1. THE “OPEN CITIES” APPROACH
A prospect for improving the quality of life in the city of Alexandria,
Egypt.
2. Contents
Introduction
“Open Cities”
“Open Cities” and urban development
A review of different examples of “Open Cities”
The case of the city of Alexandria
The Survey
Conclusion and recommendations
5. What is “open cities” ?
“Open Cities” is a concept developed during the years 2006 to 2009 by
Richard Sennett, Greg Clark and Kees Christiaanse.
It helps in:
Improving the social relationships between countries.
Enhancing the city’s economical state.
Increasing the city’s attractiveness all over the
world.
Being used as an approach to better standards of
living.
Getting better achievements in
investments.
6. Open cities
1. Groups of
international
populations 2. Governance
and leadership
3. Regulatory
4. Economic
5. Social and
societal
6. Cultural and
amenity
7. Connectivity
and Accessibility
8.
Internationalization
9. Environmental
Factors of “Open Cities”
9. The effect of both types of factors on each other
Economic factors
Network and infrastructure
factors
Residential and planning
factors
Economic factors
Internationalization factors
Network and infrastructure
factors
Geographical factors
Residential and planning
factors
Demographic factors
Environmental factors
10. A REVIEW OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES OF “OPEN CITIES”
11. Analysis of areas of strength
and competitiveness
Madrid
Dublin
Auckland
Toronto
Amsterdam
Miami
Singapore
Capetown
Zurich
NewYork
Mumbai
Sydney
Barcelona
LosAngeles
Vienna
Sum(15)
Explicit drive towards internationalization * * * * * * * * * 9
Strong tiers of government * * * * * * 6
Unifying strategy for regional growth * 1
Dynamic quality of life * * * * * * * * 8
Heritage, Image and identity development * * * * 4
Well-qualified sector-specific workforce * * * * 4
Housing affordability 0
Development of creative sectors * * * * * * * 7
Capital status * * * 3
Management of growth and infrastructure investment * * * 3
Strategic location * * * * 4
International connectivity * * * * * * 6
Strong knowledge economy assets * * * * * * * * * * * * 12
Equality in public needs * * * * * 5
Regional sustainability * * * * * 5
High Security and Risk management * * * 3
Established regional consciousness * * * * 4
Creative-scientific leadership * * * * * 5
Tourism and events potential * * * * * * 6
International marketing * * * * * * 6
Unemployment rate 0
International relationship * * * * 4
Good climatic conditions * * 2
Poverty of immigrant populations 0
cultural leadership * * * * 4
Population and resource limitations 0
public transportation * * * 3
* * 2
English-speaking city with strong legal framework * 1
Slums 0
Strong economic assets 12
Explicit drive towards internationalization 9
Dynamic quality of life 8
Development of creative sector 7
High unemployment rate 0
Poverty of immigrant populations 0
Populations and resource limitation 0
Slums 0
12. Major areas of strength
Strong economic assets
Explicit drive towards internationalization
Dynamic quality of life
Tourism and global events potential
Strong tiers of government
International connectivity
Development of creative sectors
International marketing
Washington
Sydney
Vienna
Tourism
13. Lack of housing affording
Major areas of competitiveness
Increase of unemployment rate
Poverty of immigrants
Presence of Slums
Population and resource limitation
Los Angeles
Lesbos
Mumbai
Congo
15. Factors of openness Factors of urban development
Points of Weakness in similar examples
Policies as difficult access to nationality
High cost of living
ViennaCardiff
Foreign populations represent only 10%
Restricted regulations
High rate of private cars usage
Declined economic performance
Challenges to be sustainable city
High pressure on infrastructure
Challenges to good quality of living
Fare quality of social services
Dubai
High density of private cars usage
High rate of road accidents
High costs of housing
Hot desert climate
Air pollution due to car usage
Loses the city’s own identity
Need sustainable solutions for climatic
conditions
16. Factors of openness Urban development
Points of strength in similar examples
Good welcoming services to foreigners
Good governance and leadership’s plans
Good economic status
Good social services
Cultural activities as Opera, theaters
Keeping the city’s identity
Several internationalization events
Well-connected and accessible
