Diagnosing Prospect of Urban Redevelopment in Ethiopia: A Comparative Evidence from Mekele and Jimma

Abstract

This article diagnoses the prospects of urban redevelopment in Ethiopia based on a comparative analysis of current practices from Mekele and Jimma cities. The finding proves that redevelopment projects turned up with positive in improving economic vibrancy and accessibility of redeveloped sites in both cities. Despite signaling development potential, space coordination inefficiency is found to sub-optimize development potentials at the local (city) level. At the macro level, land delivery policy alteration – a futile response to administrative inefficiency, curtails redevelopment. On the other hand urban redevelopment in both cities is found to be half backed. Land use changes and space coordination excludes the original residents from their living and working premises. Rehabilitation schemes to the displaced are not part of the redevelopment projects. The absence of redressing strategies crowed-out economic base that supports the majority. There are also emerging issues such as restrictions over individuals' right to appropriate benefits from the best use value of their holdings; and recently developed areas need redevelopment to coordinate space for its full development potential. These emerging aspects call timely policy responses. Looking in the physical and morphological aspect, redevelopment projects, usually causing land use changes are short of creating complete urban fabric.