nvestigating the role of neighborhood-based planning in urban sustainability with the approach of neo-urbanism Case example: urban neighborhoods of Tehran's 14th district

Subject Areas :

masomeh saghafi ¹ (Ph.D. student of geography and urban planning, Islamic Azad University Sciences and Research Branch. Tehran, Iran)
Ali shamsoddini ² (Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran)
parvaneh Ziviar ³ (, associate professor and member of the faculty of Islamic Azad University, Yadgar Imam Khomeini. Shahr-e-Rey Branch)

Received: 2024-02-02 Accepted : 2024-05-04 Published : 2024-05-21

Keywords: urban sustainability, sustainable neighborhoods, Neighborhood Planning, District 14 of Tehran Municipality,

Abstract :

In the last half century, a new model of development, based on local and indigenous planning, has gained significant traction. This model advocates for neighborhood-centered planning, aiming to harness neighborhood social capabilities and resources. Emphasizing social participation, public education, and the development of essential assets, this approach underscores neo-urbanism's tenets, including safeguarding open spaces, enhancing transportation, redirecting capital within cities, shaping regions, and fostering endogenous development. The present study investigates the role of neighborhood planning in achieving urban sustainability, utilizing a neo-urbanism approach in District 14 of Tehran Municipality. Employing a descriptive-analytical method, data collection was conducted through a field survey method (researcher-made questionnaire). Cochran's formula determined a sample size of 384 individuals, and questionnaire reliability and validity were assessed. Multivariate correlation analysis and Friedman analysis were utilized for data analysis.Findings indicate significant disparities among urban neighborhoods in the 14th region concerning neighborhood planning indicators aligned with neo-urbanism. Factors such as access to essential services, transportation quality, and housing standards significantly impact citizen satisfaction with neighborhood planning, leading to varied neighborhood ratings. Notably, Abu Dhar and Narsar neighborhoods achieved the highest scores in neighborhood planning indicators. Indicators such as participation (0.417 coefficient), trust between residents and managers (0.771 coefficient), quality of life (0.532 coefficient), and urban space and housing quality (0.753 coefficient) directly influence successful neighborhood planning. Furthermore, a strong correlation (0.689 coefficient) exists between independent variables (neighborhood planning) and the research's dependent variable (urban sustainability).
 
Extended Abstract
 
 
Introduction
Neighborhood-oriented planning is related to how to use the capacities within the neighborhood. The use of the social capacities and capabilities of a neighborhood depends on the neighborhood community, neighborhood-oriented planning with a change in the attitude of the neighborhood management group, the use of neighborhood development indicators (quality of life), the promotion of citizens' social participation, and the use of capacity and potential. The existing ones will ultimately lead to achieving the stability of the neighborhood. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating and analyzing the role of neighborhood planning in realizing urban sustainability in District 14 of Tehran Municipality.
 
Methodology
The research method in this research is based on the descriptive-analytical method. Data collection was done in the form of documents and field surveys (researcher-made questionnaires). The statistical population of residents of District 14 of Tehran Municipality was 515,795 people. The sample size was determined by Cochran's formula, the number of which was around 384 people, and its distribution was simple random within the neighborhoods. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured with Cronbach's alpha (0.82) at the level of components, and it was used for validity in the opinion of professors and experts. To analyze the findings, multivariate correlation analysis and Friedman's analysis were used.
 
Results and discussion
Neighborhood-oriented planning is related to how to use intra-neighborhood capacities and social capital. The use of neighborhood social capacities and capabilities also depends on the neighborhood community, and the participation of the neighborhood community has a direct effect on the realization of the goals of sustainable neighborhood development. Neighborhoods with a neo-urbanism approach have dense neighborhoods, so the cost of maintaining and developing infrastructure in dense neighborhoods is lower than areas with low density, segregated and dependent on cars. Ultimately, these neighborhoods provide affordable housing for low-income households and, therefore, are a pro-poor strategy that enables residents to spend more on local purchases and support local businesses. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating and analyzing the role of neighborhood planning in realizing urban sustainability in District 14 of Tehran Municipality. An area that accounts for about 6% of the total population of Tehran and about 2.3% of the area of the city of Tehran, and mainly includes the old neighborhoods of Tehran. Despite the social and economic assets and potentials in the 14th district of Tehran municipality, they are facing many issues and challenges in the field of quality of urban life, which shows the lack of attention to the role and place of planning at the level of urban neighborhoods and the use of their capacities. . The urban neighborhoods of the 14th region are significantly different in terms of neighborhood planning indicators with the approach of neo-urbanism. Therefore, the uses of the required services, the quality of transportation and the quality of housing were effective in the satisfaction of citizens with neighborhood planning indicators, which caused some neighborhoods to get more points. Based on the results, the value of the correlation coefficient (R) obtained between the variables is 0.689, which indicates that there is a strong correlation between the set of independent variables (neighborhood planning) and the dependent variable of research (urban sustainability).
 
Conclusion
The results of the path analysis show that the intensity of the correlation between the sense of belonging to the neighborhood and neighborhood sustainability planning was direct with a coefficient of 0.341, significant level (Sig (It is less than 0.05, so there is a significant relationship, so that the sense of belonging increases participation in the sustainability of neighborhood planning. Also, indicators such as participation with a coefficient of 0.417, trust between residents and managers with a coefficient of 0.771, quality of life with a coefficient of 0.532, and the quality of urban space and housing with a coefficient of 0.753 have the greatest direct impact. And indicators such as trust and participation indirectly have a greater impact on the realization of sustainable neighborhood planning. Based on the results, the value of the correlation coefficient (R) obtained between the variables is 0.689, which indicates that there is a strong correlation between the set of independent variables (neighborhood planning) and the dependent variable of research (urban sustainability).

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