Assessing the Impact of Tehran's Grand Mosalla on the Development of Surrounding Urban Neighborhoods Case Study: Abbas Abad Neighborhood

Document Type : Original article

Authors

Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Urban development is a multidimensional concept and a dynamic process that operates beyond the mere physical growth of the city, where social interactions play a key role in shaping and advancing the city. This concept, emphasizing creative and people-centered aspects, seeks to create dynamic and vibrant urban spaces that are formed around the needs and desires of citizens. This study aims to analyze the impacts of the Tehran Grand Mosalla on the development of the Abbas-Abad neighborhood and to contribute to theoretical discussions on sustainable urban development.
Materials and Methods: In terms of methodology, this research adopts a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected from two main sources: literature resources (including books, articles, reports, and theses) and survey data. A researcher-developed questionnaire with 40 items and a 5-point scale was designed to assess the economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions of Mosalla's impacts. The statistical population consisted of 115,930 households residing in Abbas-Abad neighborhood, and the sample size was determined to be 384 individuals using Cochran's formula with a 95% confidence coefficient. Data were analyzed using t-tests and regression analysis in SPSS.
Results and Discussion: The findings showed that Tehran Grand Mosalla has had significant positive impacts on the physical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions of Abbas-Abad neighborhood. In the physical dimension, improvement of transportation infrastructure (4.43), sidewalks and drainage (4.12), and electricity infrastructure (4.12) were among the most significant improvements. In the economic dimension, expansion of commercial activities (4.19) and growth of employment opportunities (3.59) were observed. In the social dimension, increased social interactions (4.20) and better access to public transportation (3.74) were among the positive impacts. In the environmental dimension, improvement of neighborhood cleanliness (4.23) and waste management (3.53) were among the achievements, but increased air pollution from 50 to 70 PPM and decreased per capita green space (from 3000 to 2500 square meters) are among the remaining challenges. Regression analysis showed that the impacts of Mosalla at the overall scale were not statistically significant (significance level 0.398), which indicates the need for more precise planning for fairer distribution of benefits and reduction of negative effects.
Conclusion: Tehran Grand Mosalla as a major urban megaproject has had extensive and multidimensional impacts on Abbas-Abad neighborhood, encompassing economic, social, and environmental dimensions. In the economic dimension, this project has led to improvement of economic conditions, expansion of commercial activities, growth of employment opportunities, and capital attraction, but in contrast, has significantly increased housing prices, nearly doubling them and negative impacts on traditional markets, creating challenges for some residents. In the social dimension, Mosalla has contributed to strengthening social interactions, increasing residents' sense of belonging, improving educational opportunities, better access to public transportation, and increasing sense of place, but in contrast, increased traffic and decreased neighborhood security remain important challenges that require special attention. In the environmental dimension, residents reported relatively positive perceptions, and improvement of neighborhood cleanliness and waste management have been positive achievements, but significant increases in air pollution and decreased per capita green space are serious environmental challenges that have created concerns for the neighborhood's future. Regression analysis showed that although Mosalla has had specific impacts on some aspects of the neighborhood, at the overall scale and in relation to all variables, these impacts have not been significant and are mostly concentrated in specific dimensions. The findings of this research are aligned with previous studies on urban megaprojects and show that without precise planning, these projects can lead to erosion of spatial identity. To achieve sustainable and balanced development in this area, future planning should be carried out with a multidimensional approach that, while strengthening the positive effects of the project, also actively controls and reduces negative consequences and distributes benefits more equitably.

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References

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Sustainable Development of Geographical Environment
Volume 7, Issue 15 - Serial Number 15
Winter
December 2025
Pages 16-37

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