite gated communities becoming a prominent form of housing in the Global South cities, the extent to which these privatized neighborhoods foster a sense of community remains understudied. Most of the studies on sense of community are based on experiences from the Global North. To address this lacuna, this paper examines the extent to which residents of gated communities develop a sense of community and the different factors that are associated with this sense of community. We conducted regression analysis on cross-sectional survey data from Devtraco and Manet gated communities, to determine factors associated with a sense of community in these gated communities. Our findings demonstrate that residents of gated communities exhibit a stronger sense of community—shaped by different individual, household, and environmental characteristics. Interestingly, our study reveals that males have a higher sense of community compared to females. Age, length of residence, tenure status, household size, and proximity to community features were significant factors associated with sense of community. Our study adds to the extant literature on a sense of community among individuals living in gated communities in the Global South.

Urban greenspace and neighborhood crime

AbstractUrban greenspace (UGS) has been recently linked to public safety. Criminologists, however, have been largely absent from the discussion about this association, despite having important theoretical tools and empirical findings to contribute. In the current study, we review the prominent criminological perspectives that may be used to explain the association between UGS and crime. Furthermore, we draw from prior work to extend beyond the question of whether UGS affects crime to the more crucial question of when it does. Using a sample of block groups in Washington, D.C., we examine the association between two measures of UGS—tree canopy coverage and noncanopy vegetation coverage—and violent and property crime. We also assess the moderating effects of antecedents to social disorganization (poverty and homeownership) on the association between UGS and crime. Our results suggest that both types of UGS are associated with fewer crimes, even while controlling for a range of criminogenic factors. The effects of tree canopy coverage appear to be crime general, while the effects of noncanopy vegetation coverage only apply to violent crime. The effects of tree canopy, however, are weaker in communities characterized by high levels of poverty and low levels of homeownership.

Factors Associated With Negative Life Changes due to COVID-19 Among Older Adults Residing in an Urban Low-Income Neighborhood in Korea: Focused on Gendered Differences.

This study examined negative life changes due to coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) and its correlates in a sample of community-dwelling older adults from a low-income urban city in Korea, focusing on gendered differences. Negative life changes due to COVID-19 were categorized into four domains: behavioral/physical, psychosocial, goal-seeking, and control/freedom. Being female, not receiving basic livelihood security, and dissatisfaction with housing situation were significantly associated with negative life changes during the pandemic. Gender-stratified analyses revealed that most within-gender social disparities associated with changes due to COVID-19 occurred in older women. The odds of experiencing negative changes were higher among working women and those receiving security income aid. In low-income urban communities, those who were previously socially and economically active perceived more negative changes owing to the pandemic. The contribution of gender to negative life changes should be considered to effectively alleviate concerns among older adults during pandemics.

Sustainability outcomes and policy implications: Evaluating China's "old urban neighborhood renewal" experiment.

Globally, old urban neighborhood transformation has become a new urban sustainability focus for its significant contribution to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 11. A regeneration-oriented approach is particularly important for Chinese cities with a dwindling land supply, obsoleting infrastructure, and inadequate standard of living. Using a mixed-methods approach informed by BREEAM Communities, we examined two Chinese initiatives-old urban neighborhood renewal (OUNR) and sponge city development (SCD)-through a comprehensive study of pilot project sustainability, policy emphases and gaps, and broader governance implications. We found that SCD's top-down technocratic management was highly efficient in enhancing neighborhood hydrological functions and physical environment. However, successes were undermined by the lack of climate considerations and civic participation. Besides actionable recommendations for applied scholarship and policymaking in China, we provide insight into how the OUNR/SCD initiatives may broadly inform worldwide urban regeneration practices through project and policy experimentations that build adaptive capacity.

Behaviour and distribution of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and their relation to dengue incidence in two transmission hotspots in coastal Ecuador.

