Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City with an Emphasis on City Development Strategy

Home , Isfahan

To cite this document: Akbari, N., Moayedfar, R., & Mirzaie Khondabi, F. (2018). Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City with an Emphasis on City Development Strategy. Urban Economics and Management, 6(1(21)), 37-54 www.iueam.ir Indexed in: ISC, EconLit, Econbiz, SID, RICeST, Magiran, Civilica, Google Scholar, Noormags, Ensani. ISSN: 2345-2870

Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City with an Emphasis on City Development Strategy Nematollah Akbari Department of Economics, Faculty of Administrative Science and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Rozita Moayedfar Department of Economics, Faculty of Administrative Science and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Farzaneh Mirzaie Khondabi* Faculty of Administrative Science and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2017/06/11 Accepted: 2017/09/09 Abstract: Adoption of inefficient policies in the field of distressed areas and low quality of livability, there is the need for new approaches in preparing and implementing renovation and improvement plans; so, city development strategy can be an appropriate plan to replace current plans. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the livability of distressed areas in Isfahan city as one of the elements of urban development strategy to use the approach in renovation and improvement. Moreover, its innovation is in addressing livability situation of independent distressed areas of the city to provide urban development strategy plan. The research method is descriptive-analytical and regarding the purpose, the study is applied. The data were collected using questionnaires. They were distributed and filled out in August and September of 2015. In this research, SPSS, EXCEL and Arc Gis software were used. The study sample included 385 residents of distress areas who were selected by stratified random sampling. According to the results, the distressed area of Isfahan, with an average of 2.49 and t statistics, -38.07 is not livable and the residents have evaluated the index of urban development strategy and its status undesirable. Moreover, the other three Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] dimensions of economic, social and environmental state are unfavorable and the social dimension has had a more critical situation. Livability state is not the same in all parts of the area. There is also a significant difference between the distressed areas regarding livability. In the meantime, the distressed area of district 9 rather than districts four and eleven and the distressed area of district 3 rather than district eleven had more livability. Keywords: livability, distressed area, city development strategy, renovation and improvement, city of Isfahan JEL Classification: R58, o47, N95, I25, L39

* Corresponding author: [email protected] 83______Urban Economics and Management

1- Introduction these disadvantages have caused them Today, with increasing growth of have lower quality of life than other urban urbanization, urban problems, rather than areas, and reduce their viability. any other time, plague cities in the country. The importance and necessity of this The housing problem, urban transportation, research can be discussed in two thematic environmental shortages and related and topical fields. Given the fact that pollution are specific examples of the livability represents the overall economic, problems. The problems with affect all social, and environmental characteristics aspects of urbanization, the logical of an area, it can be used as a powerful relations of urban life have become tool for monitoring social development distorted and the overall quality and livability planning, recognizing previous strategies of them greatly reduced and provided and designing future policies. On the them with instability (Arabshahi, 2003). other hand, Isfahan is a historic city that One of the important aspects in cities lost the population living in its historic that is both cause and result of many the and worn out form due to the lack of problems is the exhausted tissue. The facilities and services and the lack of nature of the exhausted tissue invalidates proper access, which led to the erosion any neglect of it in various ways, since it and abandonment of many buildings. On is culturally the origin of the modern city the other hand, with uncontrolled growth and a reminder of the culture and history and expansion of the city, and with the of the past, and socially is a part of society conversion and change of the use of many and guarantor of human life whether in gardens and lands, its natural ecosystem the event of abandonment or disproportionate is shattered and endangered by the use, and physically it has an outstanding environmental crisis. architectural and urbanization value, Adopting inefficient urban planning despite all exhaustion (Pourahmad & and management policies in the field of Zarei, 1394). renovation and improvement of worn-out Urban compact and worn out areas tissues gradually eroded and made are affected by decisions of urban managers ineffectiveness of a significant part of the and an important part of their activities is tissues of the central and middle core of to improve the conditions and appropriate cities and created a sharp contradiction solutions for increasing living conditions between urban constituents, especially in these areas (Wang et al., 2007). new ones, which changed with the role of Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] These tissues often suffer from low service functions, cities have been environmental quality and unsafe space, created, with worn-out tissues that cannot and sometimes there is pollution from adapt to these changes (Sajjadi & surface water, sewage systems and Mohammadi, 2011). garbage collection. Unauthorized residence, The plans for the modernization and high rental rates, the prevalence of upgrading of worn out tissues can be addiction and all types of behavioral spotted when it has a good prospect for abnormalities and delinquency and urban development and has reached a insecurity, especially for children and strategy for development and sustainability women, are the characteristics of urban of the city (Abdolalizadeh, 2010). tissue erosion (Izadi, 2011); therefore, Considering that urban development 83______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

