Abstract:
Mega redevelopment projects based on partnership planning approach and mixed-use development are considered as solutions for distressed and blighted areas. Despite some public benefits of such projects, they usually result in many challenges including cost overrun, failure to meet the time schedule, social segregation, and social tensions or negative environmental impacts. Megaprojects as extensive physical interventions lead to a space reproduction for that neoliberalism request, through private investment, attraction of creative class and creation of a variety of economic activities. The projects mostly offer four general promises including economic prosperity, place promotion, social, environmental and infrastructure improvement. However, the projects are not always successful in realization of the promises. The mega redevelopment of Shohada Square in the City of Mashhad began in 2002 to solve the challenges of the partly distressed area. But it seems that after more than a decade, from the beginning of the project, the challenges of the distressed area have been increased in some aspects. This paper assesses the success of the great project of Shohada Square in dealing with the general promises of megaprojects. In this paper, after reviewing the related literature about megaprojects and the space reproduction resulting from megaprojects, different aspects of the Great Project of Shohada Square are analyzed through mixed method. Necessary information has been gathered through the city statistics, interview and field observations. Findings show that although the project has led to physical improvement, it produced a functionally distressed area and it was not successful in dealing with the general promises.
Machine summary:
Received 15 June 2016; Revised 17 August 2016; Accepted 03 October 2016 Mega redevelopment projects based on partnership planning approach and mixed-use development are considered as solutions for distressed and blighted areas.
ABSTRACT: : Megaproject, Space Reproduction, Large Scale Redevelopment Project, Shohada Square, Mashhad.
As the project is a huge public intervention on the main historical, social, political, commercial and traffic urban centers, some scholars have studied the project management, the redevelopment trend and the results of the project.
In fact, the Great Project of Shohada Square was considered to stimulate urban development and improve the competitiveness level of the city beyond the physical improvement.
In fact, neoliberalism seeks for urban development and reproduction of spaces to provide infrastructure and facilities, increase competitiveness, vitality and prosperity and stimulate development through private investment, attraction of creative class and creation of a variety of economic activities.
This paper also tries to study how Shohada redevelopment project has been successful regarding the four general promises of megaprojects: economic prosperity, place promotion, social and environmental improvement.
Factors for Megaprojects’ Success Assessment in Space Reproduction (View the image of this page) THE DISTRESSED AREA OF SHOHADA SQUARE Shohada square is one of the oldest modern city centers in Mashhad (The Executive Management of Great Project of Shohada Square, 2013, p.
In fact, the reproduction of space in Shohada Square provided financial benefits for its developers and resulted in a physically promoted built area, the creation of more job space, more green and open space and improved infrastructure (the construction of energy tunnel).