Explaining the Factors Affecting the Social Livability of Dilapidated Urban Areas in Islamic Iranian Cities (Case Study: District 12, Tehran)
Subject Areas : Islamic urbanism
Sina Ghayouraneh
1
,
hossein kalantari khalil abad
2
,
saba jahangir
3
1 - Ph.D Student, Urban Planning Department, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran, Iran.
2 - Professor of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Management, Insitute for Humanities and Social Studies in ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Urban Planning Department, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran, Iran.
Keywords: livability, social livability, spatial belonging, dilapidated texture, District 12 of Tehran.,
Abstract :
Explaining the Factors Affecting the Social Livability
of Dilapidated Urban Areas in Islamic Iranian Cities
(Case Study: District 12, Tehran)
Sina Ghayuraneh*
Hossein Kalantari Khalilabad **
Saba Jahangir***
Today, cities have become the main place of working and living for most of the people, so that more than 50% of the world's 7 billion people live in cities. Therefore, paying attention to the quality of life, conditions, facilities, and needs of city residents is a vital issue. Given the numerous problems of cities, various approaches have been proposed and put forward to promote and improve living conditions, of which urban livability is one of them. Today, livability has spread in most developed countries as a guiding principle within the framework of the sustainability discourse in urban policymaking and planning. The present study was developed with the aim of explaining the factors affecting the social livability of dilapidated urban areas in Islamic Iranian cities. This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of method. The statistical population of the study consisted of residents of District 12 of Tehran, and the sample size was estimated to be 373 people using the Cochran formula. The validity of the research tool was calculated using the confirmatory factor analysis model and its reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and SMART PLS software with descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. The findings showed that participation, social security, solidarity, and social interactions, and spatial belonging have a positive and significant effect on social livability. Among the variables studied, the spatial belonging variable with a path coefficient of 0.258 had the greatest effect on social livability.
Keywords: livability, social livability, spatial belonging, dilapidated texture, District 12 of Tehran.
Introduction
According to the World Cities Report published by the United Nations in 2020, urbanization will continue to be a driver of global growth and a basis for poverty, unemployment, inequality, climate change and other global challenges we face (Xiao et al., 2022: 145) Unplanned and improper management and the emergence of socio-economic and environmental problems in today's cities have led to a decrease in living standards and, consequently, a decrease in the sustainability and livability of cities, which has placed attention to livability indicators as the key to solving many urban issues and problems at the forefront of planning (Karbasi and Kargar,1402: 19) In general, today, the lack of attention to human and social needs in urban planning and management creates significant obstacles to improving the quality of life and satisfaction of residents (Hekmat-Niya et al., 1400: 32). In this regard, the concept of livability as a new approach to improving the quality of life has been on the agenda of urban planners and managers. This concept has played an important role in urban planning and development, however, this concept is fluid and has been used in various situations (Kashef, 2023: 242).
District 12 of Tehran is no exception to this rule, as this area has begun its downward trend since the mid-20th century. The decrease in population in the neighborhoods of the city's initial cores and the movement of the population towards the outer layers are among the most important challenges it has faced. As the population of this region has decreased from 343,633 people in 1979 to 241,831 people in 2016, which shows a negative growth rate of -14.1 percent (Statistical Center of Iran, 2016). The problems mentioned on the one hand and the tendency to develop and invest in the suburbs and outer layers of the city for various reasons, including cheap land and housing prices, ecological attractions such as clean and healthy air, etc., on the other hand, have caused a decline in the quality of life, a decrease in vitality, a decrease in livability and a decrease in the prosperity of social life, and physical and functional deterioration in this region (Zare et al., 1400: 800). The aforementioned conditions are the product of macro factors, forces and processes outside the boundaries of Region 12 and its neighborhoods and even outside Tehran, such as general urban management policies, the national role of commercial areas and axes (Salehi et al., 1401: 86). Considering the above issues, the initial research question is “What factors affect social livability in the worn-out fabric of District 12 of Tehran?”
