Urban Regeneration Policies Research Articles

Investigating the response of urban surface thermal environment to urban morphology changes in Nanjing

The urbanization process has significantly impacted urban morphology, which in turn has led to changes in the urban surface thermal environment (USTE). A summarization of the empirical patterns of past urban morphology changes and an evaluation of the USTE effects produced by different patterns will contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge regarding the response of USTE to urban morphology changes and facilitate the development of sustainable urban planning and design practices. This study investigated the response of USTE to urban morphology from the overall and local based on the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) framework during 2005–2020 in Nanjing. The results validated the rationality of the LCZ framework for describing urban morphology changes and their USTE responses. It was found that the overall USTE was continuing to deteriorate, with an increase in high temperature and sub-high temperature areas. LCZ 4, LCZ 5, and LCZ 8 were the major contributors to overall urban heat, and their growth in the amount and changes in USTE characteristics mainly caused the overall USTE deterioration. In localized areas, it was found that urban regeneration had the most potential to optimize USTE. The conversion processes of LCZ 5 to LCZ 4, LCZ 8 to LCZ 4, and LCZ 8 to LCZ 5 were considered more advantageous in improving daytime USTE, which should be advocated. The results can provide important insights into the perception of urban morphology and USTE, and support the urban regeneration policies for climate-resilient cities from the environmental performance perspective.

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

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.

L'housing studentesco come "costruzione per le persone". Il caso delle residenze universitarie della città di Napoli

This article addresses the issue of university student residences in terms of social infra-structure. Through the case-study of Naples, detailed data are presented on the distribution and characteristics of current public university student residences, in the light of recent territorial changes resulting from local urban regeneration policies and their implications on social infrastructure processes. The analysis also highlights the need for a critical reflection on the socio-urban function of student housing and the educational and relational needs of students. student housing, residences, urban regeneration, Naples, social infrastructure, relationships

Effects of urban regeneration projects on store survival rate in neighborhood commercial areas: the case of South Korea

ABSTRACT Neighborhood commercial areas in cities densely populated with small stores serve as crucial social, economic, and cultural hubs. However, the emergence of large discount stores and online shopping and urban decline have challenged these commercial areas. In response, South Korea introduced urban regeneration policies in 2014, known as urban regeneration leading areas (URLAs), with related projects carried out between 2017 and 2019. This study explored how urban regeneration projects impacted neighborhood commercial areas. It specifically examined the relationship between store survival rates – a key indicator of revitalization – and influencing factors (e.g. characteristics of urban regeneration projects, store characteristics, and regional features). The results, derived from a survival analysis model, indicated that revitalized areas, such as artificially specialized streets, negatively impacted store survival rates. Moreover, stores established at the commencement or midpoint of regeneration projects demonstrated lower survival rates, indicating temporary gentrification. Contrarily, stores linked to convenience facilities integral to residents’ lives and those existing before regeneration projects exhibited higher survival rates. These results suggest the need for a shift in urban regeneration projects and policies, such as increasing support for established local stores rather than creating new commercial zones and setting reasonable rents to sustain newly established stores.

서울특별시 도시재생전략계획 변경이 호텔 부동산에 미치는 영향

This paper investigates the effects of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s urban regeneration strategy plan revision on the hotel real estate market, focusing on legal scrutiny and support measures. The introduction outlines the significance of Seoul’s urban regeneration policy and introduces the potential implications of the revised strategy plan on the real estate market. Particularly emphasized is the role of hotel real estate in local economies and the tourism industry, highlighting the necessity for legal regulations and support measures. The paper is structured into three main sections. Firstly, it provides an overview of the current status and characteristics of Seoul’s hotel real estate market, including investment trends, price fluctuations, and key influencing factors. Secondly, it discusses the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s urban regeneration strategy plan and its amendments, elucidating their implications for the hotel real estate market. Lastly, it delves into the anticipated impact of these changes on the market and proposes corresponding strategies. This includes analyzing the effects of current real estate regulations and predicting the repercussions of the revised urban regeneration plan on the hotel real estate market. Additionally, it suggests legal and supportive measures to ensure sustainable growth and development in Seoul’s hotel real estate sector. In conclusion, the paper proposes policies aimed at revitalizing and sustaining growth in Seoul’s hotel real estate market. Recommendations include easing real estate regulations, enhancing investment attractiveness, strengthening public-private cooperation, and bolstering legal protection for investors. These proposals aim to foster sustainable development and contribute to the economic and tourism vibrancy of the region.