strategy is the complete and advanced - Among the worn-out texture of form of urban planning that can be used fifteen districts of Isfahan, which is more in a city or part of the city, it necessary is livable than others? to implement urban development strategy for the modernization and upgrading of 2- Literature Review worn out tissues. If cities and towns want a) Foreign Researches to enhance the welfare of their citizens Rasoolimanseh et al., (2011) in a and their residents, they must be study comparing the definitions of the sustainable and functional in four ways City Union and the World Bank in that are referred to as the four features, Malaysia, concluded that the term principles, or pillars of the CDS1: livability, “sustainability” is used in several forms competitiveness, bankability, and good and definitions. In order to cope with the urban governance (World Bank, 2000): four decades of global economic, social The urban development strategy and environmental problems, sustainable pursues three main goals: economic development should be approved by growth, continuous reduction of poverty international organizations, national and and improvement of urban management. local governments as a principle. On the In this strategy, after identifying the status other hand, new approaches to urban quo and charting the desired situation, management should be used to achieve ways to get from the status quo to the sustainable development. Although the optimal situation will be identified and urban development and sustainable designed. Therefore, one of the first steps development strategy are defined in many required in the urban development different areas, this paper describes two strategy is to identify the status quo. On specific definitions of urban development the other hand, the existing condition of strategies put forward by the Cities Union the worn texture requires an assessment and the World Bank in order to achieve of the level of CDS components, which sustainable development. will also achieve the goals of the urban Economist Intelligence Unit (2011) development strategy. Therefore, the ranked 140 cities from different countries purpose of this study was to analyze the in 2011 based on their livability. This current status of livability (as one of the ranking has been conducted based on 30 components of the urban development quantitative and qualitative factors, which strategy) in the worn out of Isfahan city have been classified into five general Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] and compare the worn-out texture of its categories: stability (social environment), fifteen districts in terms of the level of health care, culture and environment, livability in order to use this approach to education and infrastructure. In this modernize and improve it. According to ranking, the city of Melbourne in these goals, the research questions are as Australia has been ranked as the most follows: livable city, and city of Harare in - What is the state of Isfahan worn Zimbabwe as the least livable city. The out texture in terms of livability? results of this study showed that higher rated cities, mostly middle-sized cities, have been relatively low in rich countries

1- City Development Strategy and population density. 04______Urban Economics and Management

Song (2011) identified effective elimination of economic problems and factors on livability level by using empowerment of villagers have been Structural Equation Modeling and considered as the main factor of the introduced three variables of quality of livability of rural settlements. environment, public facilities, and Poorahmad et al., (2015) did a economic development as effective research to analyze the situation of factors on livability, and extracted 24 Piranshahr based on City Development qualitative variables from statistical Strategy (CDS) indicators. The research yearbooks to measure these three method was descriptive-analytical, and variables. The sample used by the data were collected by field study and researcher included 284 cities from using the questionnaire from three groups China. The results of this study indicate of citizens, officials and elites. For data the direct impact of economic development analysis, SPSS and Lisrel software have on the livability and lack of impact of been used. The results of this study environmental quality and public facilities on showed that not all three groups evaluated the viability, which is due to the lack of the status of Piranshahr favorably in influence of these two variables on the terms of CDS indicators. The difference low quality of the variables used and the in the view of the groups by using the small size of the sample. Manova test indicates that there is a Kashef (2016) analyzed a variety of significant difference between the viewpoints theoretical backgrounds that relate to the of the urban groups, so that there is a concept of the livable cities. The research significant difference between the viewpoints ultimately tries to clarify the situation, of the groups about all the CDS indexes conditions and processes that may other than the governance one. increase the livability of different urban Irandoost et al., (2015) did a research situations. to identify the features of livable societies b) Iranian Researches and evaluated livability of central part of Isaloo et al., (2014) did a research to Qom. The method of this research is identify the indicators of livable rural descriptive-analytical, as well as documentary, societies and to assess these conditions in surveying and field studies. The results of the current situation of rural settlements the study showed that there is a good of Kahak in the city of Qom. The research status in terms of social, equality and method was descriptive-analytical and the equity index. Economically, the desirability Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] statistical population was all permanent of location (decent access) to the central residents of 9 villages in Kahak selected housing sector has reduced the cost of by stratified random sampling. The moving but, in contrast to housing costs, results showed that economic indicators has affected the real affordability of had a significant role in determining the housing in this sector. From the rate of livability in rural areas of this environmental point of view, all three region. In addition, the results of the factors of air, water and sound are far follow-up test for residences showed that from the criteria and standards specified. although some villages have more Rashidi et al., (2015) did a research facilities and services, their livability is to understand the livability status of the lower than rural areas. Finally, the metropolitan area of Tabriz. To achieve 04______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

this goal, using library-survey method management and logistics of urban and questionnaire tool, 384 residents of distressed areas. the area were evaluated by probabilistic sampling method. The results of this 3- Theoretical Background study showed that the livability of the Worn-out Fabric metropolitan area of Tabriz with an The most formal theoretical definition average of 2.86 and 4.75 t was moderate. of worn-out fabric is the one in the 2005 In addition, the livability conditions are Supreme Council of Urban and Architecture: not the same in all parts of it, and there is “worn-out fabric is a reduction in the a significant difference between the efficiency and effectiveness of a tissue metropolitan area of Tabriz in terms of compared to the efficiency of other urban livability, while in the economic index, constructions. The exhaustion of the the difference in livability in the study tissue and its internal elements is due to area is more than other indicators. the lack of a program for the development Shamaei et al., (2016) did a research and technical supervision of the formation to realize livability status in distressed of that texture. The outcome of exhaustion area of Zanjan. In this research, descriptive- ultimately leads to the loss of its dignity analytical and survey methods and in the minds of citizens, which can be questionnaire were used and the collected detected in a variety of ways, including data were analyzed by using factor analysis, loss of or lack of livability, safety, and regression and path analysis in SPSS physical, social, economic and institutional software. The results of the study showed disruptions.” Agedness in this definition that sub-indicators of management have a is defined by old and unstable buildings, a greater role in influencing the amount of low-profile property with low-income livability of distressed area in Zanjan city. with socially dependent residents (Andalib, Moreover, the results of livability regression 2010). Due to problems such as: low analysis showed that among the factors, quality of life, reduced security, traffic the livability of distressed area of Zanjan problems, defenseless spaces, fear, high has the highest correlation with social crime, the worn out texture requires a index. As the path analysis shows, the fundamental strategy for basic changes in social index, among other factors, directly the physical, social, economic, and had the greatest effect on livability. environmental dimensions. Changes that Studies on research background show often take place in the long run with high Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] that livability studies focus more on large costs to solve these problems by public cities and rural areas, and less attention institutions, emphasizing on three factors has been paid to worn out areas. The of training, implementation and engineering, urban development strategy has also been and taking into account the needs of more prominent for cities. Therefore, residents (Day et al., 2007); therefore, in theoretical and qualitative research in this order to prevent undesirable and sometimes field can increase the depth of thinking irreparable consequences of this problem, among the context of the worn out proper intervention in urban distressed texture, the livability and the urban areas is necessary (Kakavand et al., 2013). development strategy, and provide the In terms of urban development and basis for deep research in the area of urban planning, various strategies and 04______Urban Economics and Management

