Urban Renewal Policies Research Articles

The Fourth Generation: Urban renewal policies in the service of private developers

Urban planning, like any other public policy, is inseparable from the political, economic, and social climate. This study periodizes urban renewal policies on the basis of changes over time in the political-economy regime. The research findings indicate that shifts in the political-economy have had a significant impact on planning and housing policy design and outcomes. Furthermore, the findings show that in the new millennium, following re-centralization processes, a fourth generation of urban renewal policies has emerged. The study discusses the relationship between the four generations and points to potential ramifications of the current policies for various urban groups, especially the most disadvantaged.

Externalities from urban renewal: Evidence from a French program

We contribute to the evaluation of urban renewal policies based on a large-scale program launched in France in 2004. Using an estimator aimed at avoiding bias in the estimation of treatment effects that are heterogeneous across treatment groups or time periods, and complementing its results with a more precise double fixed effects difference-in-differences estimator, we find no significant aggregate impact of the program on housing prices. We identify four dampening factors that can explain this lack of aggregate impact: a sometimes insufficient level of funding per neighborhood, a stigma effect in the most deprived neighborhoods, the isolation of some neighborhoods located far from city centers, and the concentration of the program's funding on types of operations associated with small impacts on housing prices.

Residential segregation, built environment and commuting outcomes: Experience from contemporary China

This research is one of the few studies to investigate the mutual impact between residential segregation and the commuting outcomes of minority groups in the context of a developing country. Based on previous empirical studies that acknowledged the interactions between the built environment and travel behavior, we develop a Structural Equation Model to illustrate the multi-directional relationships between residential segregation, the built environment and commute outcomes. With survey data collected from migrant workers in 12 Chinese cities, we apply this model to estimate these complex mutual relationships. Our major findings include: 1) Both residential segregation and the built environment have significant causal impact on migrants' commute distance and duration. Distance from home to downtown has the strongest causal effect on commute outcomes, while residential segregation in urban villages ranks the second. 2) Residential sorting is observed. Commuting distance and duration significantly affects migrants' choice of built environment features. 3) However, commuting outcomes are not a major (or statistically significant) driver of migrant workers’ residential segregation in urban villages. In other words, their choice to reside in urban villages is inelastic to the commuting outcomes of these villages. Other factors such as housing affordability may be more influential. Therefore, demolishing urban villages under “urban renewal” policies will force migrants to relocate to more remote areas with worse job accessibility. These findings have important implications for recently proposed urban renewal policies that are bringing large-scale changes in China. They also offer important insights for other developing countries that are experiencing rapid urbanization. Finally, the framework of this study can be generalized and applied to other countries to examine similar urban issues.

The Changing Process from Demolition to Comprehensive Renovation of the Urban Village in Shenzhen under the Urban Renewal Policy

The Changing Process from Demolition to Comprehensive Renovation of the Urban Village in Shenzhen under the Urban Renewal Policy

Urban renewal policies in the Netherlands in an era of changing welfare regimes

ABSTRACT In The Netherlands, post-war urban renewal policies have emerged under the influence of various welfare regimes. Corporatist and social democratic regimes promoted social justice, social cohesion, inclusion and redistribution of income; urban renewal policies stimulated social mix and area-based interventions. Both public and market partners and residents were involved. Liberal ideas became increasingly explicit from the 1990s, and became dominant after 2010. Individuality, ‘citizens own responsibility’, and cuts in public services were leading objectives. Private investors and entrepreneurs were leading the renewal, facilitated by the state. In this paper we focus on the most recent policies and their effects.

Towards sustainable urban transition: A critical review of strategies and policies of urban village renewal in Shenzhen, China

Urban villages are typical informal settlements in Chinese cities where rural villages were gradually surrounded by urban built environments during urbanisation. In the era of urban renewal, these “urban enclaves” have been systematically demolished due to their “chaotic” building layouts and “backward” appearance. Existing policies related to the redevelopment of urban villages mainly follow a “demolish-rebuild” orientation, while lacking sufficient consideration of the mechanisms behind their environmental aspects and performances. In the long run, such a direction of urban redevelopment will hinder the achievement of sustainable development goals. This paper reviews the major municipal-level policies that relate to urban villages and urban renewal in Shenzhen through the adoption of systematic literature survey and content analysis. An analytical framework of “Three Contents and Six Instruments” is established to examine the highlighted and overlooked aspects of these policies. Results reveal that Shenzhen’s implemented policies aim to formulise, modernise, and consequently homogenise urban villages into “urban-like modern communities” through the following upgrades: urban infrastructure development, improvement of sanitation conditions, and building façade beautification. However, these approaches for “environmental enhancement” were not primarily based on identifying and understanding the real causes of the exhibiting “environmental problems.” Meanwhile, the inspiration and inheritance of informal rules, especially the involvement and participation of residents for the rehabilitation of urban villages have been entirely overlooked. These two overlooked crucial aspects should be introduced in policy-making and integrated with existing adopted strategies to match local contexts and resolve specific issues. The paper advocates to extend the connotation of the concept of environment from an infrastructural consideration to a mechanism-based and performance-orientation thinking during the making of urban renewal policies. It suggests that environment could be utilised as an inclusive medium to efficiently frame and link multiple aspects in the policies.

