The Role and Impact of Urban Development on the Preservation and Expansion of Local Culture and Identity (Case study: Khaniabad neighborhood of Tehran)

Background and Purpose: One of the most important challenges of urban development is its impact on local identity and culture. In many cases, urbanization occurs without considering the cultural and social characteristics of old areas, which can lead to a decrease in residents' sense of belonging, weakening local identity, and the loss of historical and cultural values. Khani Abad neighborhood of Tehran, which has a rich historical and cultural background, has undergone extensive changes in recent years. Accordingly, the present study, by examining the case of Khani Abad neighborhood in Tehran, answers these questions: To what extent has urban development affected the preservation and expansion of local culture and identity? And which development factors have had the greatest impact on the cultural changes in this neighborhood?
Methodology: The present research is applied in terms of purpose and the research method is survey and descriptive-analytical due to the nature of the subject and the components under study and the approach governing this research in terms of the type of method. The data collection method is documentary-library materials (books, articles, theses, etc.) and field observations (questionnaires). This means that by examining documents and writings of various experts, an attempt has been made to assess the role and impact of urban development on the preservation and development of local culture and identity in the Khani Abad neighborhood of Tehran. After a comprehensive review of the research literature, the most important indicators of the impact of urban development on the preservation and expansion of culture and identity were identified based on various sources studied. The statistical population of the research was all citizens living in the Khani Abad neighborhood, of which 100 people were randomly selected as the sample size of this research. Next, in order to ensure the validity of the questionnaire, as well as the selected indicators and items, it was provided to 7 professors and researchers in urban planning and urban geography, and after applying their opinions, the questionnaire was finally revised and approved. Also, the structural equation model method in the Smart pLS software was used to analyze the data and answer the main research question. It should be noted that this software is compatible with partial least squares modeling.
Findings and Discussion: The results of this study show that urban development in Khani Abad has had positive effects on all social, economic, environmental, and physical dimensions. However, social and physical dimensions have played a more prominent role in this process, considering the path coefficients and higher t-statistic values. This is while economic and environmental dimensions, although they have a positive and significant effect, have played a lesser role in maintaining the neighborhood's identity. Finally, these results indicate that paying more attention to social and physical dimensions can be more important in the urban development process, especially in neighborhoods with historical and cultural identity. Also, according to the research findings, it should be said that although the urban development process has brought improvements in the quality of life and the promotion of infrastructure indicators, without considering cultural and social components, it can lead to the gradual erosion of local identity and the weakening of social capital. The results indicate that social and physical components have had a deeper impact on maintaining or weakening neighborhood identity compared to other dimensions.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that urban development in Khani Abad neighborhood of Tehran in recent years has created significant changes in physical, social, economic and cultural dimensions. On the one hand, these developments have led to improved infrastructure, increased access to amenities and improved quality of life for residents, and on the other hand, they have created unwanted changes in local identity and social relations of residents.