The Mechanism of Street Markets Fostering Supportive Communities in Old Urban Districts: A Case Study of Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

Yueyi Tan, Jusheng Song, Lei Yu (), Yunxi Bai, Jianfeng Zhang, Man-Ha (Sylvia) Chan and Jeroen van Ameijde
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Yueyi Tan: School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
Jusheng Song: School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
Lei Yu: School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
Yunxi Bai: School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
Jianfeng Zhang: Anhui Jiangbei Meitu Information Technology Co., Ltd., Fuyang 236000, China
Man-Ha (Sylvia) Chan: School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Jeroen van Ameijde: School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: In old urban districts with tenement buildings, street markets address the working class’s social and economic needs. They are pivotal in fostering supportive communities, in particular for low-income residents in sub-standard housing. However, their outdated overall environment impedes the delivery of adequate support to residents. Prior research on street markets has focused on those in the Americas and Europe, and has revealed the societal support values of these markets. However, studies on street markets in high-density cities like Hong Kong are lacking. This study introduces an evaluation framework to assess the impact of street markets on the development of supportive communities for Hong Kong’s sub-divided apartment residents. Employing the Pei Ho Street market in Sham Shui Po as a case study, an importance-performance analysis highlights critical but underperforming factors including public facilities, activity venues, commerce, and employment. Based on these findings, the study proposes four improvement strategies for the renewal of street markets in high-density communities, which could apply to other cities with similar high-density urban environments. It concludes that street markets in Hong Kong display unique spatial characteristics shaped by low-income lifestyles in a high-density urban environment, enriching daily social life and promoting sustainable community development.

Keywords: street markets; supportive community forming; urban environments; Hong Kong (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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