A Satellite Town Development for Ambad MIDC Nashik

Abstract: The concept of a satellite town is not a new one in India. Many efforts were made during the British era, and following independence, the Indian government made large-scale initiatives through policies, acts, and corporate partnerships. As is well acknowledged, India is experiencing rapid urbanization, resulting in city expansion and pseudo-urbanization due to land constraints. As a result, the satellite town concept must be implemented in order to develop new urban space, limit city boundaries, maximize land utilization, and raise the livability index of the city in order to attract investment. The study takes a multi-level approach, including a review of the literature, policies to better understand parameters, the identification of a new town site, and mitigation techniques. Following the identification of the area, a qualitative and quantitative study involving sampling, area-based observation, and public engagement was used to profile socioeconomic status. Chunchale village was chosen for the study, and it was discovered that this region has farm land on entire site. And can easily convert in NA land and use for proposal. In proposal most of the land will be proposed for residential as well as infrastructure purpose, as the project is dedicated to people working in Ambad MIDC for their occupation purpose. Based on area-based observation, the surrounding area appears to be ideal for commercial use too. It is suggested that a commercial hub be created near the rehab facility to stimulate the local economy and provide work opportunities for people. As land value rises and infilling area develops, such development also helps the surrounding area's development. Keywords: Satellite town, Redevelopment, Mix Land used, urban renewal policies, spatial planning, socio economic analysis

The changing position of housing estate neighbourhoods in the Helsinki metropolitan area

This paper addresses the under-researched phenomena of investments in the private rental markets in disadvantaged suburbs in Finland. Despite the application of a social-mixing policy in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and the Nordic welfare model, suburban housing estate neighbourhoods built in the 1960s and 1970s have experienced a socioeconomic decline since the 1990s. According to several recent large surveys, housing estate neighbourhoods represent the least popular housing environments among Finns. Nevertheless, as the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is currently facing rapid population growth, these neighbourhoods have now become the target for heavy infill development, and ambitious city-led regeneration plans. Simultaneously, housing investment has become an opportunity in Finland for both national and, increasingly, also international real-estate investment companies, as well as for private households. We explore the resurge to invest in housing estate neighbourhoods through two case studies in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Using statistics and interviews with policymakers and institutional real-estate investors, as well as a review of policy documents as our data, we show the variegated ways in which the marketization and financialization of housing and urban renewal policies change the social geography of housing estates in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

Evaluating the sustainability of urban renewal projects based on a model of hybrid multiple-attribute decision-making

Sustainable urban renewal has received tremendous academic attention and has been put into wide practice around the world. In order to avoid unsustainable renewal projects, the evaluation of the sustainability of urban renewal has become a critical procedure. However, there is an insufficient number of relevant studies on ex-ante evaluation compared to a large amount of literature focusing on ex-post evaluation. Most literature does not fully consider the interdependency between the dimensions/criteria of evaluation. How to utilize this to evaluate real cases is shortage. Hence, this study presents an ex-ante decision-making model for evaluating the sustainability of urban renewal projects based on hybrid multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) from a government perspective, and includes three classical dimensions: economic (D1), social and cultural (D2), and environment (D3), as well as 13 relevant criteria. A case in Taiwan is used to evaluate the potential performance of sustainability and explore improvement strategies. Empirical results from the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) reveal that the social and cultural (D2) dimension impact the environment (D3) and economic (D1) dimensions, with the economic (D1) dimension being the most impacted by other dimensions. Enhancing transportation (C5), strengthening the accessibility of various public facilities (C4), preserving local culture (C9), increasing greening and open space (C10), and improving land-use efficiency (C3) are the criteria in the “cause” position, among which strengthening the accessibility of various public facilities (C4) and improving land-use efficiency (C3) are considered to be the core of urban renewal project sustainability based on DEMATEL and the DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP). The modified VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method indicated that the social and cultural (D2) and the environment (D3) dimensions have poor performance. Thereafter relevant improvement strategies and paths are suggested based on an influence network relation map (INRM). The results imply that recent urban renewal policy reform in Taiwan represents a step toward sustainable development.

