We designed this neighborhood! Neighborhood satisfaction of local non-gentrifying residents with the reconstructed Roombeek neighborhood in Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract

The Roombeek neighborhood in Enschede, The Netherlands, was all but destroyed in the largest urban disaster in Western Europe of the past decades. A fireworks depot, located in this deprived inner-city neighborhood exploded, leaving most of the houses in ruins. Reconstruction of the neighborhood was done in a participatory way, involving as much as possible the residents of the neighborhood. At the same time, the government decided to upgrade the neighborhood, to make it more attractive for middle and high class residents. However direct displacement was prevented by political decision, this thesis explores whether possible indirect forms of displacement or commercial gentrification has influenced the neighborhood satisfaction of original non gentrifying residents of Roombeek with their new neighborhood. Most original residents are in general satisfied to very satisfied with the new neighborhood, still they comment frequently on losing social cohesion caused by the influx of new groups of more affluent residents with different lifestyles.