interventions are proposed to improve are being used and its main objective is to urban centers or, more precisely, old and provide sustainable urban development usually urbanized buildings. Types of through the creation of social capacity for intervention based on loyalty to the past participatory perspective and public include (Khaksari, 2004): action. On the other hand, this document a: Improvement: To create a healthy is based on a common vision to improve environment and prepare a suitable place the quality of city administration and for healthy and productive livelihoods in management, to increase investment to the city and urbanization (Shieh, 1999). enhance employment rates and b: Renovation: Renovations and urban sustainable poverty reduction, so that the spaces that through actions or processes, growth of cities involves social justice signs of exhaustion, destruction, superiors through the cooperation and participation and stagnation are eliminated (Shamei & of people in the community to improve Poorahmad, 2006). quality. The lives of all citizens are c: Reconstruction: Complete possible (Poorahmad, et al., 2015). transformation of the background and the The principles of city development creation of new conditions in the context strategy are: or its elements by dismantling the past - Livability works that leads to the construction of - Competitiveness: One of the key new developments (Habibi & Maqsoodi, components of CDS studies and analyzes 2007). is the analysis of the economic City Development Strategy (CDS) competitiveness of the city at international, The city development strategy approach national and regional levels. In other has been applied since 1999, with the words, the formulation of a development support of the World Bank and then with strategy and, subsequently, the formulation the cooperation of other international of an executive plan, require the institutions such as the United Nations determination of the competitive advantage Center for Human Settlements (Habitat) of cities. Therefore, analyzing the city’s and the establishment of Cities Alliance economic context in order to evaluate its in different countries (Sadeghi, 2010). strengths and weaknesses in comparison The City Development Strategy (CDS) is with other cities of the region and the a tool for the development of urban poor country with the aim of identifying the areas. This approach is a participatory corners in which the city has a competitive Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] decision for cities that are facing the urban advantage and will be able to provide the poverty crisis, increasing competition and market with its products and services putting pressure on environmental and (Golkar & Azadi, 2004). economic sustainability, and provides a - Good governance: According to the framework for economic growth, definition of the World Bank, good sustainability and equity through strategies governance implies the inclusion and (UMP, 2002). representation of all groups in the urban In fact, CDS is a strategic plan that community, as it implies the accountability, emphasizes the preparation and implementation integrity and transparency of the actions of the document. The mentioned document of the local government to define and is a tool in which participatory techniques pursue common goals; the rule of a city 08______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

can be seen in the indicators of structure principles such as access, equality and and effectiveness of service, local participation, in which the concepts of government independence, in-government habitat are based on them. In many texts, coordination and transparency of the local livability and quality of life are expressed government (Noroozifard et al., 2014). synonymously. The citizens’ quality of - Bankability: It refers to the financial life depends on their access to health of the city in the administration of infrastructure (transportation, communications, Revenue and Expense Revenue. A water and sanitation), food, clean air, bankable city has a clear and consistently affordable housing, satisfying jobs, green integrated local incomes and expenditures spaces and parks. The livability of a system, transparent and predictable settlement depends also on the extent to intergovernmental transfers, prudent which residents have access to participate covenants for municipal borrowing, in the decision-making process in order to accepted financial accounting techniques, meet their needs (Timmer et al., 2005). A healthy asset management process, livable place should be secure, socially transparent procedures in procurement of coherent, with educational facilities, diverse goods and services, and a business and affordable housing, open public approach (taking into account important spaces, local shopping centers, suitable social issues). A business approach is also health services, environmental sustainability, a prerequisite for the participation of the cultural and recreational facilities, proper private sector or the conditional privatization and optimal transport, and suitable of urban services (World Bank, 2001). infrastructure for cycling and walking Livability (Hankins & Power, 2009). The origin of the concept of a livable According to Evans (2002), the city dates back to the ancient Greek era, livability coin has two sides; the livelihood followed by ideology and the concept of tool, and ecological sustainability. The justice and fairness. The concept of livelihood tool means the jobs are close livability, on the one hand, reflects the enough to affordable housing suitable for gravity and the strong urban impact, but, rent, and to access to services that provide on the other hand, it will intensify the a healthy habitat. Livelihood must also be communication and impact of the city sustainable. If the demand for jobs and through the acquisition of investment, housing is met by the destruction of the cultural and human resources (Hataminejad city’s environment, the issue of livelihood Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] et al., 2014). Increasing livability of urban is not resolved. Livelihood tool, through areas is a way to prevent pollution and degradation and environmental degradation, protect natural resources in and around is seeking to achieve quality of life; in urban areas (Saitluanga, 2014). fact, citizens who have to exchange green Livability in its core concept is the space and clean air at their wages. One achievement of livelihood and is in fact city must have both sides of coin for the achievement of good quality urban survival, while protecting the quality of planning and sustainable location. In the environment, providing livelihoods general, the definitions of livability and for its citizens. the livable community are a diverse set of Livability divides into three dependent issues that are expressed in guiding dimensions; economy, society, and the 00______Urban Economics and Management

