Verification of Failure Components of the 17th Shahrivar Pedestrian Zone Project in Tehran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Urban planning, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science & Technology - Tehran – Iran

2 Urban planning, School of Architecture and Environmental Design, Iran University of Science and Technology

Abstract

ntroduction: In Iran, being inspired by advanced countries and old patterns of Iranian city pedestrian spaces, the creation of pedestrian zones in the metropolises of the country has become popular to shift from car-oriented to walkability. The creation of the pedestrian zones in Tehran city after a number of relatively successful experiments, such as the 15th Khordad pedestrian zone and Sepahsalar pedestrian zone was followed by the creation of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone. But, the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone based on the evidences such as the findings of scholars, criticisms of authorities and the discontent of the local people, is a rather unsuccessful experience.
Aim: This research with an analytical and profound look tries to methodically explain the main failure components of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone in Tehran.
Methodology: For this purpose, the qualitative approach and the basic tools for collecting information including documents, semi-structured interviews and field observations have been used. The textual data collected mainly by coding, counting and creating the thematic network and the place data mainly by counting, photographing and mapping organized and conceptualized. In this stage, authors have inferred the main causes of project failure with scrutinizing all findings, examining the relationship between the main themes with each other, considering the theoretical foundations of the research and relying on rational and logical arguments.
Results:The findings of the article show that the main issues of the project failure are the three main problems: “The lack of proper need assessment, feasibility study and providing infrastructure for the project”, “Marginalizing local people in the process of planning and implementation” and “Macro economic, political and managerial issues”. Meanwhile, the main factor behind the defects and problems of the project seems to be political, managerial, and economic conditions and objectives. The experience of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone indicates that the potential positive impacts of pedestrian zone creation on improving the quality of the environment are only possible if they are correctly located and have a sustainable and grassroots planning and management approach.