Dengue (DENV) transmission is endemic throughout coastal Ecuador, showing heterogeneous incidence patterns in association with fine-scale variation in Aedes aegypti vector populations and other factors. Here, we investigated the impact of micro-climate and neighbourhood-level variation in urbanization on Aedes abundance, resting behaviour and associations with dengue incidence in two endemic areas. Aedes aegypti were collected in Quinindé and Portoviejo, two urban cantons with hyperendemic dengue transmission in coastal Ecuador. Aedes vectors were sampled in and around houses within urban and peri-urban neighbourhoods at four time periods. We tested for variation in vector abundance and resting behaviour in relation to neighbourhood urbanization level and microclimatic factors. Aedes abundance increased towards the end of the rainy season, was significantly higher in Portoviejo than in Quinindé, and in urban than in peri-urban neighbourhoods. Aedes vectors were more likely to rest inside houses in Portoviejo but had similar abundance in indoor and outdoor resting collections in Quinindé. Over the study period, DENV incidence was lower in Quinindé than in Portoviejo. Relationships between weekly Ae. aegypti abundance and DENV incidence were highly variable between trapping methods; with positive associations being detected only between BG-sentinel and outdoor Prokopack collections. Aedes aegypti abundance was significantly higher in urban than peri-urban neighbourhoods, and their resting behaviour varied between study sites. This fine-scale spatial heterogeneity in Ae. aegypti abundance and behaviour could generate site-specific variation in human exposure and the effectiveness of indoor-based interventions. The trap-dependent nature of associations between Aedes abundance and local DENV incidence indicates further work is needed to identify robust entomological indicators of infection risk.

Increasing tree cover and high-albedo surfaces reduces heat-related ER visits in Los Angeles, CA

There is an urgent need for strategies to reduce the negative impacts of a warming climate on human health. Cooling urban neighborhoods by planting trees and vegetation and increasing albedo of roofs, pavements, and walls can mitigate urban heat. We used synoptic climatology to examine how different tree cover and albedo scenarios would affect heat-related morbidity in Los Angeles, CA, USA, as measured by emergency room (ER) visits. We classified daily meteorological data for historical summer heat events into discrete air mass types. We analyzed those classifications against historical ER visit data to determine both heat-related and excess morbidity. We used the Weather Research and Forecasting model to examine the impacts of varied tree cover and albedo scenarios on meteorological outcomes and used these results with standardized morbidity data algorithms to estimate potential reductions in ER visits. We tested three urban modification scenarios of low, medium, and high increases of tree cover and albedo and compared these against baseline conditions. We found that avoiding 25% to 50% of ER visits during heat events would be a common outcome if the urban environment had more tree cover and higher albedo, with the greatest benefits occurring under heat events that are moderate and those that are particularly hot and dry. We conducted these analyses at the county level and compared results to a heat-vulnerable, working-class Los Angeles community with a high concentration of people of color, and found that reductions in the rate of ER visits would be even greater at the community level compared to the county.

Towards a socially sustainable built environment: a comparative assessment of urban neighbourhoods in Istanbul

PurposeIntegrating and advancing social sustainability is foundational to achieving the urban sustainable development goals. Given the rapid transformation of cities in the Mediterranean region, this study sought to assess residents' evaluation of social sustainability in two socio-spatially diverse neighbourhoods of metropolitan Istanbul.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey, adapted from an empirically well-tested and robust social sustainability framework, was used to collect data from 197 residents from Balat and Rasimpasa neighbourhoods in Metropolitan Istanbul. The study then employed quantitative analytical techniques such as independent sample t-tests and Pearson correlation to analyse the sample data.FindingsIn both neighbourhoods, accessibility and participation were ranked the highest and lowest dimensions of social sustainability, respectively. However, the t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the two neighbourhoods regarding social networking and interaction, safety and security and participation. The differences align with emerging studies on urban social sustainability in the Mediterranean and European cities that when considered from urban spatial contexts, significant differences emerge from a social network and safety perspective.Practical implicationsOur study invites urban planners and policy makers attention to and emphasise on lowly evaluated social sustainability dimensions such as participation in their efforts to promote sustainable urban development at the neighbourhood level. We reason that opening the decision-making process to include diverse voices and experiences of residents through participatory workshops might offer opportunities for context-specific, citizen-led urban planning and design strategies that are socially sustainable.Originality/valuePrevious studies have not fully accounted for how various socio-spatial contexts at the neighbourhood level shape differential evaluation of social sustainability. This paper extends the emerging work on urban social sustainability by situating residents’ evaluation of social sustainability indicators across two unique neighbourhoods with gridded and organic spatial characteristics in Istanbul. This paper is an important addition to ongoing work on how spatial organisation of neighbourhoods can influence experiences of social sustainability from an urban planning and design perspective.

