Regeneration-led gentrification; a comparative study of Atabak and Khani-Abad neighborhoods in Tehran

The concept of "gentrification" is becoming an important and widespread phenomenon in most of the world's cities, both developed and developing. Consequently, many people have forcibly left their places or have lived at a higher cost. Therefore this phenomenon has become one of the most controversial issues of urban studies in recent years and can be analyzed as an influential and underlying factor in the evolution of urban economics and cultural changes. Social groups and movements resistance against the negative outcomes -especially homelessness caused by this phenomenon- has highlighted its unpleasant aspects. In Iran, and particularly in Tehran, less attention has been paid to the occurrence of this phenomenon and its outcomes. In some experiences, urban regeneration projects, by resolving the physical problems of neighborhoods and the major obstacles that led to their poor quality, raise demands for housing. This process causes an increase in the prices of units, which is finally followed by displacement of old residents. In such cases, urban regeneration actions accelerate and intensify the phenomenon of gentrification within the worn-out neighborhoods of the city. The main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of urban regeneration policies on the occurrence gentrification as well as long-term impacts of this phenomenon on the social and economic structure of worn-out urban neighborhoods. In order to achieve these goals, the case study approach is used with statistical data analysis of the last ten years. Hence, the trend of changes in the number of “building permits” and “land prices” in the ten-year period of 2006-2016 is investigated in both neighborhoods. The results show that signs of occurrence of the phenomenon are more pronounced in the neighborhood where more and stronger regeneration interventions and physical changes can be observed. The concept of "gentrification" is becoming an important and widespread phenomenon in most of the world's cities, both developed and developing. Consequently, many people have forcibly left their places or have lived at a higher cost. Therefore this phenomenon has become one of the most controversial issues of urban studies in recent years and can be analyzed as an influential and underlying factor in the evolution of urban economics and cultural changes. Social groups and movements resistance against the negative outcomes -especially homelessness caused by this phenomenon- has highlighted its unpleasant aspects. In Iran, and particularly in Tehran, less attention has been paid to the occurrence of this phenomenon and its outcomes. In some experiences, urban regeneration projects, by resolving the physical problems of neighborhoods and the major obstacles that led to their poor quality, raise demands for housing. This process causes an increase in the prices of units, which is finally followed by displacement of old residents. In such cases, urban regeneration actions accelerate and intensify the phenomenon of gentrification within the worn-out neighborhoods of the city. The main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of urban regeneration policies on the occurrence gentrification as well as long-term impacts of this phenomenon on the social and economic structure of worn-out urban neighborhoods. In order to achieve these goals, the case study approach is used with statistical data analysis of the last ten years. Hence, the trend of changes in the number of “building permits” and “land prices” in the ten-year period of 2006-2016 is investigated in both neighborhoods. The results show that signs of occurrence of the phenomenon are more pronounced in the neighborhood where more and stronger regeneration interventions and physical changes can be observed. The concept of "gentrification" is becoming an important and widespread phenomenon in most of the world's cities, both developed and developing. Consequently, many people have forcibly left their places or have lived at a higher cost. Therefore this phenomenon has become one of the most controversial issues of urban studies in recent years and can be analyzed as an influential and underlying factor in the evolution of urban economics and cultural changes. Social groups and movements resistance against the negative outcomes -especially homelessness caused by this phenomenon- has highlighted its unpleasant aspects. In Iran, and particularly in Tehran, less attention has been paid to the occurrence of this phenomenon and its outcomes. In some experiences, urban regeneration projects, by resolving the physical problems of neighborhoods and the major obstacles that led to their poor quality, raise demands for housing. This process causes an increase in the prices of units, which is finally followed by displacement of old residents. In such cases, urban regeneration actions accelerate and intensify the phenomenon of gentrification within the worn-out neighborhoods of the city. The main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of urban regeneration policies on the occurrence gentrification as well as long-term impacts of this phenomenon on the social and economic structure of worn-out urban neighborhoods. In order to achieve these goals, the case study approach is used with statistical data analysis of the last ten years. Hence, the trend of changes in the number of “building permits” and “land prices” in the ten-year period of 2006-2016 is investigated in both neighborhoods. The results show that signs of occurrence of the phenomenon are more pronounced in the neighborhood where more and stronger regeneration interventions and physical changes can be observed.