LARGE-SCALE URBAN DEVELOPMENT

LARGE-SCALE URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Over the past few decades, cities in Eurasia have experienced overwhelming urban transformations in the form of building demolitions, extensive renovations, and new construction. A significant portion of the latter has been two specific types of private-sector urban development: large, iconic flagship projects (over 75,000m², greater than 20-storeys) and medium-large residential infill projects (20,000-74,000m², 10-19-storeys). These project types have changed the landscapes of cities by increasing neighborhood densities, introducing new architectural design aesthetics, shifting existing socio-economic structures, overturning existing regulatory restrictions, and at times changing programmatic uses. Led by private-sector developers, they further reflect the rise of such actors as new authorities driving urban development in the 21st century. As existing research on large urban developments has shown, these projects often include population restructuring and gentrification—and at times have been linked to displacement. The overwhelming tendency for these projects to remain unoccupied or in a protracted state of construction speaks further to their involvement in larger global processes of real-estate speculation and capital accumulation, producing an urbanism driven by market forces rather than the needs of residents. What is lost are the complex place meanings embedded within cities over generations and reflected through their historic buildings. If continued, this type of urban development will transform considerable portions of cities. Understanding this trend relative to local-level civilian impressions and the 21st century’s global increase in private-sector-led urban development is thus crucial for preparing cities for their futures.

This research develops a detailed analysis of the social impacts of large, private sector urban developments in  Eurasia, systematically investigating their underlying causes. It aims to understand the deeper societal implications of these forms of large development some two decades after their emergence in Eurasia—and at a time when these countries continue to rely heavily on such projects to boost the economy. For the purposes of this research, “social impacts” are measured through a mix of qualitative and quantitative measures: demographic statistics (informing population restructuring); building vacancy data (informing built environment and inhabitation changes); and residents’ opinions (informing the population’s understanding of these changes). Contrasting with research solely focused on economic success metrics for urban development, our research integrates the attitudes, beliefs, and changing social patterns of residents to generate a more comprehensive understanding of impacts.

Our work on large-scale urban development can be found at:

PUBLICATIONS:

Harris-Brandts, S. (2020). [Book Review] Iconic Planned Communities and the Challenge of Change. Corbin Sies, M., Gournay, I, and Freestone, R. (Eds.). University of Pennsylvania Press. Journal of Historical Geography.

Gogishvili, D., & Harris-Brandts, S. (2019). Coinciding Practices of Exception in Urban Development: Sports Events and Special Economic Zones. European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1701995

Harris-Brandts, S. (2019). Revisiting State Spectacle Through the New Capitals of Asia [Author-Critic Forum for: The Geopolitics of Spectacle: Space, Synecdoche, and the New Capitals of Asia by N. Koch]. Central Asian Affairs. Vol. 6, No. 6.4.

Harris-Brandts, S., & Gogishvili, D. (2018). Architectural Rumors: Unrealized Megaprojects in Baku, Azerbaijan and their Politico-Economic Uses. Eurasian Geography & Economics, 59 (1), Taylor & Francis, 73-97. https://doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2018.1462725

Harris-Brandts, S. (2018). Building Vacancies: Tourism and Empty Real Estate in Batumi. Urbanistica Tre Journal, 15, Special Issue: Cities of the South Caucasus. Roma Tre Press, 45-56.

Harris-Brandts, S. (2016). Decentralize, Desecularize, and Deregulate! The transformation of Kutaisi, Georgia. In MONU Journal , 25 Independent Urbanism, 86-91. Bruil & van de Staaij.

PRESENTATIONS:

2019 - Green Mobilisations in the Cities of Central Asia and South Caucasus. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan & Tbilisi, Georgia; November 2019 “Opportunities for Activist-Academic Collaboration in Soviet-era Mono-towns” American University of Central Asia, Tbilisi State University. Sichinava, D. & Harris-Brandts, S.

2019 - Urban Forum on Land Use and Urban Planning Practices in Cities of EU Associated Countries. Tbilisi, Georgia; March 2019 Understanding Social Restructuring and Urban Renewal Strategies. Sichinava, D. & Harris-Brandts, S.

2018 - Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Annual Meeting: The Continuing City Buffalo, NY, USA; October 201.8 “Megaproject Rumors: The Politico-Economic Uses of Unbuilt Eco-Island Proposals in Baku, Azerbaijan.” Harris-Brandts, S.

2017 - Urban Transformation: Post-Revolutionary Geographies of Cairo Cairo, Egypt; June 2017 “The New Geographies of Capital Cities.” American University of Cairo/ Cairo University. Harris-Brandts, S.