Beyond displacement: The role of real-estate valuations in shaping urban displaceability

Abstract

This paper brings the conceptual and methodological apparatus of the relational approach to the emergent conversation on displaceability – which is a novel concept underscoring the perpetual risk in urban environments of potential eviction, highlighting the ever-present tension between belonging and upheaval in contemporary urban settings. Drawing from case studies in Tel-Aviv and occupied East Jerusalem, I delve into two distinct local real estate valuation mechanisms: Tel Aviv’s Standard-21, which assesses project feasibility, and Jerusalem’s Article-219, a directive for appraising unauthorized construction. Set against Tel Aviv’s market driven context and the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, these mechanisms elucidate the local nuances of displaceability. Together, these cases underscore how valuation techniques perpetuate displaceability as a consistent and normalized facet of urban development. Yet, the paper also demonstrates how displaceability engenders resistance, as the acceptance of displacement as an inevitable urban reality prompts potential displacement victims to utilize the same socio-technical tools pointed against them to challenge this reality. Beyond a mere global overview, this paper delves into how displaceability is shaped by specific local socio-technical conditions. By emphasizing these nuances, it unravels both the intricate influences of regional factors and the overarching global implications of displaceability.