Place Identity and effective factors on it in Old Neighborhoods (Case Study: Kolah Farangi Neighborhood in Sabzevar)

Places form part of people's identity. But today, urban places, including neighborhoods –affected by urbanism and urbanization- have lost their meaning, resulting in the weakening of today-citizens’ place identity. However, some old neighborhoods -as Identity-maker elements- may still maintain and enhance citizens’ place-identity, and due to this important role, this calls for double attention.
Regarding the importance of this subject, the aim of this research is to analyze the place identity level, and its affecting factors, in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Sabzevar, named Kolah Farangi Neighborhood .This is a survey research, the required data of which, have been collected by questionnaire with simple random sampling, then analyzed using one-sample T-test and Pearson correlation and Lambda correlation. In the paper, place-identity has been evaluated with five components, including external evaluation, familiarity, past-continuity, place commitment and attachment. Results show that, except of the external evaluation component, other components of place-identity are at the appropriate level and despite the changes that have taken place in the physical context of the Kolah Farangi neighborhood, the neighborhood still has a high level of identity for its inhabitants. Also, the length of residence in a neighborhood, housing ownership status, social interactions and the sense of security, affect the place-identity.