Keywords


Bates, K. (2013). Making Pedestrian malls work: Key elements of successful pedestrian malls in the US and Europe. Terminal project, Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community and Regional Planning, The Department of Planning, Public Policy, & Management, University of Oregon, USA.
Blaga, O. E .(2013). Pedestrian zones as important urban strategies in redeveloping the community-Case study: Alba Iulia Borough Park. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 9(38), 5-22.
Castillo-Manzano, J.I., Lopez-Valpuesta, L. & Asencio-Flores, J.P.,)2014). Extending pedestrianization processes outside the old city center; conflict and benefits in the case of the city of Seville. Habitat international. Habitat International ,(44), 194-201.
Etesam, I & Nouri, M. J. (2017). Explaining the Failure Causes of pedestrianization Projects in Iran, case study: the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone of Tehran Metropolis. Soffeh, 27(76), 89-108.
Falah Manshadi, E, Habibi, S & Rouhi, A. (2016). Urban walkways, from idea to practice; Evaluation of the pedestrian way of Tehran city market. Letter of Architectural and Urban Planning, 5(9), 45-63.
Falah Manshadi, E, Rouhi, A & Khodaverdi,O. (2015). Chalesh-ha va forsat-hay ehdas-e piyad-e rah dar Tehran; arzyabi va moghayeseye tatbighi 11piyaderah-e mojod dar shahr-e tehran [Challenges and opportunities for pedestrian zones construction in Tehran; Comparative evaluation and comparison of 11 pedestrian zones in the Tehran city].Tehran: Tehran Research and Planning Center.
Fallah Manshadi, E., Rouhi, A. & Khodaverdi Nelkhasi, O.(2014). Revising Iranian Experience in Establishing Pedestrian Zones; Surveying Strengths and Weaknesses of Pedestrian Zones in Tehran, J. Civil Eng. Urban., 4 (2), 156-163.
Francis, M .(2016). The making of democratic streets. Contesti. Città, territori, progetti, (1-2) , 192-213.
Gehl, J .(2010). Cities for people. Washington l Covelo l London : Island press.
Gregg, K. (2018). Conceptualizing the pedestrian mall in post-war North America and understanding its transatlantic transfer through the work and influence of Victor Gruen. Planning Perspectives, 34(4), 1-27.
Haji rezaei, F. (2019). Categorization of Various Pedestrians, Bam-e-Tehran’s as a Natural-Social Walking trail. Journal of Manzar, 11 (47), 14-23.
Judge, C. (2013). The experiment of American pedestrian malls: Trends, analysis, necessary indicators for success and recommendations for Fresno’s Fulton Mall. Fresno, CA: Futures Conference, Fresno State University. Retrieved from http://www. boulderdowntown. com/_files/docs/americanpedmallexperiment. pdf.
Kannouni, R.; Razavian, M.T. & Moslemi, A. (2016). Strategic Planning for Improving Spatial Qualities of Pedestrian Paths Landscape in Tehran (Case Study: 17 Shahrivar Pedestrian Path)Landscape Researchs in the city, 3(5), 67-93.
Kashani Jou, K. (2010). Pedestrian ways from design basics to functional features.Tehran: Azarakhsh.
Kott, J. (2017). A framework for research on pedestrian streets in America.” UPLanD-Journal of Urban Planning, Landscape & environmental Design, 2 (2), 319-324.
Mofidi, M. S. & Kashani Jou, K .(2010). Emergence of pedestrianization in Tehran: Obstacles and opportunities. International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development .2(1-2), 121-134.‏
Mohammadian Mosammam, H, Sarraffi, M, Tavakoli Nia, J & Isa Lo, A. (2016). Olaviyat bandi-ye piyade rah sazi-ye masir-ha-ye atraf-e haram-e hazrat-e masome shahr-e ghom [Prioritization of the construction of pedestrianization ways around the shrine of Masoumeh (Q) city of Qom]. City landscape researchs, 3(5) , 47-66.
Nasri, E. (2015). The process of evaluating street pedestrianization projects. Soffeh, 25(70), 129-142.
Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. & Khreis, H .(2016). Car free cities: pathway to healthy urban living. Environment international , 94, 251-262.‏
Ogagh, A, Haraeni, M & Imani, B. (2017). Arzyabi-ye mizan-e movafaghiyat-e piyadehrah-e 17 shahrivar va tasirat-e ejtemaei eghtesadi-ye hasel az an(motaleey-e tatbighi-ye mehvar-e ghabl va baad az ejray-e tarh-e piyade rahsazi [Evaluation of the success rate of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone and its socioeconomic effects (comparative study of the axis before and after the implementation of the pedestrian zone project]. Geographic Sciences,13(26), 1-18.
Oranratmanee, R. &Sachakul, V .(2014). Streets as public spaces in Southeast Asia: Case studies of Thai pedestrian streets. Journal of Urban Design ,19(2), 211-229.
Özdemir, D. & Selçuk, İ .(2017). From pedestrianization to commercial gentrification: The case of Kadıköy in Istanbul. Cities, 65, 10-23.
Pakzad, J. & Golrokh, Sh. (2015). Understanding the experience of sudden change of place; the sense of place of Residents and shopkeepers of the 17th Shahrivar pedestrian zone. Soffeh, 25(70), 65-80.
Parajuli, A. & Pojani, D .(2017). Barriers to the pedestrianization of city centres: perspectives from the Global North and the Global South. Journal of Urban Design ,23(1), 142-160.
Pojani, D. (2008). American downtown pedestrian “malls”: rise, fall, and rebirth. Territorio,173-180.
Pourahmad, A, Zanganeh Shahrakie, S & Safaei Rineh, M. (2016). Analysis the urban walkway role in promoting the vitality of urban spaces (Case study: 17 Shahrivar walkway of Tehran). Geographical Research of Urban Planning, 4(2), 175-195.
Sadeghi, A, Dadgar, M, Pour Jafar, A & Neshat Efatian, N. (2017). Provide an Optimal Urban Design Process for Pedestrian zones through Comparative Analysis of Internal and International Experiences, Case Study: Broward street of America, George street of Australia, Saf Street, and Derekhti Iran boulevard. Iranian Islamic city Studies, 8(29), 21-36.
Shah Hosseini, P. & Ismaili Taromi, M. (2016). Asib shenasi-ye ehdas-e piyad-e rahha dar shahr-e tehran(motalleye moredi: meydan-e 15 khordad-meydan-e emam hosein) [Pathology of pedestrian zones Construction in Tehran city (Case Study: 15th Kordad squre - Imam Hossein square)]. Iranian Geographic Society, 14(51), 71-86.
Shamae, A & Iqbal, M. (2016). Avamel-e moasser bar ertegha-ye keyfiyat-e mohit-e piyaderah-ha-ye shahr-ha-ye Irani Islami mored-e motallee: piyad-e rah-e meydan-e emam hosein va hefdah-e shahrivar [Affecting factors on the quality of the pedestrian environment in Iran-Islamic Towns (Case Study: Walkway in Imam Hossein Square and 17th Shahrivar]. Studies in the Islamic Model of Iranian Progress, 4(7), 127-151.
Shieh, I. & Habibi, K. & Haghi, M. (2013). Sanjesh-e vazeiyat-e baft-e markazi-ye shahr-ha-ye kochak baraye ijad-e piyaderah (nemone motaleati shahr-e khansar) [Measurement of condition of the Central Textures of Small Towns for Building a Walkway (Study Case: Khansar City)]. Seven Heasr Environmental Studies, 2(6) ,43-54.
Soltani, L.; Farnoosh, F. & Pishro, N. (2015). Sidewalk Life Sidewalk Path of Imam Hossein (AS) to Shohada. Journal of Manzar, 7(31), 38-47.
Soni, N. & Soni, N. (2016). Benefits of pedestrianization and warrants to pedestrianize an area. Land Use Policy, (57),139-150.
Speck, J. (2018). Create Pedestrian Zones Properly. In Walkable City . Washington: Rules Island Press.
Tashakori, L. & Mehrabani Golzar, M. (2018). Creation of a Walkway: Physical Features or Public Behaviors?. Journal of Manzar, 10 (44), 40-49.