Urban Planning

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Browsing Urban Planning by Subject "Addis Ababa"

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    Measuring The Effect of Public Space on Property Value: A Hedonic Pricing & Multi-Attribute Analysis in Addis Ababa, Sheger Park’s Friendship Square
    (Addis Ababa University, 2026-01-01) Fehim Seid; Amha Ermias
    Urban public spaces and recreational areas are vital components of city life, providing environmental, economic, and social benefits. They act as "green lungs," enhancing air quality, offering recreational opportunities, and adding aesthetic value to urban environments. In Addis Ababa, however, urban development has historically neglected the importance of such spaces, often resulting in their reduction or complete loss. This neglect has had adverse environmental, economic, and social consequences. Moreover, the direct economic value of green amenities is rarely quantified in monetary terms, and empirical studies on urban green amenity valuation in developing countries, including Ethiopia, remain limited. This study focuses on the economic valuation of public spaces, with particular emphasis on Sheger Park and its surrounding water features in Arada Sub-city, Addis Ababa. It examines how proximity to these public spaces influences residential property values, including both sales and rental prices. The study employs the Hedonic Pricing Method (HPM) to analyze the impact of key environmental attributes, such as distance to Sheger Park and views of the park or artificial lakes, on property values. The regression results indicate that both homebuyers and renters are willing to pay a premium for properties located near public spaces or those with scenic views. Specifically, the value of owner-occupied houses increases by approximately 183,359.2 ETB for every 100-meter reduction in distance to Sheger Park. The model explains 64% of the variation in residential property prices (R² = 0.64), indicating a good model fit, while the remaining 36% is attributed to other unobserved factors. The 95% confidence interval for the distance coefficient ranges from −137,608.8 ETB to 370,890.3 ETB, suggesting that property prices increase within this range for every 100-meter decrease in distance to the park. Similarly, rental properties located closer to public spaces exhibit a statistically significant increase in value. These findings confirm that public spaces, such as parks and lakes, are critical amenities influencing housing prices in Arada Sub-city. This indicates that residents are willing to pay for green amenities in their neighborhood. Incorporating green amenities in designing urban residential areas and real estate developments can provide premium benefits to investors. Despite the clear demand for public spaces in Addis Ababa, their availability remains limited, making them highly sought after. The economic benefits estimated in this study highlight the importance of incorporating such spaces into urban design and land use planning. However, the redevelopment of Sheger Park has also triggered gentrification, displacing over 800 households to the city outskirts. This displacement has disrupted social ties, destabilized livelihoods, and caused psychological distress for affected families. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to urban development that recognizes the value of public spaces while minimizing the negative impacts of gentrification. Policymakers must prioritize inclusive planning strategies that address the needs of displaced residents and ensure equitable access to urban amenities.
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    Micro-Housing as Alternative For Urban Housing Shortages: The Case of Lideta Subcity, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2026-06-01) Yetimwerk Abebe; Asfaw Mohamed
    In developing countries, micro-housing has emerged as a critical strategy to optimize scarce urban land and provide dignified shelter for rapidly growing low-income populations. Urban housing shortages in Addis Ababa have intensified due to rapid population growth, limited land availability, and inadequate affordable housing supply. Despite its global promise, empirical evidence on its socio-spatial viability and regulatory feasibility in African urban contexts remains critically underexplored. This study investigates the potential of micro-housing compact, efficiently designed residential units as a viable alternative for low-income residents in Lideta Sub-City. Using mixed methods data from 138 micro-housing residents and supplementary insights from institutional stakeholders, the research examines current housing conditions, user satisfaction, socioeconomic impacts, and implementation barriers. Findings indicate that prior housing conditions were widely characterized by severe spatial constraints, inadequate amenities and financial strain whereas transitioning to micro-housing yielded marked improvements in perceived housing yielded marked improvements in perceived housing quality, access to essential services and overall socioeconomic stability. Residents consistently recognized micro-housing as a contextually appropriate and economically viable solution for low-income households. However, broader adoption remains constrained by limited access to housing finance, out dated regulatory frameworks a persistent cultural misconception regarding compact living. To overcome these constraints, municipal authorities should revise building codes to formally recognize compact unit typologies and streamline approval process for high density developments near transit corridors. Concurrently, financial institutions and government agencies must collaborate to develop alternative credit assessment mechanisms and inclusive financing models that accommodate informal earners. Finally targeted public awareness campaigns and participatory design initiatives should be implemented to reframe micro-housing as a sustainable urban living model and foster broader community acceptance. This study concludes that micro-housing represents a highly promising, demand driven strategy for addressing Addis Ababa’s housing defect, provided it is supported by adaptive policy frameworks and cross sector collaboration. Ultimately, this research contributes a localized, evidence-based framework for integrating compact housing into mainstream urban development policies across rapidly urbanizing African cities.