Yaba housing scheme and the colonial ‘re-planning’ of Lagos, 1917–1952

ABSTRACT The paper is a discussion of the urban renewal strategy of the colonial government of Lagos between 1917 and 1952, against the backdrop of 'slum dwelling', 'overcrowding', and 'insanitary conditions' on the Lagos Island and the plan to develop Yaba Estate for the housing of those displaced on the Island. The paper argues that even though from the colonial government's perception, it was 'very urgent' to embark on serious urban renewal policy to ameliorate the 'terrible condition' on the Lagos Island, the method employed by the colonial government for the re-housing of people at Yaba failed initially because of colonial government's policy of leasehold. This made it impossible for the displaced people to take up residence at Yaba with serious spatial implications for the urban development of Lagos. As they looked elsewhere for abode, they replicated the same problems that the colonial government was trying to abate on the Lagos Island.

In the blind spot: ethnic retailing in Helsinki and the spontaneous placemaking of abandoned spaces

ABSTRACT Currently, hypermarkets represent most of the Finnish retail property stock leading to the dwindling of small mainstream retail. Accordingly, many retail premises have been left vacant at the old shopping centres in suburbia. Ethnic retailing has remarkably impacted the urban landscape of the city of Helsinki and spontaneously converted such abundant premises into livable agglomerations, which has contributed to placemaking. The aim of this paper is to study ethnic retailing through two case studies in Helsinki, with an explicit focus on its role in placemaking and the response of urban planning to the phenomenon. The case studies do not report success in planning for diversity. On the contrary, urban renewal policy threatens the existence of two successful agglomerations. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, it demonstrates that ethnic retailing has a structured capacity to deal with market impacts, and the clustering of intercultural entrepreneurship supports its success. Second, the empirical work showed that factors related to space and its usage are already discussed in the theoretical work on placemaking. Third, it argues that the rigid boundaries of planning have prevented the city from perceiving the potential of ethnic retailing and placemaking remains in a blind spot.

The Airbnb effect on areas subject to urban renewal in Valencia (Spain)

Purpose In the past decade, urban tourism has increased worldwide as a result of the development of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation platforms such as Airbnb, causing a major disruption to the tourism industry and urban space. The expansion of tourist accommodation in cities has motivated many governments to act, to control its effects and reduce conflicts between tourists and residents. The purpose of this paper is to identify the attractions that have motivated the concentration of P2P accommodation and its effects in specific areas of Valencia different from the historical centre: the Russafa and El Cabanyal-Canyamelar neighbourhoods. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used includes fieldwork and spatial analysis of factors such as the housing market, tourist attractions, local businesses and urban renewal policies. Findings The current spatial distribution pattern of tourist housing in Valencia is the result of the convergence of various factors: the initial presence of tourists in some areas; the evolution of certain aspects of the neighbourhood due to urban renewal; the concentration of tourist and leisure activities; the effects of the legal framework Originality/value Many researchers have addressed the effects of rising short-term rentals (STRs) in cities, but the causes of their concentration in specific neighbourhoods different from historical centres have not yet been sufficiently investigated. This research looks in depth at the urban causes and effects of the spatial distribution of tourist housing in Valencia, to anticipate possible future concentrations of STRs in other areas and to avoid gentrification. The methodology and results could be applied to other cities. The research implies a detailed and analysis of different aspects that act simultaneously such as the housing market, the evolution of the population and changes in the business.

Characteristics and influencing factors of Airbnb spatial distribution in China's rapid urbanization process: A case study of Nanjing.

As in other countries, short-term rentals for tourism services are growing rapidly in China’s tourist cities, which are mainly operated through Airbnb. This paper explores whether the spatial distribution of Airbnb in China’s rapid urbanization process exhibits characteristics, paths, and drivers that are different from those of cities in other countries. Airbnb is a model for the global sharing economy, but it is increasingly influenced by other functions and facilities in cities as it grows. In this paper, the zero-expansion negative binomial regression was used to study the factors affecting the spatial distribution of Airbnb in Nanjing, China. The results showed that the spatial distribution of Airbnb listings was correlated with the distribution of cultural attractions, universities, public transport accessibility, shopping centers, and business apartments. By analyzing the driving forces of Airbnb’s development in Nanjing, this paper found that a large number of business apartments developed in cities were essential providers of Airbnb listings, and affected its spatial distribution. The gap between short-term and long-term rentals was also correlated with the distribution of Airbnb. In addition, similar to the previous literature findings, the increase in the proportion of professional hosts changes the original intention of Airbnb for sharing and communication. Our empirical results applies to the current situation of Airbnb in Chinese cities, which is conducive to the government’s more intelligent management and effective promotion of the Airbnb market. Our findings also provide positive references for urban renewal policies and public participation methods in China.