Urban Farming Framework, Benefits for Neighbourhood Development And Urban Sustainability

The paper, "Urban Farming Framework, Benefits for Neighbourhood Development and Urban Sustainability," represents a comprehensive exploration into the imperative need for urban farming and its multifaceted advantages concerning neighbourhood development and urban sustainability. Central to its analysis are the elucidation of various forms and definitions of urban farming, underscoring its pivotal role in implementing circular economy strategies and fortifying urban food security measures. By integrating case studies, particularly within educational institutions like schools and Anganwadi centres, the report underscores the transformative potential of urban farming initiatives in promoting sustainability, community engagement, and equitable participation. Crucially, the study emphasizes the interconnectedness between urban farming and neighbourhood development, elucidating how their symbiotic relationship contributes to fostering an inclusive society and advancing sustainable urban design principles. By accentuating the intertwined nature of these elements, the report advocates for a paradigm shift towards holistic urban planning, where urban farming assumes a pivotal role in shaping vibrant, healthy, and resilient neighbourhoods. Ultimately, this comprehensive examination serves as a clarion call for embracing and integrating urban farming as a cornerstone of urban development, fostering not only ecological sustainability but also socio-economic empowerment and community cohesion within urban landscapes.

Gender, race, and space: A qualitative exploration of young Black women's perceptions of urban neighborhoods.

How people think and feel about their neighborhood impacts the way they think of themselves and their futures. These linkages are especially important to understand in the case of urban-residing young Black women. Researchers know very little about what contributes to young Black adults' urban neighborhood perceptions and often rely on "expert" definitions of markers of neighborhood quality. These definitions and subsequent explorations of residents' neighborhood assessment have not adequately considered intersecting oppressive systems that structure urban spaces both physically and socially. Further, within-group diversity of young Black adults based on other social identities, such as gender and class, has gone underexplored in research on residents' neighborhood assessment. We used theory from Black feminist geography and sociology to guide our thematic analysis of interviews with young Black women (N = 9) regarding their urban neighborhood quality. We sought to explore the aspects or features of the neighborhood that young Black women discussed and how social identities may play a role in young Black women's descriptions of their urban neighborhoods. We argue three themes tell an overarching story of young Black women's urban spatial critical analysis: (1) outsiders' perceptions versus our realities, (2) gendered safety, and (3) visibility of young Black women. Young Black women's narratives highlighted communal aspects of neighborhood evaluation and attention to dominant narratives regarding marginalized groups and urban spaces.

Realized dynamic effect of retrofits on energy consumption in Soviet-era multi-apartment buildings

Retrofit programs for old and highly energy-inefficient housing stock from the Soviet era are widely believed to offer a rare win-win opportunity for mitigating climate change and addressing acute energy poverty issues in Eastern European urban neighborhoods. However, despite government subsidies and a push for greater energy efficiency, many people do not undertake retrofits. This raises the question: do these retrofits truly deliver the promised returns? This paper aims to examine the effects of retrofit programs on old Soviet-era multi-apartment buildings' realized dynamic energy savings in Lithuania by analyzing monthly energy bills. Our findings suggest that retrofits are associated with a 50% to 59% reduction in average space heating consumption across various post-retrofit periods. Additionally, retrofits have a short-term effect on electricity savings of 3% to 3.6%. However, our cost-benefit analysis indicates that the energy savings were not sufficiently large to cover the initial investment costs.