역사문화자원의 활용을 통한 도시재생 방향 연구

Cultural urban regeneration overcame the limitations of physical environment improvement and enabled the revitalization of the region. The introduction and utilization of historical and cultural contents were examined as a methodology of cultural urban regeneration policies aimed at forming urban identity and revitalizing the region. Based on the components of historical and cultural contents, the overall status of Aegwan Theater was identified, and based on the type of use, the strategic direction of urban regeneration applicable to Aegwan Theater was derived. Social big data analysis and in-depth interviews with experts were conducted to verify research problems and hypotheses. As a result of the study, Aegwan Theater was identified in terms of temporal, spatial, human values, and utilization. However, it was confirmed that there is a need for a strategy that can convey social integration identity through the limitations of the original theater functions that are currently active and links with local bases.

Community Quality Evaluation for Socially Sustainable Regeneration: A Study Using Multi-Sourced Geospatial Data and AI-Based Image Semantic Segmentation

The Chinese urban regeneration movement underscores a “people-oriented” paradigm, aimed at addressing urban challenges stemming from rapid prior urbanization, while striving for high-quality and sustainable urban development. At the community level, fostering quality through a socially sustainable perspective (SSP) is a pivotal strategy for people-oriented urban regeneration. Nonetheless, explorations of community quality assessments grounded in an SSP have been notably scarce in recent scholarly discourse. This study pioneers a multidimensional quantitative model (MQM) for gauging community quality, leveraging diverse geospatial data sources from the SSP framework. The MQM introduces an evaluative framework with “Patency, Convenience, Comfort, and Safety” as primary indicators, integrating multi-sourced data encompassing the area of interest (AOI), Point of Interest (POI), Weibo check-ins, and Dianping data. The model’s efficacy is demonstrated through a case study in the Gusu district, Suzhou. Furthermore, semantic analysis of the Gusu district’s street view photos validates the MQM results. Our findings reveal the following: (1) AI-based semantic analysis accurately verifies the validity of MQM-generated community quality measurements, establishing its robust applicability with multi-sourced geospatial data; (2) the community quality distribution in Gusu district is notably correlated with the urban fabric, exhibiting lower quality within the ancient town area and higher quality outside it; and (3) communities of varying quality coexist spatially, with high- and low-quality communities overlapping in the same regions. This research pioneers a systematic, holistic methodology for quantitatively measuring community quality, laying the groundwork for informed urban regeneration policies, planning, and place making. The MQM, fortified by multi-sourced geospatial data and AI-based semantic analysis, offers a rigorous foundation for assessing community quality, thereby guiding socially sustainable regeneration initiatives and decision making at the community scale.

Legislative Foundations: Exploring Land Take Laws and Urban Regeneration Policies in Italy and Europe

Soil is now a central issue on the European as well as the national political agenda, as it represents a fundamental ecosystem for human survival on the planet. Today, more than ever, its protection and proper use in various contexts (agricultural, natural, urban) require stringent policies that can be implemented immediately. The difficult reversibility of urban transformations is the main threat to the ecosystem integrity of soil. Starting from this statement, the main objective of the proposed work is to analyze how the main European countries (Italy, France, Germany, and Spain) are addressing the issue of the goal of zero net land take by 2050 by examining the current laws and strategies. The results highlight how the regulatory aspect plays a key role in managing the phenomenon and how the absence of a national framework law can generate strong distortions and different interpretations of the soil ecosystem. The analysis of the Nature Restoration Law, adopted by the European Commission in July 2023, enables us to assess whether the regulations and measures adopted by the major European countries align with the European Union’s trends. Through a comparative perspective, the study aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development practices and provide valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and academics.

Gender mainstreaming in urban projects: A measurement proposal applied to Spanish Urban regeneration policies

Urban policies financed in the framework of the European Cohesion Policy are a privileged area for the study of the Gender Mainstreaming (GM) due to the gender European rules and to the importance of the European Union in urban development. The aim of this paper is to validate an instrument for the systematic measurement of the application of the GM tool, and to evaluate the implementation of GM in Spanish urban policies financed by the EU. For this purpose, based on previous measurements and analysis, a specific methodological tool has been elaborated and applied to the 89 urban intervention projects implemented in Spanish big cities in the framework of the URBAN I, URBAN II, URBANA, and ISUD (Integral and Sustainable Urban Development) calls for proposals (1994–2020). The results reflect a sectorial orientation in the application of the GM. Moreover, we observed a more significant implementation of the strategy in the direction setting dimensions and a scarcer integration in the actor-oriented dimensions. The dimensions' scores could reflect the classic difficulties for actor-oriented dimensions in urban policy design and the effect of the EU's lack of clarity about gender equality on a multi-level governance policy.

