The Evaluation of Megaproject's Success in Spatial Reproduction of Urban Interests, Case Study: Project of Shohada Square/Mashhad

Mega redevelopment projects based on partnership planning approach and mixed-use development are considered as solutions for distressed and blighted areas. Despite some public benefits of such projects, they usually result in many challenges including cost overrun, failure to meet the time schedule, social segregation, and social tensions or negative environmental impacts. Megaprojects as extensive physical interventions lead to a space reproduction for that neoliberalism request, through private investment, attraction of creative class and creation of a variety of economic activities. The projects mostly offer four general promises including economic prosperity, place promotion, social, environmental and infrastructure improvement. However, the projects are not always successful in realization of the promises. The mega redevelopment of Shohada Square in the City of Mashhad began in 2002 to solve the challenges of the partly distressed area. But it seems that after more than a decade, from the beginning of the project, the challenges of the distressed area have been increased in some aspects. This paper assesses the success of the great project of Shohada Square in dealing with the general promises of megaprojects. In this paper, after reviewing the related literature about megaprojects and the space reproduction resulting from megaprojects, different aspects of the Great Project of Shohada Square are analyzed through mixed method. Necessary information has been gathered through the city statistics, interview and field observations. Findings show that although the project has led to physical improvement, it produced a functionally distressed area and it was not successful in dealing with the general promises.