environment. Economy provides jobs and exist in their community and the income and it is vital for people’s health possibilities that can exist in the (supplying food, clothes, and housing), community (Khorasani et al., 2012). and so does for providing higher-level needs like education, health, and recreation. 4- Research Method Simultaneously, the use of economy of The method of this research is available resources in the environment applied in terms of purpose and it is a should be in such a way that there should descriptive-analytic study in terms of be assurance that there are enough entity and method. The required resources for present and future generations. information was collected using library Environment is an infrastructure that is and field methods. The data collection the provider of natural resources, waste tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. disposal capacity and it is the relationship In order to prepare a questionnaire, between humans and the natural indicators and livability were extracted environment, but social well-being using two-stage studies in Iran and in the depends on justice, social and spatial world. In the first stage, using related distribution of economic and environmental studies, related indicators were extracted. resources in a fair manner, as well as According to the research emphasis on government systems that are considered the CDS approach, the factors proposed by all citizens. Individual liberty and by the World Bank as one of the founders equal opportunity are important components and main sponsors of CDS were regarded of social welfare. If the functioning of more than other factors. In the second each of these three is in disrepair, human stage, some of the indicators and components settlements can quickly collapse, resulting were used in the final questionnaire after in population decline, poverty, social crossing the initial questionnaire designed conflict, and increasing health and for the pre-test phase. The indicators were environmental problems will be its summarized in three dimensions as follows: consequences (Sasanpoor et al., 2015). - Economic dimension: Employment Beyond economic reasons, livability and income, housing, public transportation, has been accepted for both residents and facilities and services infrastructure planners to create sustainable, functional - Social dimension: public education, and enjoyable spaces. Livable habitats health, affiliation and location, security, create a greater sense of community and recreation and leisure Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] ownership and its immigration rates are - Environmental dimension: green lower. Nevertheless, this point should space, pollution and landscape always be taken into consideration that a In designing the questionnaire and positive attitude towards a community measuring the indicators, 39 items with a cannot necessarily mean that the community positive direction and five-point Likert has a proper position in terms of livability. scale, including very few low to a very The reason for this is that people who are high extent were used. The validity of the satisfied with their condition can have a questionnaire was evaluated by face-to- positive attitude about their community, face and expert opinion, so the validity of because they do not have enough the questionnaire was high. The reliability awareness of the real shortcomings that of the questionnaire was assessed through 04______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

pre-test and Cronbach’s alpha. The sample (S) is used as an estimate of Cronbach’s alpha in this study was 0.89, standard deviation of society. The sample indicating strong reliability. size was calculated at 95% confidence The statistical population in this level and the permissible error level is research is the inhabitants of Isfahan’s 0.05, the maximum error is allowed and worn out texture, which is 364426 people the sampling accuracy depends on it. 385 according to the statistics and maps in people were calculated. Isfahan’s Renovation and Improvement After calculating the sample size for Organization, who reside in all fifteen selecting samples from among the residents municipality districts. Sample size is of distressed areas of Isfahan Municipality determined according to the Cochran districts , stratified random sampling sampling formula (Equation 1). method was used. In this method, people according to their intra-group traits are

divided into different classes, and random

samples are selected from all classes

In this equation, n is the minimum (Hafeznia, 2005). Here, people’s place of sample size, Z is the value of the test residence of the worn out tissue of the statistic at the error level of α percent, σ fifteen districts of the municipality was is the standard deviation of the statistical considered as their distinctive attribute population and d is the permitted error. In and appropriate allocation was made this research, because of the lack of (Table 1). knowledge of the standard deviation of society (σ), the standard deviation of

Table1. Sample size People living in Population share Sample size Districts distressed area (person) (percentage) (person) District 1 27272 6 23 District 2 2826 2 2 District 3 23762 7 27 District 4 7596 2 2 District 5 17126 3 12 District 6 21762 6 23 District 7 22228 2 31 District 8 26127 7 27 Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] District 9 87871 11 82 District 10 65372 15 73 District 11 28719 7 27 District 12 19716 8 19 District 13 15762 9 15 District 14 37922 2 31 District 15 12863 9 15 Total 368826 177 329 distressed area Reference: (Renovation and Rehabilitation Organization of Isfahan)

04______Urban Economics and Management

In this research, descriptive methods was municipality districts by adding Khorasegan. used in order to generalize the results and It has 2280 distressed areas (Statistics of inferential statistical tests including one- Isfahan, 2015). sample t, one-way ANOVA, Gabriel and The entire distressed area of Isfahan is not Levene tests were used to answer and of the old texture type. Districts 1, 3, and generalize the results. The application of 15 of the city of Isfahan, which are the tests is as follows: sometimes combined with historical texture, - One-sample t test: to study the level of have become eroded over the years due to livability, its dimensions and indicators the large number of buildings, changes in - Gabriel: Binary comparison of two the principles and methods of urbanization, distressed areas in terms of livability the type of materials used, and so on. Levene: Equation analysis of variance of These areas are constructed with modern livability variable among areas of worn methods and modes of their time, and texture access to them is appropriate at that time, Spatial and Temporal Realm of Research but they are ineffective at this time Isfahan is the third largest city in Iran, (Akbari Ziart, 2010). Figure 1 shows the with a population of 1908968 people, city’s fifteen districts. This research has accounting for 2.54% of the total population been done in the spatial area of the worn of the country. The city has an area of texture of Isfahan city and in the period 550-km2 equivalent to 0.03% of total area from September to October 2013. of the country. Currently, it has fifteen

Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ]

Fig1. Distressed area of fifteen districts of Isfahan city

5- Results status, type of ownership and type of Analysis of Demographic Variables of housing, the results of which are presented Sample in Table 2. According to the results of the The demographic variables of sample table, most of the residents were of high were adjusted based on 9 general questions age, low-income families and low educational including gender, age, marital status, levels, who often lived in non-parish household size, educational level, employment homes and were owners. 04______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

Table2. Demographic features of sample size Variable Frequency percentage Variable Frequency Percentage Male 223 57.9 Single 176 27.7 Gender Marital Female 162 42.1 Married 277 72.3 status 12 -27 22 5.7 Unknown 2 0.5 21 -37 126 32.7 Illiterate 36 9.4 Lower than diploma 31 -87 118 29.6 292 67.4 Age and diploma Educated 81 -97 78 19.2 A.A. and Bachelor 77 20.1 More than 50 87 12.2 Master and higher 12 3.1 Unknown 2 0.5 Unknown 2 0.5 Owner 267 70.4 Apartment 72 20.3 Type of Type of Renter 112 29.6 Non-apartment 371 79.4 ownership housing Unknown 6 1.5 Unknown 9 1.8 Fewer than 2 Unemployed 27 7 82 12.5 persons Student 82 10.9 3-4 persons 227 95 Employment Employed 123 47.5 Household 5-6 persons 23 21.6 status housewife 37 7.8 size More than 7 persons 19 3.9 Retired 171 26.2 Unknown 12 3.1 Unknown 2 0.5

Descriptive Findings the three dimensions of livability is lower Livability is evaluated through three than the average of Likert scale (number economic, social and environmental 3) and among all the indicators, the aspects. Therefore, to assess the livability, landscape has the lowest average. first, by obtaining averages from the In addition, in Table 3, the level of indicator of each dimension, a specific each dimension and overall livability is index is created to determine the rate of presented. The results of this table show livability in each dimension, then, that the average economic dimension is by calculating the average of all three 2.66, the social dimension is 2.50, the dimensions, the overall level of livability environmental dimension is 2.31, and was estimated. The indexes of each ultimately the overall livability is 2.49 dimension are presented in Table 3. and less than the average of Likert. The Among the economic dimension level of livability of the worn out tissue of indicators, the highest amount was for each area is also presented in Table 4. public transportation with an average of The results of this table indicate that the 2.85 and the lowest value for housing livability of the worn out texture of all

Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] with an average of 2.56. In relation to areas is in the range of 2.5-2.55 and not social dimension indicators, the highest have a desirable level (higher than 3.5). amount is related to continuity and place Inferential Findings belonging with an average of 2.64 and the The descriptive results obtained from lowest amount for leisure time with an the sample only can be generalized to the average of 2.22. In environmental dimension community when tested by inferential indicators, the highest amount is related statistics methods. One-sample t-test was to green space with a mean of 2.45 and used to answer the first question and to the lowest value for the landscape with an evaluate its livability, and its dimensions average of 1.89. In general, it can be said in Isfahan distressed area. In this test, the that the average of all indices constituting value of the numerical value (critical 03______Urban Economics and Management

value) is set to 3.5. The choice of 3.5 was good, can be considered as critical, and due to the fact that the score is 3 times more than 4 is considered good and with the same average. The raise of the livable. The Economist’s report also number 3 cannot be attributed to livability. confirms that it is a livable city with a In other words, the score between 3 and score of over 70. 4, which is in fact between medium and

Table3. Average indices of the three dimensions of livability Dimension Indicators Average SD Skewness Employment and income 2.57 0.80 0.07 Housing 2.56 0.79 0.22 Economic Public transport 2.85 1.03 -0.08 Facilities and Services Infrastructure 2.67 0.63 0.24 Economic livability 2.66 0.53 0.07 Public education 2.63 0.91 0.13 Health 2.57 1.00 0.22 Attachment and spatial belonging 2.64 0.65 0.05 Social Security 2.45 1.14 0.20 Recreation and leisure 2.22 0.82 0.56 Social livability 2.50 0.60 0.37 Green space 2.54 1.07 0.29 Pollution 2.50 0.73 0.36 Environmental Landscape 1.89 1.02 1.00 Environmental livability 2.31 0.72 0.77 Total livability 2.49 0.51 0.48

Table4. Average livability of the worn texture of each district District Average livability District Average livability 1 2.64 9 2.75 2 2.46 10 2.54 3 2.70 11 2.19 4 2.10 12 2.36 5 2.57 13 2.42 6 2.45 14 2.40 7 2.48 15 2.33 8 2.49 Total 2.49

The results of t test are presented in less. In general, the score obtained for the Table 5. Economic dimensional indicators social dimension indicates that non- Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] have a significant difference with numerical socially livability of distressed area. value (p <0.05) and are lower than them. The results of the environmental Among the economic dimension indicators, analysis show that although all of the the public transportation index is closer to indicators in this dimension are also lower the average and the indicator of than the numerical value, the green space infrastructure facilities and services is (with t-17.43) is better than the rest of the more critical than the rest of the indicators. indicators. The social dimension of the This shows the non-economic livability of results shows that the index of continuity Isfahan’s distressed area. and spatial belonging and the index of Other social dimension indicators are recreation and leisure have a more critical also numerically significant (p <0.05) and situation than the other indicators. 03______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

The landscape indicator is also more non-environmental livability of the critical. In general, the results indicate the distressed area.