Navigating Post-COVID-19 Social–Spatial Inequity: Unravelling the Nexus between Community Conditions, Social Perception, and Spatial Differentiation

The 2023 SDGs report underscores the prolonged disruption of COVID-19 on community living spaces, infrastructure, education, and income equality, exacerbating social and spatial inequality. Against the backdrop of the dual impact of significant events and the emergence of digital technologies, a coherent research trajectory is essential for characterizing social–spatial equity and understanding its influential factors within the urban planning discipline. While prior research emphasized spatial dimensions and mitigated spatial differentiation to ensure urban equity, the complexity of these interconnections necessitates a more comprehensive approach. This study adopts a holistic perspective, focusing on the “social–spatial” dynamics, utilizing social perception (sentiment maps) and spatial differentiation (housing prices index) pre- and post-pandemic to elucidate the interconnected and interactive nature of uneven development at the urban scale. It employs a multi-dimensional methodological framework integrating morphology analysis of housing conditions, GIS analysis of urban amenities, sentiment semantic analysis of public opinion, and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) analysis of correlation influential factors. Using Suzhou, China, as a pilot study, this research demonstrates how these integrated methods complement each other, exploring how community conditions and resource distribution collectively bolster resilience, thereby maintaining social–spatial equity amidst pandemic disruptions. The findings reveal that uneven resource distribution exacerbates post-pandemic social stratification and spatial differentiation. The proximity of well-maintained ecological environments, such as parks or scenic landmarks, generally exhibits consistency and positive effects on “social–spatial” measurement. Simultaneously, various spatial elements influencing housing prices and social perception show geographic heterogeneity, particularly in areas farther from the central regions of Xiangcheng and Wujiang districts. This study uncovers a bilateral mechanism between social perception and spatial differentiation, aiming to delve into the interdependent relationship between social–spatial equity and built environmental factors. Furthermore, it aspires to provide meaningful references and recommendations for urban planning and regeneration policy formulation in the digital era to sustain social–spatial equity.

Type division and spatial differentiation characteristics of cities in China: on the perspective of sustainable urban regeneration

ABSTRACT Sustainable urban regeneration is an inevitable requirement for promoting high-quality urban development in developing countries. Affected by different natural conditions, cultural background, economic development and other aspects, different cities have different goals and ways of implementing sustainable urban regeneration. Considering that cities in developing countries generally face the problems of overpopulation, financial constraints and urban sprawl, the urgency of classifying and guiding different cities to carry out sustainable urban regeneration in an orderly manner has become increasingly prominent. Therefore, taking China as an example, this study puts forward a city type division method from the perspective of sustainable urban regeneration, taking ‘county-level administrative division’ as the basic unit, divides cities into five types, and analyzes their spatial differentiation characteristics further. The results show that: (1) there are significant regional differences in the content and characteristics of urban regeneration in China, which are consistent with the distribution characteristics of the ‘Hu line’; (2) There is a mismatch between ‘administrative planning objectives’ and ‘urban development status’ in some cities in the northeast and central and western regions; (3) There are significant differences in the basis for coordinating urban regeneration especially among different economic sectors, provinces and urban clusters, and the orientation of urban regeneration policies in some cities needs to be adjusted and optimized. The results provide scientific reference and feasible ideas for China and other developing countries to formulate sustainable urban regeneration policies and promote sustainable and coordinated urban development.

After Forced Relocation: Assessing the Impact of Urban Regeneration on Residents’ Living Spaces in Wuhan, China

Tracking forced relocation due to urban regeneration can help deepen the understanding of urban regeneration beyond the perceived limits of displacement. Existing research has not sufficiently explored new experiences following the adjustment of China’s urban-regeneration policy. This article explores an approach that uses location-based service data to study forced relocatees for urban regeneration, which can be generalized across different regions to expand international knowledge and comparative research. Focusing on Wuhan, the impact of urban regeneration on the living environment of forced relocatees was evaluated from three aspects: housing conditions, neighborhood facilities, and jobs–housing commuting, using the difference-in-difference model. The research found: (1) most forced relocatees chose to live near their original residences; and (2) urban regeneration has improved housing conditions and decreased jobs–housing commuting for forced relocatees but has a negative effect on neighborhood facilities. We conclude by discussing a methodology for applying mobile phone data to urban-regeneration studies.

