https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9850-4618
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ABSTRACT
After becoming a no-man’s land during the civil war, Downtown Beirut underwent major reconstruction efforts to return what was lost of its vibrant character. Reconstruction was specifically organized as a flagship designed to reclaim Beirut’s status within the region. However, the environment has recently stagnated, with fewer visitors making their way to the downtown area. These circumstances are amplified by local instability and other related issues. As such, this study clarified the connection between reconstruction planning and the decline of urban vitality in Downtown Beirut by focusing on its historical centre. Based on analyses of planning documents, field observations, and interview surveys, this study specifically argues that neoliberalism and affiliated planning policies were associated with the aforementioned decline. This article first chronicles the planning development process and discusses the fluctuating state of vitality, then identifies the neoliberal policies involved in reconstruction and outlines their connection to the currently stagnated environment.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Global Report, Centre for Systemic Peace 2017. 1.
2 Tierney Citation2016.
3 Naylor Citation2015.
4 In Beirut Souks: Al Tawileh Souk, Al Jamil Souk; in Foch-Allenby: Abdul Malek Street, Uruguay Street; in Place de l’Etoile: Al Omari Street, Al Maarad Street.
5 The demarcation line existed along Damascus Road in Beirut, thus dividing the city into two parts.
6 McPherson provides photo documentation of the downtown area in 2003 (McPherson Citation2006).
7 Regarding civil mobilisation after Hariri’s assassination, refer to (Kanafani-Zahar Citation2015).
8 As reported by l’Association des commerçants de Beyrouth in l’Orient le Jour : ‘Siniora informé des difficultés du secteur Environ 110 commerces ont fermé au centre-ville’. l’Orient le Jour 2007/8/25.
9 only includes policies that were considered applicable to this case study. For the full categorisations, refer to Sager (Citation2011, 152).
10 Arabian Gulf Countries issued travel advisories asking their nationals to avoid travelling to Lebanon. For further details, refer to: Website of Aljazeera Arabic. ‘Gulf countries warn its nationals to travel to Lebanon’ [Duwal Khalijiyah tuhather muwatiniha min alsafar ela lubnan]. Aljazeera Arabic 2016/02/25. https://goo.gl/DjJM69. Accessed 2020/07/07. (In Arabic)
11 Direct foreign investments in Lebanon witnessed a sharp drop, from 4.96 Billion USD in 2010 to 2.62 Billion USD in 2017. This is according to data provided on the Lebanese government’s website: https://investinlebanon.gov.lb/en/lebanon_at_a_glance/foreign_direct_investments/fdi_data (Accessed 2019/4/29).
12 Interview with Professor Robert Saliba on November 7th, 2016.
13 According to Solidere’s Consolidated Financial Statement at the end 2017, Solidere reported a loss of approximately US$116M due to a drop of land sales from US$203M in 2016 to US$94K in 2017. In 2018, the company reported a loss of US$115M.