In between lived life and a social policy agenda: the Global South social question from the inside (Brazil)

This article aims to demonstrate how gender, class, and race are intertwined at the micro level, addressing the interaction of lived life and social policy, through biographical interviews, in Brazil. Less interested in the analysis of inequalities per se, this article focuses on the way black, elderly, poor, female heads of families, living in urban neighbourhoods, manage to subjectively resignify objective domination. The in-depth biographical approach reveals the (re)construction of their subjectivity, defining personal sacrifice as a form of protagonism (agency) and empowerment. This process of resignification occurs by exchanging the unit of experience they relate to, from the individual to the family unit. It engages with social policies (social assistance, public health, and social housing) implemented by the latest Labour Party’s term of office (2003–2016). These policies are based on the role of women as responsible for the family unit. The focus on subjectivity, in different Brazilian metropoles, challenges the production of conformed neoliberal selves, in this case of women, within a specific Global South context, marked by historically high levels of inequality and informal work, since the formal end of slavery.

Making the trade-offs between parking and placemaking visible and actionable

ABSTRACT The space claims necessary for ensuring the liveability of public spaces often clash with on-street parking demand for private vehicles. Balancing these needs in a fair discussion has proven difficult. Demand for parking is expressed in clear-cut numbers, while liveability is a more emergent and qualitative concept. This paper seeks to (1) define the physical values of liveability; (2) translate them into generic space claims; (3) confront these claims with the demand for parking places in existing urban neighbourhoods; and (4) explore how this information could inform public debate and policy.

Analyzing adverse effects of subway extension on housing prices in affluent urban neighborhoods

This study examines the effects of subway extension on housing prices in affluent urban neighborhoods, focusing on the Q-line extension in Manhattan, New York City. Utilizing synthetic controls and treatment effects estimators, distinct pricing trends across property types are revealed, particularly condominiums. The observed pricing dynamics deviate from the assumption that increasing supplies are associated with price discounts. Moreover, the connection between price discounts and noise complaints is not observed, highlighting the significant role of demand-side factors, especially neighborhood characteristics, in shaping housing prices. An unexpected demographic shift is observed, suggesting that the Q-line extension may disproportionately benefit non-white and low-income groups, challenging the prevailing gentrification narrative. We use the term “inverse premiumization” to denote the phenomenon where anticipated price increases in affluent neighborhoods due to transit improvements fail to materialize. Furthermore, our analysis of speculative behavior reveals a spike in short-term growth during the public notice period, gradually slowing down during construction and operation phases. These findings offer the nuanced adverse effects of subway extension on housing prices, contributing to our understanding of short-to medium-term price premiums and discounts. These insights are key considerations for city planners and policymakers navigating urban development, housing market, and speculative behavior dynamics.

Flood Risk Mapping during the Extreme February 2021 Flood in the Juruá River, Western Brazilian Amazonia, State of Acre

Cruzeiro do Sul, a municipality in Northwestern Brazil is recurrently impacted by floods, particularly along the Juruá River. This study presents a comprehensive flood risk analysis by integrating geoprocessing, remote sensing, and hydraulic modeling techniques. Our objectives are to simulate flood extents, identify high-risk areas, and guide sustainable territorial management. Our findings illustrate that the flood impacts are distributed across urban (27%), agricultural (55%), and forest/grassland (17%) landscapes. Historical records and literature reviews also underscore a recurring pattern of extreme floods in the municipality, notably during February’s La Niña events. Some vulnerable urban neighborhoods were identified: Vila Cruzeirinho, Centro, Miritizal, and Da Várzea. These areas are especially susceptible due to their proximity to the river and increased surface runoff during high flood events. By amalgamating various data sources and methods, this research aids decision making for flood mitigation and urban development, fostering resilience against recurrent flooding events in Cruzeiro do Sul.

Direct and spillover effects of a new tramway line on the commercial vitality of peripheral streets: a synthetic-control approach

Abstract In cities, the creation of public transport infrastructure such as light rails can cause changes on a very detailed spatial scale, with different stories unfolding next to each other within the same urban neighbourhood. We study the direct effect of a light rail line built in Florence (Italy) on the retail density of the street where it was built and its spillover effect on other streets in the treated street’s neighbourhood. To this aim, we investigate the use of the synthetic control group (SCG) methods in panel comparative case studies where interference between the treated and the untreated units is plausible, an issue still little researched in the SCG methodological literature. We frame our discussion in the potential outcomes approach. Under a partial interference assumption, we formally define relevant direct and spillover causal effects.