Table5. T test to determine the level of livability indicators Degree of T Significance Low High Dimensions Indicators freedom value value (p) level level Employment and 328 -22.39 0.00 -1.00 -0.83 income Housing 328 -23.09 0.00 -1.01 -0.85 Economic Public transport 328 -12.21 0.00 -0.74 -0.54 Facilities and Services 328 -25.76 0.00 -0.89 -0.76 Infrastructure Public education 328 -18.51 0.00 -0.95 -0.76 Health 328 -17.94 0.00 -1.02 -0.82 Attachment and spatial Social 328 -25.61 0.00 -0.91 -0.78 belonging Security 328 -17.97 0.00 -1.16 -0.93 Recreation and leisure 328 -30.15 0.00 -1.35 -1.18 Green space 328 -17.34 0.00 -1.05 -0.84 Environmental Pollution 328 -26.76 0.00 -1.07 -0.92 Landscape 328 -30.89 0.00 -1.71 -1.50

The results of Table 6, which are distressed area of Isfahan is closer to the based on the t single sample, show that desirable, on terms of economic aspect (t each of the dimensions of livability and = -30.45), and in terms of social dimension (t ultimately overall livability, have a = -38.38) is more critical. Therefore, it significant difference with the numerical can be said with 95% confidence that the value (3.5) and are less than it. Based on t distressed area of Isfahan is not livable. observed, it can only be claimed that the

Table6. T test to determine the level of livability and its dimensions Degree of Significance Dimensions T value Low level High level freedom value (p) Economic 328 -30.45 0.00 -0.88 -0.88 Social 328 -32.38 0.00 -0.93 -1.05 Environmental 328 -32.19 0.00 -1.11 -1.25 Total livability 328 -38.07 0.00 -0.95 -1.05

Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] To answer the second question of the test can be used in the case of inequality research that “among the distressed area of variances. of the fifteen districts of Isfahan, which First, Levene test was used to check one is more livable than others?”, one- the equality or non-equality of variances way ANOVA can be used in the case of (Table 7). The results of the Levene test equality of variances or Kruskal-Wallis did not exclude the equality of variances, so one-way ANOVA was used (Table 8).

44______Urban Economics and Management

Table7. Levene test to investigate the equation of variance of livability between fifteen districts of distressed areas Variable Degree of freedom (1) Degree of freedom (2) Levene P Livability 18 377 0.62 0.84

Table8. F Test to compare distressed areas in terms of livability Degree of Average Sum of squares F p freedom squares Intragroup 9.631 18 0.688 2.737 0.001 Intergroup 92.990 377 0.251 Total 102.621 328

The results of one-way ANOVA showed values, it can be said that the mean difference that the observed F (F = 2.737) was is only significant between the distressed significant at the alpha level of 0.05; in areas of the pair of districts (11, 3), (11, other words, there were significant 9) and (4 and 9). The old fabric of other differences among the scores obtained areas did not have significant differences from the distressed areas of the fifteen in terms of livability. The sign of the areas. To determine how this difference, difference in mean between these pairs of Gabriel’s multiple comparison test was regions also shows that the old fabric of used. The results of this test were presented districts 3 was 11 and the old fabric of only for areas where their mean differences district 9 compared to 11 and 4, respectively. were significant (p <0.05). Regarding P

Table9. Gabriel test for the paired comparison of old fabric districts in terms of livability standard Base area worn texture p Average difference (i-j) Compared distressed area (j) error (i) 0.02 0.136 0.513 11 3 0.033 0.193 0.653 8 5 0.001 0.123 0.566 11 5

6- Conclusion and Discussion will gradually face the migration of the Today, in cities of the country, due to original and old residents and increase the the lack of adaptation and reconciliation problems for optimal planning. Urban of the old fabric of cities with the new development strategy can be a good model urbanization model, the existence of for replacing programs for renovation and Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] numerous and parallel organizations in rehabilitation of old fabric; however, the context of the management of worn before implementing urban development out texture, the lack of implementation of strategy plans, it is necessary to improve many renovation and rehabilitation projects, its indicators and parameters. Therefore, on the one hand, and investment opportunity, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and development on the margins of cities the old fabric of Isfahan based on the due to cheap land prices on the other principle of livability with the participation hand, have led to the abandonment of of residents in order to determine the these areas from the urban development status of Isfahan’s distressed area and its process; while such areas, due to their low dimensions as one of the principles of city livability, if not properly programmed, development strategy. 44______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