Good environmental conditions
Flexible regulations and policies
Actions to afford all public needs
Low cost of living
High rate of foreign populations
Good transportation systems
Good geographical location
Safety and security
Sufficient public services
Low unemployment rate
Attractive city to tourism
Green and sustainable city
Perfect quality of living
Affordable housing units
Cultural and educational services
Attractiveness labor market
18. Alexandria old port 1870 showing
Alexandria’s light house
El Mahmoudieh canal in
1900
Historic development of cosmopolitan Alexandria
Ras El Tin palace
1900
Mohamed Ali square in
1900
19. The percentage of foreign populations in Alexandria since
1848 till now
4.6
21
16
18
24
32.5
27
3.1
0.30
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1848 1882 1897 1907 1917 1927 1947 1957 2013
Percentage
Years
Percentages of foreign populations in Alexandria
4.6
21
16
18
24
32.5
27
3.1
0.30
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1848 1882 1897 1907 1917 1927 1947 1957 2013
Percentage
Years
Percentages of foreign populations in Alexandria
20. Points of strength in “Open Cities” Good fare BadUrbandevelopmentFactorsofopenness
Evaluation of Alexandria's status of urban development and
openness
Good transportation systems
Good geographical location
Safety and security
Sufficient public services
Low unemployment rate
Attractive city to tourism
Green and sustainable city
Perfect quality of living
Affordable housing units
Cultural and educational services
Attractiveness labor market
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
o Good welcoming services to foreigners √
o Good governance and leadership’s plans √
o Good economic status √
o Good social services √
o Cultural activities as Opera and theaters √
o Keeping the city’s identity √
o Several internationalization events √
o Well-connected and accessible √
o Good environmental conditions √
o Flexible regulations and policies √
o Actions to afford all public needs √
o Low cost of living √
o High rate of foreign populations √
Sum 7 8 9
21. Alexandria has points of strength :
Good geographical location
Attractive city tourism
Attractive labor market
Cultural activities as Bibliotheca Alexandrina,
Opera and theaters
The city’s identity
Well-connected and accessible
Good environmental conditions
Urban development:
“Open Cities”:
Alexandria
22. Alexandria’s points of weakness
Low quality of public transportation system
Loss of safety and security
Non-sufficient public services
High unemployment rate
Neglecting actions towards sustainability
Poor economic status to afford all public needs
Urban development:
“Open Cities”:
There are rare global events
No actions or strategies to afford all public needs
Low rate of foreign populations
23. In history
From 1882 to 1947
Current status As an “Open City” Grade
Alexandria in the past, its current status and to be an “Open city”
21% to 32.5% Almost 1%
15-30 % of the
city’s population
Bad
Foreign
population
Governance
and
leadership
Regulatory
Economic
Social and
societal
Policy of encouraging
European immigration,
and business
Encouraging
policies but its
usually changed
Favorable policies
for foreigners and
investments
Fare
Alexandria was
attractive by its further
opportunities and good
social services.
There are lack of
quality and
quantity of social
services.
The city should
satisfy all its local
and foreign
residents’ needs of
social services.
Bad
Different languages are
spoken by them as Greek,
Italian, French, English,
Jewish besides Arabic
City website is
only in Arabic
and English
City website is
available in 5 or
more languages
Fare
Encouraging the
development of
economical sectors and
European trade.
The city’s
economic status
is not good and
needs a lot of
enhancements.
Make the city an
attractive business
location.
Bad
24. Alexandria has GOOD factors of attraction such as:
Connectivity and accessibility
The cultural and amenities
It also has factors which are FARE, such as:
Governance and leadership
Regulatory
Internationalization
It also has factors which are BAD, such as:
Foreign population
Economic
Social and societal
Environmental
26. On-site and On-line Survey
Survey Statistics
On-line On-site Total
Survey takers 196 72% 75 28% 271 100 %
Correct Ratio 181 92% 75 100% 256 95%
Error Ratio 15 8% 0 0% 15 5%
• Data were collected from both on-site/on-line surveys, conducted from
March 23rd, 2013 till May 29th, 2013 .
