Toward achieving diversity through collaborative planning in mixed-use precincts: a case study of Florida Road, Durban (South Africa)

Abstract

English: Entertainment precincts are typically packed with a dynamic mix of people and land uses that create areas with economic and social benefits. However, for a naturally occurring precinct such as Florida Road, Durban, the social disharmony emanating from the placement of the land uses makes the area vulnerable. The aim of the research was to examine how best a collaborative approach could foster diversity. Both quantitative and qualitative primary data, collected by means of questionnaires and interviews drawn from the various stakeholders in the precinct, were conducted in order to assess the nature of the issues. The research also drew data from the lived experience of temporary/long-term residents and visitors and/or users of the precinct to maintain an inhibited view outside of the private interests involved. The research found that there have been minor changes to the spatial land-use pattern since 2007. There is, however, a higher intensity of land-use activity such as restaurants operating as nightclubs at close proximity to residential flats. The study results showed that, while the Florida Road precinct management has made great progress since its inception in 2012, there is dialectic tension between the relevant stakeholders relating to planning and the decision-making processes. The authors recommend intimate collaborative planning that enables communities and local government to communicate effectively without squandering opportunities to diversify mixed-use precincts.

Afrikaans: Vermaaklikheidsbuurte is tipies verpak met ʼn dinamiese mengsel van mense en grondgebruike wat gebiede ekonomiese en maatskaplike voordele bied. Maar vir ʼn natuurlik-aangetrefde buurt soos Florida Road, Durban het die sosiale disharmonie wat voortspruit uit die plasing van die grondgebruike, die gebied kwesbaar gemaak. Die doel van die navorsing was om te ondersoek hoe die beste van ʼn gesamentlike benadering diversiteit kan bevorder. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe primêre data ingesamel deur middel van vraelyste en onderhoude onder die verskillende rolspelers in die buurt is uitgevoer ten einde die aard van die kwessies te evalueer. Die navorsing het ook data verkry uit die ervaring van tydelike/langtermyn inwoners asook besoekers en/of gebruikers van die buurt om ʼn geïnhibeerde opinie buite die private belange van betrokkenes te verkry. Die navorsing het bevind dat daar geringe veranderinge aan die ruimtelike grondgebruikpatroon sedert 2007 plaasgevind het, maar dat daar ʼn hoër intensiteit van grondgebruikaktiwiteit soos byvoorbeeld restaurante wat as nagklubs dien naby woonstelle is. Die studieresultate toon dat, alhoewel die Florida Road buurtbestuur groot vooruitgang sedert sy ontstaan in 2012 gemaak het, is daar dialektiese spanning tussen die betrokke belanghebbendes met betrekking tot die beplanning en die besluitnemingsprosesse. Intieme gesamentlike beplanning wat gemeenskappe en plaaslike regering in staat stel om effektief te kommunikeer sonder vermorsde geleenthede om gemengde gebruikbuurte te diversifiseer, word deur die skrywers aanbeveel.

SeSotho: Ho tlwaelehile hore dibaka tsa boithabiso di tlale batho ba sa tshwaneng le disebediswa tse etsang melemo ya moruo hape le boithabiso ba batho. Le ha ho le jwalo, mabapi le sebaka se leng teng ka tlhaho jwalo ka Florida Road, Durban; kgutso ha e be teng ka lebaka la ho bewa ha disebediswa lefatsheng leo. Di etsa ho be bobebe hore sebaka seo se senyehe. Sepheo sa dipatlisiso tsena e ne e le ho hlahloba hore mokgwa wa tshebedisanommoho ke ofe o ka etsang hore ho be le ntlafatso. Ho entswe dipatlisiso ka pokello ya dintlha tsa sehlooho tsa lebadi le boleng (quantitative and qualitative) ka mokgwa wa pampiri e nang le lenane la dipotso le ka ho botsa batho ba amehang dipotso sebakeng seo e le ho lekola/ ho lekanyetsa sebopeho sa mathata. Dipatlisiso tsena di entswe hape ka pokello ya dintlha ho tswa ho baahi, le baeti ba nakwana/nako tsohle le/kapa basebedisi ba sebaka seo, ba nang le boitsebelo; hore ba kgone ho baballa pono ya baahi ba sebaka seo; ntle le ditabatabelo tsa batho ba bang ba amehang. Tse fumanweng (diphumano) dipatlisisong di bontsha hore ho bile le diphetoho tse nyenyane mokgweng wa tshebediso ya lefatshe ho tloha ka 2007, le ha ho le jwalo, ho na le ho nyoloha ho matla diketsahalong tsa tshebediso ya lefatshe. Mohlala, direstjhurente tse ding di sebetsa jwalo ka ditlelapo tsa bosiu empa di le haufinyana haholo le difolete tsa bodulo. Tse fumanweng (diphumano) di bontsha hore bolaodi ba sebaka sa Florida Road bo ile ba etsa kgatelopele e kgolo ho tloha qalehong ya bona ya tshebetso ka 2012. Ho na le ho se utlwane ka puo pakeng tsa batho ba amehang mabapi le ketso ya merero le tsweletso ya ho etsa diqeto. Re itshetlehile hodima diphetho tsa thuto ya mehlala (the case study),ho hlokahala morero o kopanetsweng, o fang setjhaba le mmuso wa selehae bokgoni ba ho buisana hantle ntle le ho senya menyetla ya ntlafatso ditshebetsong tse fapaneng tsa dibaka.