The valuation of housing in low-amenity and low purchasing power city districts: social and economic value entangled by default
Journal article, 2022

Urban development projects are based on both calculative practices, in order to render investments in new housing profitable, and on a broader assessment of the value of amenities, qualities associated with housing units such as access to parks and shopping facilities, while not directly being included in presumptive buyers’ prices or rents but still affecting the prices or rents paid because amenities affect market demand. This condition is particularly cumbersome in low-income city districts, and/or in city districts with “negative” amenities, such as visible street crime and a substandard quality of schooling. A study of an urban development project in a “particularly socially vulnerable” city district in Sweden shows how municipally-owned real estate companies and private construction companies need to collaborate with authorities (e.g. the police) and municipal boards (e.g. the education board) to advocate investment in amenities. In order to increase housing stock evaluations, local housing market attractiveness, and the housing welfare of residents in blighted city districts, urban development projects must include, in substantive ways, a variety of perspectives, competencies, and formal decision-making authorities.

amenities

new housing production

Urban development

valuation

Author

Alexander Styhre

University of Gothenburg

Sara Brorström

University of Gothenburg

Pernilla Gluch

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Service Management and Logistics

Construction Management and Economics

0144-6193 (ISSN) 1466-433X (eISSN)

Vol. 40 1 72-86

Subject Categories

Architectural Engineering

Architecture

Human Geography

DOI

10.1080/01446193.2021.2018719

More information

Latest update

8/3/2022 9