Sustainable Urban Regeneration of Blighted Neighborhoods: The Case of Al Ghanim Neighborhood, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

At a time when urban expansion and regeneration are being prioritized, many cities are undergoing significant widespread urban decay. Planning issues, such as the regeneration of historical areas and the redevelopment of blighted neighborhoods, have prompted a complex agenda to be put in place for urban planning practice. The most significant district is the city’s core. It is a crucial indicator of the city’s success because it contains the Central Business District (CBD) and housing. However, due to poor governmental attention, many city cores are experiencing new development, subsequently overwhelming the old neighborhoods. Consequently, old areas are witnessing urban disfigurement and fast deterioration in their physical and visual characteristics. This research utilizes urban regeneration to address the city’s core challenges to help achieve sustainable development. To test the sustainability framework, the researchers used Qatar’s local case study of the Old Ghanim neighborhood, one of Doha’s oldest districts. As a result of the original population’s relocation to suburban developments, the district has deteriorated, lacking street activity and increasing indigent public space. The researchers examined the literature on urban regeneration, conducted site visits and observations, reviewed and described case study limitations, and identified factors that contribute to the creation of a sustainable neighborhood, based on urban qualities such as integrated networks and walkable streets, open and green public spaces, and the regeneration of the old urban fabric. As a result, they intended to address a theoretical and practical gap in current local knowledge, and they additionally intended to provide a helpful tool for urban regeneration specialists. The researchers proposed a conceptual framework for rejuvenating neglected neighborhoods and ideas for ensuring urban cohesion, which is critical for improving the lives of individuals in these areas.