• The perceptions of Alexandria’s residents, immigrants and visitors if they
agree or disagree with applying the concept of “Open Cities” on Alexandria.
• Weighting the aspects of openness and values of each of its indicators.
27. The survey’s sample
The on-line survey was shared through Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Yahoo and Hotmail.
It was allowed to all the Egyptians or foreigners who are living in Alexandria or have stayed
in it for more than six months. Responses are from Canada, United States, Netherlands,
Sweden, Germany, France, Libya, Sudan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Italy and Egypt.
The survey was shared in Arabic and English, it has got 196 responses in two months.
28. The on-site survey was targeting specific places that are affected by the city’s
being an “Open City” such as:
All the responses of the on-site survey are 75 within a period of one month, 44
Egyptians and 31 foreigners.
Pharaoh Gold mining.
The Egyptian Sailing.
Sumed Arab petroleum pipelines.
Alexandria’s port employees.
GOETHE, Russian and the French culture center.
The foreign students living in Alexandria.
Academic staff members and planners.
Graduated architects and financials youth.
2
17
1 1
4
1
2 2 2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Classification of foreign responses on the
on-site Survey
Number
29. The economic aspects’ indicators
8.07
6.98
7.81
6.98
8.12
7.86
7.49
7.03
8.19
8.1
8.9
8.9
4 5 6 7 8 9
High income
Low taxes
Availability of attractive housing
Equal access to the property market
Generally attractive labor market conditions
Equal access to the labor market
European cities Alexandria
The online and onsite surveys results
The environmental aspects’ indicators
7.54
8.78
8.34
8.39
6.04
7.26
7.37
7.15
4 5 6 7 8 9
Particularly sunny and warm climate
Very clean streets
Very low levels of pollution
Existence of natural amenities nearby
(e.g. lake, sea, mountains)
European cities Alexandria
30. 8.26
8.33
8.13
7.75
8.05
6.67
7.72
7.64
5.88
7
8.2
7.8
7.6
8.6
8.4
8.3
8.1
7.28
4 5 6 7 8 9
Environmental aspects
Connectivity and accessibility
Internationalization aspects
Cultural and amenity aspects
Social and societal aspects
Regulatory aspects
Leadership aspects
Economic aspects
Groups of international
populations
European cities Alexandria
the weights of aspects of openness
in Alexandria and European cities
The concept of “Open Cities” is important to Alexandria as 93.3% of the
survey’s takers agreed.
58.30%
25.10%
31.00%
51.70%
46.10%
26.60%
46.90%
53.90%
7.64 7.72
6.69
8.06
7.75
8.13
8.34 8.26
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
45.00%
50.00%
55.00%
60.00%
The percentage of agreement on thes aspects' importance
Weighing values of openess's aspects
The weighting values of the aspects of
openness and its importance to Alexandria
32. Steps would be useful for Alexandria becoming an “Open City”:
1. Enhancing water elements,
(The city coastal beach, El-Max fishing village, Lake Mariout and El-Mahmoudieh canal).
2. Strategies towards sustainable urban development of the city.
3. Plans to increase the city’s openness and attractiveness.
4. The museums of Alexandria and culture centers should be given due media care.
6. Marketing for the city’s tourism nationally and internationally.
5. Plans for making the underwater monuments accessible.
7. Conservation of the listed buildings of the Turkish district and other ancient patterns.
8. El-Montazah and El-Maamoura parks should have scheduled recreational events.
9. Overcome the political problems after the revolution and increase the city’s security.
10. Supply the residents with their needs of public services, transportation and infrastructure.
11. Suggesting solutions for the city slums and putting regulations to prevent its expansion.
12. Promoting special programs in higher education to attract foreign students.