The results of this study showed that improve livability as one of the principles Isfahan’s old fabric is not livable with the of the city development strategy and the mean of 2.49 and t 2.37. In terms of implementation of the City Development having this indicator, the urban development Strategy plan for Isfahan’s worn out strategy is not desirable. texture, it has been advisable to move In addition, the results showed that towards a participatory perspective and considering the numerical value of 3.5, increase the rate of livability indicators in the statistical value of t for economic and these areas to a favorable and appropriate social dimensions of dimensions livability level in order that the immigration of its was significant and there was an undesirable inhabitants will be reduced. situation for all three dimensions. In the What distinguishes the present research meantime, the economic dimension is from previous studies is the introduction closer to the desired level and the social of city development strategy as a new dimension is more critical. Thus, solving approach in the management process of social problems can be considered as the renovation and rehabilitation of worn out most important factor for improving the tissues, livability analysis and all its livability of Isfahan’s old fabric. dimensions and indicators in Isfahan’s Research findings in relation to the worn out texture and comparison of old average indicators of each dimension of fabric of fifteen districts of the city in research based on the one-sample t-test terms of livability situation. In fact, the also showed that all of the livability innovation of this research can be indicators with a t score of between - considered in addressing the livability of 12.21 and -30. 89 are in an unfavorable worn out texture independently of the situation. In the economic dimension, the city’s condition for the development of most livable indicator is public transportation city development strategy. The worn out and the least is related to infrastructure tissues are sensitive and vulnerable areas services and facilities. In the social that require a different look because of dimension, the highest livability is related their specific situation. to health and the least is related to According to the results of the continuity and place belonging. In the research, the following suggestions have environmental dimension, the most been made to improve the level of environmentally livability is the green livability according to the indicators space and the least livability is related to presented and in terms of dimensions. Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] the landscape. a. Economic Dimension Overall, the residents’ view showed Facilities to handle road coverings that there was a significant difference (asphalt, paving, etc.) and extending them between the livability of old fabric areas, by the municipality and related organizations so that the distressed area of district 9 is should be prepared. Extending the passage more livable than districts 11 and 4, and not only reduces the traffic of the so does 3 than district 11. neighborhood, but also provides assistance The City Development Strategy is to these neighborhoods in critical situations. based on the participatory process with - Further monitoring by the municipality the focus of urban management and the and related organizations on the quality participation of urban stakeholders. To and price of goods offered in stores and 44______Urban Economics and Management

shopping centers located in these 7- References neighborhoods. Abdolalizadeh, A. (2010). Restoration and b. Social Dimension renovation of worn out tissues with the - Establishment of kiosks for police approach of city development strategy. in the neighborhood and its proximity to Quarterly Journal of Urban Surveys, 33, induce a sense of security for the residents 34-47. (In Persian) of the neighborhood and prevent drug Akbari, A. (2010). Analysis and ranking of factors causing urban exhaustion; Case addicts in the neighborhood study of Isfahan city; Master thesis, - Deciding upon abandoned buildings Faculty of Administrative Sciences and by landowners in worn-out places by Economics, University of Isfahan. (In sending a warning by the competent Persian) authorities, the complete destruction of Andalib, A. (2010). Principles of urban these buildings and the proper fencing in renewal; a new approach to worn out the property, and preventing the accumulation tissues. Tehran: Azarakhsh. (In Persian) of addicts in these buildings Arabshahi, Z. (2003). History of renovation - Attention to the construction and and rehabilitation of ancient urban establishment of cultural and social centers texture in Iran and Europe. Journal of such as public libraries, cultural centers, Municipality, 5(49), 104-112. (In Persian) Day, K., Anderson, C., Powe, M., McMillan, cinemas, museums and cultural exhibitions T., & Winn, D. (2007). Remaking c. Environmental Dimension Minnie Street: The impacts of urban - Increasing the per capita of green revitalization on crime and pedestrian space through the possession of arid lands safety. Journal of Planning Education in the worn out neighborhoods by the and Research, 26(3), 315-331. municipality and assigning these lands to Economist Intelligence Unit. (2011). A summary the construction of a neighborhood park of the liveabiliy ranking and Overview. in order to increase livability among Retrieved from: www.EIU.com. residents Evans, P. B. (Ed.). (2002). Livable cities?: - Improvement of neighborhood Urban struggles for livelihood and perspective index by the municipality by sustainability. Univ of California Press. organizing urban landscape and utilizing Golkar, K., & Azadi, J. (2004). What is City Development Strategy? Journal of Shahre the principles of Iranian architecture and Negar, 30, 1-18. (In Persian) urbanism and providing various and Habibi, M., & Maghsoodi, M. (2007). Urban appropriate housing design models restoration. Tehran: University of Tehran. Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] - Equipping the existing parks with (In Persian) recreational facilities to increase their Hafezniya, M. (2005). An Introduction to the efficiency and benefit the inhabitants of Research Method in Humanities. Tehran: the most desirable green space SAMT. (In Persian) * This article has been extracted from the Hai-Yan, H., & Xun-Gang, Z. (2012). AHP- dissertation supported by the Deputy of based Evaluation System Model of Planning, Research and Technology of Livable Cities. Interdisciplinary Journal of Isfahan Municipality. Therefore, thanks to all Contemporary Research in Business, 34-40. the distinguished experts of this organization. Hankins, K. B., & Powers, E. M. (2009). The disappearance of the state from “livable” urban spaces. Antipode, 41(5), 845-866.

