A Sociological Study of Neighborhood-Oriented Urban Development Plans A Case Study of the Redesign of Mehran Square in Karaj

Authors

1 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities Kharazmi University. Tehran, Iran

2 Imam Ali (AS) Research Center, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The objective of this investigation is to conduct a sociological examination of neighborhood-oriented urban development plans and the potential scenarios that may arise duri​ng their execution. The research concentrates on the redesign project of Mehran Square in Karaj, researching the unanticipated social consequences that this initiative has caused.
The methodology is predicated on the acquisition, integration, and examination of both qualitative and quantitative data. Questionnaires were implemented during the quantitative phase, while comparative case studies, document analysis, and individual and group interviewscomprised the qualitative phase. The findings were analyzed through descriptive and analytical methods, content analysis, scenario writing, and stakeholder analysis.
Field results suggest that the current form of the project is opposed by influential stakeholders with social power, such as the Traffic Department of Karaj Municipality, the Urban Landscape Organization of Karaj Municipality, local business owners, and housing investors and developers. They perceive it as a source of increased traffic congestion and disorder. The study identifies four potential scenarios in response to the redesign project: 1) inaction, 2) conflict, 3) passive adaptation by affected groups, and 4) a moderated and participatory implementation scenario.
The findings reveal that a complex network of interconnected factors in the square’s area contributes to unintended social and cultural reactions, which presents obstacles to neighborhood-based development and fosters conflict and opposition. This study endorses the moderated implementation scenario, which is one of the four proposed scenarios. Subsequently, pertinent recommendations are provided.

Keywords

References

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