Socio-spatial differentiation and public accessibility of urban spaces in the post-transformational city: case study Saint-Petersburg

In present-day Saint-Petersburg socio-spatial differentiation can be observed in various morphological post-transformational urban zones, but has not yet led to full-fledged special polarization or segregation. At the same time, the extent of socio-spatial differentiation varies in morphologically different urban housing types and can only be understood on the basis of the historical context and residents’ preferences. In order to understand their impact on socio-spatial differentiation of various urban areas more concretely, two studies were conduc- ted (one in 2007, another in 2009) with the participation of the authors of the present contribution. The results of these studies, which are based on two different samples of model zones or building types in Saint-Petersburg, showed that residents’ preferences were driving socio-spatial differentiation or segregation both on a microscopic (for example, closed staircases in an open court with otherwise open staircases) and macroscopic scale (for example, closed suburban settlements or new high-rise buildings). The degree to which this segregation is spatially implemented depends on the income levels of residents and, of course, strongly correlates with real estate prices. No other significant drivers of socio-spatial differentiation or segregation have been identified, besides a desire by wealthier city residents to increase the security of person and property. No other significant drivers of such tendencies have been identified. For example, no mentionable correlation between the degree of commercial activity and the proportion of closed vs. publicly accessible spaces was discovered. Further research is proposed in order to better understand the impact of recent legislation on socio-spatial differentiation in Saint-Petersburg.Im heutigen Sankt Petersburg kann die sozialräumliche Differenzierung in verschiedenen morphologischen posttransformativen städtischen Zonen beobachtet werden, was bisher jedoch nicht zu einer vollständigen speziellen Polarisierung oder Segregation geführt hat. Gleichzeitig unterscheidet sich das Ausmaß der sozialräumlichen Differenzierung in morphologisch unterschiedlichen urbanen Wohnformen und kann nur im historischen Kontext und auf der Grundlage der Präferenzen der Anwohner verstanden werden. Um ihren Einfluss auf die sozialräumliche Differenzierung verschiedener urbaner Gebiete besser verstehen zu können, wurden zwei Studien unter der Mitarbeit der Autoren des vorliegenden Beitrags durchgeführt (die eine 2007, die andere 2009). Das Ergebnis dieser Studien, welche sich auf zwei unterschiedliche Beispiele von Mustergebieten bzw. -gebäudetypen in Sankt Petersburg stützen, zeigt, dass die Antriebskraft für eine sozialräumliche Differenzierung oder Segregation im Mikrokontext einerseits (z.B. geschlossenes Treppenhaus in einem offenen Hof, der sonst offene Treppen hat) und im Makrokontext andererseits (z.B. ein abgeschlossenes urbanes Wohnviertel oder neue Hochhäuser) die Präferenzen der Anwohner waren. Der Grad, in dem diese Segregation räumlich umgesetzt wird, hängt von den Einkommensverhältnissen der Anwohner ab und steht selbstverständlich in engem Zusammenhang mit den Immobilienpreisen. Außer dem Wunsch wohlhabenderer Stadtbewohner, die persönliche Sicherheit und die Sicherheit ihres Eigentums besser zu gewährleisten, konnten keine weiteren nennenswerten Antriebskräfte sozialräumlicher Differenzierung oder Segregation ausfindig gemacht werden. So konnte beispielsweise kein nennenswerter Zusammenhang zwischen dem Grad der Geschäftstätigkeit und dem Verhältnis zwischen abgeschlossenen und öffentlich zugänglichen Räumen ausgemacht werden. Für ein besseres Verständnis der Auswirkungen neuester gesetzgeberischer Vorschriften auf sozialräumliche Differenzierung in Sankt Petersburg werden weitere Untersuchungen diesbezüglich vorgeschlagen

The Transformation of Urban Space in Post-Soviet Russia

In the years since 1989, the societies of Russia and Eastern Europe have undergone a remarkable transformation from socialism to democracy and free market capitalism. Making an important contribution to the theoretical literature of urbanism and post-communist transition, this significant book considers the change in the spatial structure of post-Soviet urban spaces since the period of transition began. It argues that the era of transformation can be considered as largely complete, and that this has given way to a new stage of development as part of the global urban and economic system: post-transformation. The authors examine the modern trends in the urban development of western and post-socialist countries, and explore the theories of the transformation and post-transformation of urban space. Providing a wealth of detailed qualitative research on the Russian city of St. Petersburg, the study examines the changing structure of its retail trade and services sector. Overall, this book is an important step forward in the study of the spatial dynamics of urban transformation in the former communist world

