Abstract
One of the main urban problems of Tehran is the decline of its central neighbourhoods and the spatial concentration of deprivation within them. Since 2009, facilitation—encouraging open dialogue among stakeholders to explore diverse options—has been the main approach by the Urban Renewal Organisation of Tehran in tackling neighbourhood decline, to the extent that it is becoming the dominant public sector policy in Iran. In this way, more than 50 Facilitation Offices have been established within the declining neighbourhoods of Tehran and other cities. For this reason, it is necessary to document and analyse Tehran’s experience, to recognise weaknesses and propose necessary readjustments to enhance the effectiveness of the approach. Based on this rationale, the main aim of this research is to document and analyse the main processes and outcomes of Facilitation Offices, and to identify the main weaknesses of the experience. Since the research is linked to the domain of urban policy, it follows the principles of policy research. Three major findings are of note: first, despite adopting an integrative perspective and involving the neighbourhood residents in the planning process, a lack of communication, coordination and consensus with non-local stakeholders is clear; second, the legal position of the neighbourhood regeneration plan is vague, with diverse agencies having no obligations to follow it; and third, in spite of the huge success of housing reconstruction projects, few examples of the provision of public services can be found.
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Notes
- 1.
Population density; in deteriorated neighbourhoods in Tehran is 372 person per hectare and 2.9 times higher than the average of the city (127 person per hectare) (author based on (Statistical Center of Iran 2013)).
- 2.
The indices of urban deterioration are defined by the Supreme Council of Architecture and Urban Planning of Iran in 2006 and are: vulnerability against earthquake; narrow streets (lower than 6 m); and small size of residential parcels (lower than 200 m2). For more information about the indices of deterioration in Tehran, see: Boom Sazgan Engineering Consultants (2006).
- 3.
Tehran has 354 neighbourhoods.
- 4.
In official documents, a block is defined as an area restricted by roads from all sides. Boom Sazgan Engineering Consultants (2006).
- 5.
2,148 ha.
- 6.
3,268 ha of the area of Tehran are deteriorated. For more information about the scope of deterioration in Tehran, see: Boom Sazgan Engineering Consultants (2006).
- 7.
The report entitled ‘The vulnerability of Tehran against earthquake’ provided by JICA (the Japanese International Cooperation Agency) in 2002 was the first incentive for renewal in Tehran (Hajialiakbari 2011b, p. 26).
- 8.
Urban Renewal Organisation of Tehran was established in 1968 and is the main responsible agency for urban renewal in the municipality of Tehran.
- 9.
The Khoob-Bakht neighbourhood is one of the most deteriorated neighbourhoods of District 15 in Tehran. For more information about the experience, see: Andalib and Hajialiakbari (2008).
- 10.
Land Readjustment Projects consist of some adjacent parcels which are merged to provide enough land to construct a residential project. In Tehran, such projects have been implemented due to the small size of current parcels (60% less than 100 m2) and the impossibility of receiving construction permits from the municipality (because of the regulations of the comprehensive plan of Tehran).
- 11.
The rule of procedure of arrangement and support of housing provision and implementation’ law was declared by the cabinet of Iran in 2009. In Article 42, municipalities were allowed to establish renewal service offices with the participation of private sector to accelerate renewal process. For more information about the law and its rule of procedure, see: The Cabinet of Iran proceedings (2009).
- 12.
The permission which was proposed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning was based on past experiences of the ministry on urban renewal and establishment of neighbourhood offices in some projects such as Joolan neighbourhood renewal (Hamedan) and Joobare neighbourhood rehabilitation (Isfahan). For more information about these experiences, see (Aeini 2011) and (Civil and Housing Builders of Isfahan nd).
- 13.
Such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and Rasht.
- 14.
The Urban Development and Rehabilitation Corporation is established in 1997 and is the responsible agency in Iran’s government for urban regeneration.
- 15.
Focus group discussions.
- 16.
The Social Exclusion Unit was set up by the Labour government in 1997 and formed part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The main responsibility of the unit was to provide the UK Government with strategic advice and policy analysis in its drive against social exclusion.
- 17.
The main encouraging tools to persuade residents to participate in the plan were: free construction permit, low-interest loan for reconstruction, and zero interest loan for temporary settlement. For more information, see: (Andalib and Hajialiakbari 2008).
- 18.
The average number of parcels in LRPs between 2009 and 2014 is 2.5 (UROT 2015c).
- 19.
Based on the assessment of UROT.
- 20.
In different neighbourhoods.
- 21.
Different social, economic and physical problems.
- 22.
Ten individual interviews and an FGD.
- 23.
Financing and construction of LRPs in the deteriorated neighbourhoods of Tehran is done by a private investor, so, due to the value of land, between 40 and 50% of constructed apartments belong to the investor.
- 24.
Attaining a ‘1’ in Table 5.5 means a better level of satisfaction.
- 25.
The ‘Green Neighbourhood’ project in District 14.
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Hajialiakbari, K. (2020). The Rise of the Facilitation Approach in Tackling Neighbourhood Decline in Tehran. In: Arefian, F., Moeini, S. (eds) Urban Heritage Along the Silk Roads. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22762-3_5
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