Assessment of Social Impacts of Urban Regeneration in Atabak Neighborhood

Dilapidation of an urban fabric refers to its physical, social and economic malfunctions which prevent reproduction of neighborhood in the long run. Delapidated urban fabrics always have seen as an opportunity in hands of urban management for intervention in order to create better urban life, although mostly based on a physical definition of these fabrics. Along with revealing the adverse impacts, the previous physical approach to regeneration replaced by a participatory, community-centered approach which was obliged to preserving the social fabric of dilapidated regions. The first intervention based up on participatory approach was performed in Atabak neighborhood in Tehran and the article aims at assessing the social impacts of the regeneration project using social impact assessment methodology. Findings shows that intensification of dilapidation and the problems with access routes, formation of indefensible urban spaces, indebtedness and income reduction of inhabitants participating the regeneration, removing previous equilibrium between the supply and demand of rental houses, the dissolution of the social composition, social integration, social support and neighborhood relationships in the region, increasing social problems and sense of insecurity and institutional mistrust are among the main adverse impacts of the regeneration projects.