Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (former Departments)

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Browsing Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (former Departments) by Subject "City planning -- South Africa -- Case studies"

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    Residential urban renewal in a South African context
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001-12) Van der Merwe, Nicolaas Pieter; Muller, A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Sustainable Development Planning & Management.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: All cities experience urban deterioration in some form or other. This deterioration is caused by many, diverse factors. The deterioration leads to a loss of investment in the city and a downward cycle 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 these problems is suburban expansion, which creates urban sprawl; with its associated problem of ineffective land utilisation. Urban renewal can be applied to address urban deterioration and utilise Brownfield sites, which are derelict or underused sites; instead of Greenfield sites, which are sites that have not been previously developed. It has been found that South African policy still benefit the development of Greenfield sites. Urban renewal can be used as a tool to address South Africa's unequal development and opportunities among the different races by improving the people's living conditions. Development starts with human development. This study gives a historical and theoretical overview of the urban renewal field of study. After the review of various authors and four case studies in Cape Town and Johannesburg, it can be concluded that the urban renewal process can be approached through various methods and should be included in any city's spatial development framework. The potential roles local government can play were identified as being to implement a communitybased redevelopment approach, designing area-specific strategies where redevelopment is feasible and making grants and tax incentives available. Local governments could also be involved in public-private partnerships. The role of the planner within the renewal process has also increased to that of assessing the need and 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 the original residents does indeed occur. The question within a free market economy is whether the authority should interfere in this process or not, especially with regard to historic and culturally sensitive areas such as Bo-Kaap. This could possibly be motivated as being in the "public interest" in 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 be avoided; and resources must be allocatd to neighbourhoods rather than individuals. Projects must also be an intense, short termed action, using local institutions for implementation.