Unraveling the renewal priority of urban heritage communities via macro-micro dimensional assessment- A case study of Nanjing City, China

Abstract

Amidst rapid global urbanization, the resultant community decline has exacerbated issues such as social segregation, resource misallocation, and neighborhood alienation. In particular, heritage communities face unique challenges as standardized, project-based renewals frequently neglect their cultural and historical attributes, thereby intensifying mismatches in renewal decision-making. To address these challenges, this study proposes a multidimensional evaluation of heritage communities using the Social-spatial Service Index (SSI) to define renewal priority and fill gaps in current evaluation mechanisms. Focusing on Nanjing in China, the research conducts a macro-level GIS assessment of 2153 communities using a Bayesian Best-Worst Model and a micro-level evaluation of 10 typical heritage communities using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, comparing results across different scales. The dual-scale approach reveals that: (1) Despite heterogeneous measurement factors, the SSI delivers consistent results across macro and micro levels, demonstrating its robustness. (2) Community renewal priority decreases with distance from the urban core, but heritage communities exhibit higher renewal priority, emphasizing the unique value of preserving cultural heritage. (3) It underscores the importance of cultural and economic factors in renewal, validating its effectiveness in guiding context-sensitive strategies. These insights underscore the necessity of tailored renewal strategies that respect cultural contexts and provide actionable insights for urban policy and planning.