A Comparative Study Between A Single Case From Redeveloped and another one From Not-Yet Redeveloped Inner -City Neighbou rhoods of Addis Ababa
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Date
2024-05-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The research conducted in Addis Ababa focuses on Assessing urban redevelopment effect on social cohesion and crime: A comparative Study between a single case from redeveloped and another one from not-yet redeveloped inner-city neighbourhoods of Addis Ababa, with the research rationale of seeking a theoretical relationship between urban redevelopment, social cohesion, and crime. Hypothetically urban redevelopments change social structures and this results in lesser social cohesion and undermine the role of social cohesion for informal guardianships. Two case studies and survey method are utilized for collecting household survey questionnaires with a sample size of 325 and 285 households from Senga Tera Firdbet I condominium and Geja Sefer respectively for qualitative and quantitative data. Beside this, secondary recorded crime archive data were applied to compare results with the perceived crime. Applying quantitative analysis, including correlation, regression models and analysis of qualitative data comparative study were conducted between the cases. The findings indicate that the study area that is not yet redeveloped, Geja Sefer, exhibits higher levels of social cohesion compared to the redeveloped, Senga Tera Firdbet I condominium neighbourhood. It is observed that there is a moderately significant correlation between the major social cohesion indicator variable and the perception of crime. The common denominator among the social cohesion indicator variable used that influences perception of crime in both cases are group and networks, trust and place attachments. Even though it is hard to generalize from the small samples, but from the analysis there is gap between perceived and actual crime experienced. Recommendations from multiple sources of analysis and reviewed literatures includes integrate intentionally planned mix of various services, enhance easy mobility and connectivity, designing of meeting points, redevelopment should be cohesive through maintaining social cohesions that exist, encompass inhabitants in the process of planning and design, supports existing social organization, reinforce communal infrastructure, and design wide-ranging communal spaces, aware the communities on current security situations, increase community policing through open channels, since there is no any organized formal communication between the various unit owners' associations establish formal organization and encourage open dialogue and idea sharing among residents. This study helps to provide comparative empirical evidence on urban redevelopment effects on social cohesion and crime between the two cases that can enhance existing knowledge.
Key:words: Crime, Inner-City, Perception of crime, Social cohesion, and Urban redevelopment