Research Method
This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of method. Documentary and field methods were used to collect data. The statistical population of the study consisted of citizens living in District 12 of Tehran, whose number is 241,831 people. The sample size was estimated to be 373 people using the Cochran formula. The sampling method was simple random sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect field data. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured by calculating Cronbach's alpha and calculating the composite reliability coefficient (cr). The value of Cronbach's alpha and the composite reliability coefficient for each variable are between zero and one, and if the value obtained is higher than 0.7, the questionnaire has appropriate reliability. The results of the value of Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability of the questionnaire confirm the appropriate reliability of the questionnaire used. In this study, structural equation modeling in the PLS software environment was used to analyze the data.
Research findings
Regarding the effect of participation on social livability, the results indicate that the value of the T-statistic obtained is equal to 2.134, so that this value is greater than 1.96. Also, the path coefficient obtained is equal to (β=0.158), since the path coefficient obtained is positive, this effect is direct.
Regarding the effect of social security on social livability, the results indicate that the value of the T-statistic obtained is equal to 2.607, so that this value is greater than 1.96. Also, the path coefficient obtained is equal to (β=0.207), since the path coefficient obtained is positive, this effect is direct. So it can be said that social security has a positive and significant effect on social livability.
Regarding the effect of solidarity and social interactions on social livability, the results indicate that the value of the T-statistic obtained is equal to 2.604, so that this value is greater than 1.96. Also, the path coefficient obtained is equal to (β=0.216), since the path coefficient obtained is positive, this effect is direct. So it can be said that solidarity and social interactions have a positive and significant effect on social livability. Regarding the effect of place attachment on social livability, the results indicate that the value of the T-statistic obtained is equal to 4.602, so that this value is greater than 1.96. Also, the path coefficient obtained is equal to (β=0.258), since the path coefficient obtained is positive, this effect is direct. So it can be stated that place attachment has a positive and significant effect on social livability.
Conclusion
The findings of this study showed that in relation to the impact of participation on social livability, the results confirmed that the path coefficient obtained was equal to (β=0.158), considering the path coefficient obtained, the impact coefficient is evaluated as moderate. In explaining the results of this section, it can be stated that the issue of people's and citizens' participation in the economic and social development of cities has been considered in urban development studies and planning for several decades.
Regarding the effect of social security on social livability, the results indicated that the effect of social security on the promotion of social livability was confirmed. The path coefficient obtained was 0.207, and according to the path coefficient obtained, this effect is assessed as moderate. In explaining the results of this section, it can be stated that if worn-out structures gradually deteriorate on a large scale, they will become unsafe and crime-prone areas. If these areas are not addressed properly, due to poor design and even undesirable lighting, it will create problems for residents that may ultimately lead to leaving the structure. Therefore, in order to increase livability in terms of security, it is possible to widen the passages and construct appropriate lighting for them.
Regarding the effect of solidarity and social interactions on social livability, the results indicate that solidarity and social interactions have a positive and significant effect on social livability, considering the value of the path coefficient, which is equal to 0.216, this effect is assessed as moderate. Regarding the effect of place belonging on social livability, the results indicate confirmation of the hypothesis, and considering the value of the path coefficient obtained, this effect is assessed as moderate. A sense of belonging to a place is a higher level of a sense of place that leads to high-quality environments and humans consider themselves part of it and respect it. Place belonging means that people define themselves with the help of the place where they were born and grew up. This connection affects people in a deep and lasting way, and the memory of place strengthens human identity and power.
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* Corresponding Author: Ph.D Student, Urban Planning Department, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran, Iran.
S.gh1375@yahoo.com
** Professor of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Management, Insitute for Humanities and Social Studies in ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
H_kalantari2005@yahoo.com
*** Assistant Professor, Urban Planning Department, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran, Iran.
saba.jahangir@yahoo.com
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