Commercial gentrification revisited: Social capital and community governance in regenerated neighborhoods of South Korea

In this study, we examine the potential roles of social capital and community governance in commercial gentrification and protection against commercial gentrification, and how rising rent costs as an outcome of commercial gentrification, can be moderated through a win-win agreement within a South Korean metropolitan city. Utilizing an in-depth case study approach with surveys, interviews, and document-based analysis, we examine the perceptions of shop workers on commercial gentrification outcomes and community policy process of a win-win agreement. Our results highlight the positive role of social capital and community governance in mitigating the negative outcomes of commercial gentrification and enhancing the protection against commercial gentrification and satisfaction of urban regeneration policies. The win-win agreement, particularly concerning rising rent fees between tenants and owners within the commercial area revealed the positive potential role in softening gentrification effects.

The importance of building inventory update in urban regeneration of Turkey: A call for action and solution

The spatial building inventory of Turkey plays a central role in many challenges and development opportunities the country faces. Located in a seismic zone and confronting rapid population growth, Turkey continuously experiences change and development in urban infrastructure and settlement arrangements. This article comprehensively addresses the necessity of updating building inventories in Turkey, emphasizing its numerous benefits and examining its impact on urban development, disaster management, and economic, and social structures. Given factors like seismic activity, rapid urbanization, demographic changes, and urban regeneration in Turkey, the need for an up-to-date and accurate building inventory is underlined. The research highlights the critical importance of updating building inventory data in areas such as disaster preparedness, urban planning, and potential solutions in this process. Furthermore, updating building inventory information significantly enhances the effectiveness of urban regeneration policies and forms a crucial reference 19 point in decision-making processes for both public and private sectors.

Modernity, Aesthetics, and Nation Re-branding in Olympics: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games

The paper examines the construction of China’s country image in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. It demonstrates how a country that has no winter sports tradition used the mega-event to showcase its national narrative and to promote winter sports industries. A semiotic framework is developed to model China’s country image as evaluative attributes and to elucidate how they are constructed through linguistic and visual resources in the theater, livestream, and video inserts. The analysis shows that the ceremony was narrated around four major themes—the world’s China, People’s China, the aesthetic China, and the modernized China. Instead of revealing a changeless, nostalgic and mythical China that speaks to a Western orientalistic imagination, these four themes work together to reshape a modern China identity, which brings the contrasting values of globalism, nationalism, Chinese traditional aesthetics, and neoliberalism into a coherent artistic performance. The characteristics of nation branding discourse reflect China’s urban regeneration policies on the one hand, and public diplomacies during the COVID-19 pandemic on the other.

Building internal reputation in stigmatised neighbourhoods: the use of remote participatory photo mapping

The fight against negative neighbourhood effects has been led by urban regeneration policies aimed at mixing by ethnicity, income, tenure as well as demolition and poverty deconcentration – all of which sought to create mixed communities with improved reputations. This paper is based on the methodology applied in my PhD research and outlines how Participatory Photo Mapping (PPM) can evaluate impact and explore internal neighbourhood reputations providing both temporality and depth to the perception of urban spaces affected by change. PPM has involved residents of two European disadvantaged neighbourhoods (New Deal for Communities area, Bristol; Ponte Lambro, Milan) in the active and collaborative construction of their own narratives on the area and its developments and interventions. While also referring to the empirical findings, this paper focuses on the design and delivery of PPM and covers the challenges and the opportunities of the research method, conducted in times of Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and social distancing. Despite the remote but innovative setting (Google My Maps) and data collection (online focus groups and 1–1 interviews), PPM confirms being an empowering tool to ‘re-create’ place images from within and give voice to urban areas where territorial stigma tends to prevail.

