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“Improvement Strategies for Affordable Housing in Yerevan, Armenia,” Development Strategy, 2008

Abstract

The Institute for International Urban Development (I2UD) proposed a field-study based Development Strategy “Improvement Strategies for Affordable Housing in Yerevan, Armenia” in 2008 to identify affordable housing solutions for the improvement of living conditions in older neighborhoods of Yerevan. The report specifically addressed upgrading strategies for Soviet-era housing estates in Yerevan, Armenia.

The proposal shows an 8-month schedule for the study, as well as overviews of relevant projects undertaken by I2UD.


[Excerpt, Page 1]

“We are proposing to assist the Municipality of Yerevan in addressing the social housing crisis and developing an appropriate response to the challenge of providing housing that is affordable to the majority of its inhabitants. Yerevan’s situation is unique in being the locus of activity of many successful diaspora developers and emerging local contractors and entrepreneurs. The programs developed must reflect the urban dynamics prevailing in the city, its growth patterns and the vision of its future presented in its plan.”

Project Year:2008
Project Type:Development Strategy
Geographic Regions:Yerevan, Armenia
Reports:Improvement Strategies for Affordable Housing in Yerevan, Armenia: (Draft Proposal, January 2008)
Authors:Mona Serageldin; John Driscoll; Elick Guerra
Sponsors:Municipality of Yerevan
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2008_01_001
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“Strategic Frameworks for Local Development: The Expanding Scope for Public Private Partnerships,” United Kingdom, 2001

Abstract

The report by Barry Shaw, “Strategic Frameworks for Local Development: The Expanding Scope for Public Private Partnerships,” from 2001, examined the changing use of public-private partnerships in urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom between 1980-1990s. The report outlines important facets of comprehensive urban space regeneration. Documents include the report and accompanying presentation slides.

[Excerpt: Introduction, Final Report, page 1, by Barry Shaw]

“The last two decades in the UK have seen the approach to regeneration evolve from a few mainly large-scale initiatives in big cities to a multiplicity of smaller interventions capable of being targeted at small towns and settlements. Many of the initiatives involve the use of public-private partnerships in the form of autonomous agencies to manage their delivery. The framework within which these partnerships operate has evolved from one of close control directly exercised by central government departments to a more devolved structure of regional management and policy formation.”

“Regeneration is characterised by the need to be holistic in approach and even those interventions with clearly defined outputs such as the provision of mass housing have had to achieve a broader range of outcomes including job creation and social support. Twenty years ago partnership with the private sector was greeted with hostility and concern, particularly with regard to public and financial accountability. The early schemes, while still controversial, were seen to be successful and public-private partnerships are now the accepted norm across the political spectrum.”

Project Year:2001
Project Type:Research Paper
Geographic Regions:United Kingdom
Reports:
Authors:Barry Shaw
Sponsors:Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2001_08_002
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Design Studio 1995: “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy: Lublin, Poland,” Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The Urban Design Studio from Spring 1995, “Urban Regeneration and Housing in a Transitional Economy: Lublin, Poland” was a seminar led by Professors Mona Serageldin and David Neilson in the Spring 1994 semester at Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. The 1995 Studio continued a series of studies on urban issues in societies undergoing economic restructuring, institutional transformation, and social change, focusing specifically on Lublin, Poland.

The 1995 topic built off a development strategy written by the Unit in 1994-1996, for the urban environment and housing situation in Lublin. See original reports: “Lublin Local Initiatives Program” & “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project,” Urban Upgrading in Lublin, Poland, 1994-2000 (Project ID: 1994_08_001).

Curriculum components include an implementation strategy for public and private roles, public investment strategies, leveraging and cost-recovery options, housing typologies, street cross-sectional typologies, land use patterns, and block structures. Documents include a studio overview, syllabus, and an extensive report on “Urban Regeneration and Housing” in Lublin, Poland.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1995
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Lublin, Poland
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; David Neilson; Janne Comeil; Nadar M. El-Bizri; Shimpei Ago; Ott Gira; Bert Hoffman; Hiroaki Inoue; Alyn Janis; Annette Kim; Victoria Marquis; William Doebele; Sonia Hammam; Carol Johnson; Alex Krieger; Barry Shaw
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:1995_00_001

Related I2UD Projects

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Design Studio 1990: “The Medina of Tunis,” Urban Regeneration for the Historic Hafsia District, Tunis, Tunisia, Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The Design Studio from Spring 1990, led by Professors François Vigier and Mona Serageldin, focused on urban regeneration in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia. This studio addressed issues of revitalization of older urban districts of Tunis.

Documents include an overview of urban development, urban housing conditions, institutional frameworks, and government housing policies to outline the urban context of Tunisia. Reports detail the development site of the Hafsia District, and outline phases and plans for the revitalization project, including graphics and maps.


[Excerpt: “Urban and Housing Conditions,” Design Studio 1990]

Urban and Housing Conditions
“Rapid urbanization has generated a large demand for housing and add to intensive unregulated construction activity. As a result, housing stock has increased at an annual average rate of 4 percent, and conditions improved somewhat during the 80’s. However, throughout the decade, the demand for housing and urban services has outpaced the public sector’s ability to keep up with urban growth. Almost half of all dwellings built since 1975 have bypassed urban development regulations and were instead undertaken by the informal sector in areas lacking adequate utilities and relying on low-cost construction methods. To alleviate this problem, the supply of suitably located serviced land at prices affordable to the poorest segments of the population must be expanded.”
….

The Hafsia Revitalization Project
The objective of the project sponsored by the World Bank is to revitalize and renovate the area, and demonstrate the feasibility of upgrading medinas without dividing populations and by involving the private sector in the development process. The specific objectives are:

1. To revitalize the economic base with a look to the future while promoting employment opportunities for its present residents.

2. To upgrade the urban environment with minimum disruption of social cohesion and community life.

3. To structure a replicable self-financing, revitalization process given the lack of public resources. In other words, components of the proposal whose capital cost are not likely to be fully recovered (eg., housing for poorer households, infrastructure improvements, new community facilities) will have to be cross-subsidized by other revenue producing components.

4. To reverse development trends destructive to the character of the medina.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1990
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Medina of Tunis, Tunisia
Reports:1990 Design Studio: Tunisia Urban Development
Authors:François Vigier; Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:1990_00_002

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 13: Tunisia: Tunis (1978-1990)