Spatial organisation of the new forms of e-grocery and ready-made food trade in a large Russian city

This work aims to identify fundamentally new features in the spatial organization of e-grocery and ready-made food trade in a Russian city, distinct from those typical of traditional food retail enterprises. Focusing on St Petersburg, the article describes the emergence of a completely different system of requirements imposed by new forms of online food retail in the space of a large Russian city, compared with traditional industries and retail organization methods. The spatial and temporal parameters of the new shopping model are considered, and a comparative analysis of its spatial competition with already established models is presented. The spatial organization of new online food retail is demonstrated in the context of the placement system of new types of offline objects, the emergence of new flows, their impact on urban development and the effect on the outdoor and transit advertising markets, as well as on the labor market. Based on this analysis, it is concluded that new-type physical objects such as distribution warehouses, warehouse stores (fulfilment centres) and dot-com objects are placed according to entirely different principles. If the location of a service point is no longer a competitive advantage as seen by the buyer, faster delivery, hidden from the consumer, emerges as a critical factor in new competition. The paper also analyses the significance of spatial organization principles associated with this factor

The Transformation of Urban Space in Post-Soviet Russia

In the years since 1989, the societies of Russia and Eastern Europe have undergone a remarkable transformation from socialism to democracy and free market capitalism. Making an important contribution to the theoretical literature of urbanism and post-communist transition, this significant book considers the change in the spatial structure of post-Soviet urban spaces since the period of transition began. It argues that the era of transformation can be considered as largely complete, and that this has given way to a new stage of development as part of the global urban and economic system: post-transformation. The authors examine the modern trends in the urban development of western and post-socialist countries, and explore the theories of the transformation and post-transformation of urban space. Providing a wealth of detailed qualitative research on the Russian city of St. Petersburg, the study examines the changing structure of its retail trade and services sector. Overall, this book is an important step forward in the study of the spatial dynamics of urban transformation in the former communist world

Retail Sprawl in Post-Soviet Urban Residential Communities: Case Studies of Saint-Petersburg and Vilnius

Since the beginning of the 1990s, Soviet urban residential communities have experienced rapid inflows of new urban functions. In this research project, two post-Soviet urban areas - Vilnius and St. Petersburg - are examined to indicate contrasting development paths over the last 30 years. The term “retail sprawl” describes correctly one of the important processes which have reshaped the former socialist microdistricts. We used data from the years 1987-1989, the last years of the socialist economy, and 2016 for 36 comparable research areas. By 2016 the structure of these formerly monofunctional areas made them functionally very similar to that of the urban core, including them in the intra-urban circulation of goods and capital, redirecting flows and making the city centre’s service burden much lighter. The results of the study provide a controversial contribution to the virtual discussion on universalism vs. uniqueness in post-socialist urban development. On the one hand, irrespective of contrasting “path-dependent” impacts, the structural results of retail development turned out to be generally identical in the studied cities at present, as well as in a prototypical North-American city 25 years ago. On the other hand, we found very pronounced differences compared to international patterns in morphological outcomes

Trade-Offs, Adaptation and Adaptive Governance of Urban Regeneration in Guangzhou, China (2009–2019)

This paper explores the specific “authoritarian” type of adaptive governance of urban regeneration using the example of Guangzhou city as the frontier of China’s reforms. As opposed to the “democratic” type of adaptive governance with its bottom-up policy initiations, community autonomy, polycentric power, participation in decision making, and self-organized policy actors, adaptive governance in Guangzhou is based on top-down decision making and implementation of public authorities’ solutions with the high role of political considerations. By analyzing data collected from policy documents, interviews, secondary data, and participative observations, this paper reveals three phases of urban regeneration in Guangzhou between 2009 and 2019: two of them based on “Three Old Redevelopment” policy implementation and the third one based on the local micro-regeneration initiative. Tradeoffs among urban regeneration, land leasing income and micro-regeneration are the key means of policy adaptation which differ from the described phases. Methodologically, the paper does not limit itself by answering only the traditional research questions in regeneration studies of “what” has changed and “why” these changes have happened. Instead, the main focus includes “how” such changes have occurred, which is less researched in the literature. Social–political mechanisms, including limited check-and-balance, selective feedback, and the social learning capacity of the local state, are crucial governance factors to enable adaptation