지방 소도시 도시재생사업 추진방안 연구

This study reviewed the system and policy direction of the urban regeneration project currently being promoted, and analyzed the residents' perception of the urban regeneration project in small local cities.
 Although the recent urban regeneration policy is in the direction of avoiding non-physical software projects such as resident capacity building, the purpose of urban regeneration projects is to revitalize the region through integrated promotion of non-physical projects along with physical projects such as maintenance projects. If the software business is completely excluded and the regeneration business is promoted, it is thought that there will be many difficulties in actual regional revitalization through the business.
 In addition, in the case of local eup/myeon units, the conditions for promoting urban regeneration projects in many aspects, such as the number of local populations and aging, are very different from those in the metropolitan area and urban areas. It is considered that it should be applied somewhat differently.
 Therefore, this study tried to find out the parts that need to be supplemented when promoting local regeneration projects by reviewing the current urban regeneration project promotion method from an institutional perspective such as legal guidelines. In addition, through an empirical analysis of residents' perceptions of the Hapcheon-eup urban regeneration project district, we analyzed the matters that should be applied differently from the urban regeneration project in the metropolitan area when promoting the urban regeneration project in the local area, and thus for the future urban regeneration policy of small local cities. It is intended to be presented as a reference.

Considering urban regeneration policy support: Perceived collaborative governance in cultural heritage-led regeneration projects of Korea

Can public engagement and collaborative governance contribute to policy support? In this study, we evaluate how perceived collaborative governance influences policy support in the context of urban regeneration projects. Focusing on the South Korean city of Mokpo, with its cultural heritage-led neighborhood regeneration areas, our work examines residents’ perceptions of urban regeneration policies and collaborative governance using a survey research design. Our results suggest that satisfaction with aspects of urban regeneration policy attributes, those of an economic nature, significantly influence policy support. Further, higher levels of perceived collaborative governance, which includes community engagement in the regeneration process, also significantly impact regeneration policy support.

전통의 공간적 재현과 사회적 변화

In recent years, interest in Korean traditional culture is also growing with Korean popular culture. The visitors to traditional spaces has also increased significantly. In this article, we tried to look at ‘Minsokchon’(Korean folk village), ‘minsokmaul’(folk villages), and ‘hanokmaul’(hanok villages) among the traditional spaces. First, we summarized the process and characteristics of each village. Minsokchon is an artificial village and can be said a theme park for tourism. Minsokmaul has been established for the preservation of tradition and has the characteristics of an outdoor museum. Hanokmaul, an urban hanok area built in Japanese colonial era, is a commercial district that is not related to tradition and is like a street shopping mall. The characteristics of each village are related to the social changes. When the tradition disappeared in the 1970s, Minsokchon was intended to be built for preservation. However, due to the economic situation in Korea and the emergence of modern leisure, Minsokchon was developed as a tourist destination. In the 1980s, minsokmauls were designated, and Around 1990, with the spread of private cars, the era of public leisure opened, and minsokmauls attracted attention. Meanwhile, the cultural heritage exploration boom also affected this. Around 2010, Hanok Village began to become popularity. At this time, urban regeneration emerged as a social agenda, and Hanokmaul was proposed as an urban regeneration plan through tradition. Hanokmaul got attention as a representative successful case. Minsokmauls are regulated by laws concerning the protection of cultural properties. On the other hand, Hanok Village is closely related to urban regeneration policies in that it is regulated by ordinance.

Built Space Hinders Lived Space: Social Encounters and Appropriation in Large Housing Estates

The fundamental structural, demographic, and socio-economic changes afflicting large housing estates in Eastern German cities raise questions about how these neighborhoods could be maintained and developed into attractive residential locations where people want to live and settle down. Besides personal, social, economic, and even administrative factors, individual location decisions are influenced by the physical conditions of space and how they affect a sense of “home”—a crucial precondition for long-term habitation. In terms of urban planning and regeneration activities, we ask: To what extent do the current physical and infrastructural conditions (“built space”) of large housing estates encourage residents to “feel at home”? We understand home as an atmosphere of well-being and belonging that is based on the individual and communal appropriation of spaces, which in turn presupposes the possibility of contact and social exchanges among neighbors. The concept of “home” we present here is grounded in philosophical anthropology, new phenomenology, and architectural theory. It provides a specific spatial approach to housing from which we develop indicators to evaluate space. In particular, we apply the concept of “lived space” to evaluate infrastructural amenities, open and green spaces, as well as built structures in three case studies of large housing estates in East German cities. We aim to uncover local potentials for and obstacles to spatial appropriation and encounters in these settings. This allows us to draw conclusions on how urban regeneration policies and measures can make large housing estates more liveable in the long term by promoting encounters and appropriation.