Urban renewal as policy innovation in China: From growth stimulation to sustainable development

AbstractA major policy innovation in China, urban renewal creates an opportunity to promote sustainable inner‐city development and to foster economic growth in an environmentally and culturally sound way, which demands a close investigation of its context, internal and external dynamics, and policy features. Property‐led redevelopment dominated China's urban renewal since the early 1990s, as a result of the market reform and political decentralization. Recently, it has become important to meet the interests of local communities and the diverse stakeholders in the effort to preserve the urban history and cultural fabric of cities. Contextual factors in urban renewal policy and its innovation are investigated by analyzing a pioneering case in Guangzhou from a longitudinal study approach. The impact of the structural‐instrumental, cultural‐institutional, and environmental perspective on policy innovation with the change of contextual factors that transformed the development ideology and the managerial practice are identified to provide a new angle of studying policy innovation in the urban field.

Reconstructing cities: Stimulating redevelopment through the tax code

The welfare effect of urban renewal policies depends on the size of the external effects and the quantity of the building stock that gets redeveloped. While evidence on the externalities is growing, credibly identified estimates of the responsiveness of redevelopment are completely lacking. I exploit a sharp reduction in the value-added tax (VAT) on construction services for redevelopment in a select group of 32 Belgian cities to fill this gap. The results show that the 15 percentage points reduction in the VAT rate lead to an increase in the amount of demolished and redeveloped floorspace of respectively 36% and 35%.

A floating dream: urban upgrading, population control and migrant children’s education in Beijing

In recent years, Beijing has implemented urban renewal policies aimed at forcing out rural migrants to restrict the city’s population. One such policy restricts their access to public schools. We use the demolition of the Beijing Sun Palace Farmers’ Market to examine the long-term impacts of these policies on the educational status of migrant children in Beijing. Based on a survey and in-depth interviews with migrant vendors, we find that government-initiated urban remodelling campaigns have an enduring impact on their social mobility and the educational opportunities of their children. Despite severe limitations to their mobility and economic opportunities, many migrant vendors were still determined to stay in Beijing. Subsequently, their worsened living status significantly affected their children’s prospects. Migrant children caught in this urban dynamic either struggle in substandard informal migrant schools in Beijing or are left behind in their hometowns, with little hope of a good education or improved social status.

Spatio-Temporal Changes of Housing Features in Response to Urban Renewal Initiatives: The Case of Seoul

Over the past two decades, Seoul has been in a transitional period in terms of urban renewal approaches. Housing is a fundamental element of citizens’ lives and the built landscape, thus, it deserves thoughtful scrutiny. As such, this study empirically investigates the dynamics of the spatial and temporal characteristics of housing stock within the context of new urban renewal policies in Seoul. A fine-grained and multifaceted analysis shows that the supply of new apartments has decreased over time, revealing that denser housing redevelopment in the inner city has become more difficult. In addition, an exploratory spatial data analysis indicates that although spatial clustering of old housing units has been reduced, new housing units have become more spatially distributed and outwardly dispersed over time. Since the physical and locational changes of housing stock are closely related to urban renewal initiatives, this study suggests that the city government needs to incorporate the concept of sustainable urban growth management into its housing supply and renewal policies.

One+One+One=A lot: The cumulative effect of Israel’s flagship urban renewal policy on neighborhood diversity

• This study examines the effect of Israel’s main urban renewal policy (TAMA 38) on urban diversity. • Sporadic renewal can have a cumulative impact and wreak substantial change (1 + 1+1 = a lot). • TAMA 38 has promoted social and housing diversity in the examined area. • Diversity in the wake of TAMA 38 may be short-lived and is likely to be replaced by segregation. • The findings highlight the importance of a local perspective in urban renewal plans.

Constructing Health: Representations of Health and Housing in Charlottesville’s Urban Renewals

This essay explores the co-construction of urban health and blight through architectural representation during urban renewal, exploring how buildings symbolically stood for social and epidemiological diagnoses, producing racial othering through depictions of space. Analysis of photographs, building surveys, real estate appraisals, maps, reports, and advertisements preceding urban renewal in Charlottesville, Virginia, reveals a racialized gaze that constructed problematic associations of whiteness with health and Blackness with blight. We argue that racialized image-making practices perpetuated inequities that urban renewal policy purported to reconcile while masking the true generating dynamics of white neglect and wealth extraction.

An urban regeneration “made-in-China”: Chinese traders and market expansion in Budapest

This article highlights how the emergence of trading routes between China and Hungary after 1989 has contributed to the urban transformation of Budapest. Initiated by migrant entrepreneurs arriving in a new economic context, and in response to a lack of everyday household products, the Chinese traders’ spatial practices have evolved through three stages: they started with the rehabilitation of contaminated land within deindustrialized areas; they continued by redistributing the lands’ usage rights via an emerging community of property actors and tenants; finally, they constructed modern showrooms dedicated for use by the wholesale sector. While increasing the land value through real-estate operations and management, the entrepreneurs also sought to cope with the aesthetic norms of urban renewal policy. By analyzing their spatial practices through a longitudinal perspective of thirty years, the article contributes to the study of economic globalization and urban transformation via a rare example of post-socialist cities.