Residential urban renewal in a South African context

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:All cities experience urban deterioration in some form or other. This deterioration is caused bymany, diverse factors. The deterioration leads to a loss of investment in the city and a downwardcycle where the causes and consequences of urban deterioration can strengthen each other.South Africa's fast population growth cause several problems for the country. One of theseproblems is suburban expansion, which creates urban sprawl; with its associated problem ofineffective land utilisation. Urban renewal can be applied to address urban deterioration and utiliseBrownfield sites, which are derelict or underused sites; instead of Greenfield sites, which are sitesthat have not been previously developed. It has been found that South African policy still benefitthe development of Greenfield sites. Urban renewal can be used as a tool to address South Africa'sunequal development and opportunities among the different races by improving the people's livingconditions. Development starts with human development.This study gives a historical and theoretical overview of the urban renewal field of study. After thereview of various authors and four case studies in Cape Town and Johannesburg, it can beconcluded that the urban renewal process can be approached through various methods and shouldbe included in any city's spatial development framework.The potential roles local government can play were identified as being to implement a communitybasedredevelopment approach, designing area-specific strategies where redevelopment is feasibleand making grants and tax incentives available. Local governments could also be involved inpublic-private partnerships.The role of the planner within the renewal process has also increased to that of assessing the needand justification for urban renewal; initiating the projects; negotiating between various role players;implementing the projects; and monitoring the success thereof.Special focus was given to gentrification in Cape Town and it was found that displacement of theoriginal residents does indeed occur. The question within a free market economy is whether theauthority should interfere in this process or not, especially with regard to historic and culturallysensitive areas such as Bo-Kaap. This could possibly be motivated as being in the public interestin the above case Recommendations were that a community-based redevelopment approach should be followed;physical and social rehabilitation should be integrated; demolition and displacement must beavoided; and resources must be allocatd to neighbourhoods rather than individuals. Projects mustalso be an intense, short termed action, using local institutions for implementation.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University