48______Analyzing Livability in the Distressed Areas of Isfahan City …

Hataminejad, H., Rezvani, M., Khosravi County). Quarterly Journal of Rural Kordestani, F. (2014). Measuring the Research, 3(4), 85-110. (In Persian) livability of the Sanandaj – district2. Noroozifard, M., Nabiei, S., & Khalili, A. Journal of Spatial Analysis of Environmental 92014). Feasibility study on using City Hazards, 1(4), 23-37. (In Persian) Development Strategy (CDS) in Iran’s Irandoost, K., Isaloo, A.A., Shahmoradi, B. Urban Planning System and providing a (2015). Livability Index in Urban framework for its realization. Journal of Environment (Case Study: Central Part Urban Management, 13(34), 237-258. of Holy City of Qom), Journal of Urban (In Persian) Economics and Management, 4(13), Poorahmad, A., & Zareie, J. (2015). 101-118. (In Persian) Measurement of quality of life in the Isaloo, A., Bayat, M., & Bahrami, A. (2014). territory of urbanized urban context A Livability Approach for a New (Case study of district 9 of Tehran). Approach to Improve Quality of Life in Journal of Urban Planning and Rural Communities (Case Study of Qom Research, 6(21), 1-18. (In Persian) City, Kahk District), Journal of Housing Poorahmad, A., Hataminejad, H., Sheykhi, and Rural Environment, 33(146), 107-120. A., Sharifzadeh, E. (2015). Analysis of (In Persian) the status of the city of Piranshahr based Izadi, M.S. (2001). Investigating urban on the City Development Strategy experiences in Iran with emphasis on Indicators (CDS). Quarterly Journal of developments over the past two decades. Urban and Regional Studies and Research, Semi-quarterly of civil and urban 7(5), 35-58. (In Persian) rehabilitation, 2(3), 32-43. (In Persian) Rashidi, A., Movahed., A., Tavalayi, S., & Kakavand, E., Barati, N., & Aminzadeh, B. Moosavi, Mirnajaf. (2016). Spatial Analysis (2013). Comparative Measurement of of Tabriz Metropolitan Area with Mental Image of Citizen and Urban Livability Approach. Journal of Geographic Designer in the Concept of Urban Space, 16(54), 155-176. (In Persian) Quality (Case Study of Qazvin’s Worn Rasoolimanesh, S. M., Badarulzaman, N., & Texture), Journal of Nazar Research Jaafar, M. (2011). Achievement to sustainable Center, 10(25), 101-112. (In Persian) urban development using city development Kashef, M. (2016). Urban livability across strategies (CDS): A comparison between disciplinary and professional boundaries. cities alliance and the world bank Frontiers of Architectural Research, definitions. Journal of Sustainable 5(2), 239-253. (In Persian) Development, 4(5), 151. (In Persian) Khaksari, A. (2004). The economic recovery Sadeghi, L. (2010). Document of city of old cities and towns Isfahan. Isfahan: Development Strategy and Its Adaptation Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] Cultural and Recreational. Journal of to Urban Planning in Iran Case Study of urban development and organization Sanandaj City. Master's degree in (Haftshahr), 1(15, 16), 124-133. (In Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture and Persian) Urban Development, Isfahan University Khaliliyan, M., Fardani, S., Moosavi, R., & of Art. (In Persian) Nasri, A. (2015). Statistics of the city of Saitluanga, B. L. (2014). Spatial pattern of Organization of the City of Isfahan. (In urban livability in Himalayan Region: A Persian) case of Aizawl City, India. Social indicators Khorasani, M.A., Rezvani, M., Motiei, S.H., research, 117(2), 541-559. & Rafieiyan, M. (2012). Measuring and Sajjadi, Zh., & Mohammadi, K. (2011). assessing the livability of villages in Socio-spatial analysis in urban exhausted peri-urban areas (Case study: Varamin textures (case study: central of Sardasht 40______Urban Economics and Management

city). Journal of Urban Planning and World Bank. (2000). Cities in transition: Research, 2(6), 55-70. (In Persian) World Bank urban and local government Sasanpoor, F., Tavalayi, S., & Jafari Asadabadi, strategy. Washington D.C. H. (2015). Measuring and assessing the World Bank. (2001). Session one and two livability of twenty-two metropolitan workbook module: City strategy and districts of Tehran. Quarterly Journal of governance. Retrieved from http:// info. Regional Planning, 5(18), 27-42. (In worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/16685 Persian) 6/UCMP/UCMP/session1- Shamaei, A., & Poorahmad, A. (2006). 2_strategy_ governance.htm. Urban rehabilitation and renovation from the point of view of geography. Tehran: University of Tehran. (In Persian) Shamaei, A., Sasanpoor, F., Soleymani, M., Ahadnejad, M., & Heydari, T. (2016). Livability Analysis of Urbanized Tissues (A Case Study of Worn Texture in Zanjan City). Quarterly journal of human geography, 48(4), 783-799. (In Persian) Shieh, E. (1999). With city and region in Iran. University of Science and Industry. (In Persian) Song, Y. (2011). A livable city study in China, uing structural equation models. Journal of Research in urban stadies. 1(38), 207-233. Timmer, V., Seymoar, N. K., & International Centre for Sustainable Cities. (2005). The Livable City: World Urban Forum 2006, Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper. Western Economic Diversification Canada. UMP (Urban Manangment Programme( (2002). A synthesis and lesson learned. Urban Manangment Programme City Development report. Downloaded from iueam.ir at 2:46 +0330 on Tuesday September 28th 2021 [ DOI: 10.29252/iueam.6.21.33 ] Wang, H., Song, Y., Hamilton, A., & Curwell, S. (2007). Urban information integration for advanced e-Planning in Europe. Government Information Quarterly, 24(4), 736-754. Wang, j., Meirong, S., Chen, B., Chen, SH., & Chen, L. (2011). A comparative study of Beijing anh three global cities; Aperspective on urban livability. Journal of Frontiers of earth science, 5(3), 323-329.