Pedestrian street and its effect on economic sustainability of a historical Middle Eastern city: The case of Chaharbagh Abbasi in Isfahan, Iran

IF 8 1区 环境科学与生态学 Q1 GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICAL
Soudabeh Shahmoradi , Sayyed Mahdi Abtahi , Pedro Guimarães
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Abstract

Pedestrianization is an urban revitalization strategy to enhance sustainability and livability in car-oriented cities. Despite many studies in this research field, the effects of pedestrianization on the economy of cities in developing countries still need further investigation. Additionally, the impact of this strategy on the tenant mix of commercial and historical areas in Middle East countries is nebulous. To address these inadequacies, we considered Chaharbagh Abbasi street, located in the heart of Isfahan, Iran, and investigated the impact of a pedestrianization project with particular emphasis on how it affects the economic sustainability of existent commercial fabric. Pre- and post-project data along with field observations and quantifications used to assess structural replacements in trade, were analyzed with SPSS and ArcGIS software. The results revealed unexpected outcomes, such as the closure of some traditional businesses (27.5%), a stagnation in sales (69%) and a decrease in job offers (84%) leading the local economy to a fragile situation. Conversely, it was found that the footfall volume increased by 64% and 73% from the retailers’ and pedestrians’ viewpoints. This evolution along with a wide opening of food and beverage stores (approximately 60%) makes the post-pedestrianization results more promising than earlier predictions. In conclusion, these findings reinforce the importance of pedestrian streets in revitalizing economic activities in historical and commercial areas from the perspective of economic sustainability. Due to the lack of similar investigations in Middle East countries, these findings can support decision-makers and urban planners to take preventive measures in preserving the diversity of individual small shops for upcoming urban rehabilitation projects in terms of pedestrianization.

Abstract Image

中东历史城市的步行街及其对经济可持续性的影响:以伊朗伊斯法罕的Chaharbagh Abbasi为例
行人专用区是一项城市振兴战略,旨在提高汽车城市的可持续性和宜居性。尽管在这一研究领域有很多研究,但发展中国家城市行人专用化对城市经济的影响还需要进一步研究。此外,这一策略对中东国家商业和历史区域租户组合的影响是模糊的。为了解决这些不足,我们考虑了位于伊朗伊斯法罕中心的Chaharbagh Abbasi街,并调查了步行项目的影响,特别强调了它如何影响现有商业结构的经济可持续性。利用SPSS和ArcGIS软件对项目前后的数据以及用于评估贸易结构替代的实地观察和量化进行了分析。结果显示了意想不到的结果,例如一些传统企业关闭(27.5%),销售停滞(69%)和工作机会减少(84%),导致当地经济陷入脆弱境地。相反,从零售商和行人的角度来看,客流量分别增加了64%和73%。随着食品和饮料商店的广泛开放(大约60%),这种演变使得后步行区的结果比之前的预测更有希望。总之,从经济可持续性的角度来看,这些发现强化了步行街在振兴历史和商业区域经济活动中的重要性。由于中东国家缺乏类似的调查,这些发现可以支持决策者和城市规划者采取预防措施,在即将到来的城市改造项目中保护个体小店的多样性。
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来源期刊
Geography and Sustainability
Geography and Sustainability Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development
CiteScore
16.70
自引率
3.10%
发文量
32
审稿时长
41 days
期刊介绍: Geography and Sustainability serves as a central hub for interdisciplinary research and education aimed at promoting sustainable development from an integrated geography perspective. By bridging natural and human sciences, the journal fosters broader analysis and innovative thinking on global and regional sustainability issues. Geography and Sustainability welcomes original, high-quality research articles, review articles, short communications, technical comments, perspective articles and editorials on the following themes: Geographical Processes: Interactions with and between water, soil, atmosphere and the biosphere and their spatio-temporal variations; Human-Environmental Systems: Interactions between humans and the environment, resilience of socio-ecological systems and vulnerability; Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing: Ecosystem structure, processes, services and their linkages with human wellbeing; Sustainable Development: Theory, practice and critical challenges in sustainable development.
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