Presenting a Sustainable Neighborhood Model with a Neo-Urban Approach, Case Study: Mehr Housing in Zahedan

Introduction
With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late eighteenth century, patterns of settlement and the spatial structure of cities underwent fundamental transformations. Technological inventions such as the steam engine and the development of transportation infrastructure led to massive rural-to-urban migration and the emergence of industrial cities. This process, which began in Britain and later spread across Europe and North America, resulted in rapid urbanization and the formation of new models of spatial organization. In recent years, the unbalanced expansion of cities and the mismatch between urban spatial growth and infrastructure capacity have created challenges such as inefficient transportation, increased pressure on environmental resources, and declining quality of life. Cities, on the one hand, act as engines for social, economic, and spatial development, while on the other hand serve as arenas for complex urban issues. Moreover, the mechanization of lifestyles in the modern era has contributed to weakened social interactions, environmental instability, and urban alienation, making it essential to rethink theories of urban planning and design. One of the significant approaches in this context is New Urbanism, which emerged in response to urban sprawl and increasing automobile dependency in the late twentieth century. Emphasizing walkable neighborhoods, social interaction, and the revival of neighborhood identity, this approach seeks to enhance the quality of urban life. In Iran, the rapid socio-economic and political transformations of the second half of the twentieth century significantly altered the traditional structure of cities and neighborhoods, weakening neighborhood cohesion. The decline of social interactions has not only generated physical disorder but has also reduced social capital and weakened local social networks. This trend threatens the sustainability of neighborhoods and underscores the importance of revitalizing neighborhood structures and strengthening citizen participation.
Zahedan, as a city with a history of less than a century, has paid limited attention to the fundamental principles of neighborhood formation throughout its development process. Many urban areas have been defined merely as physical divisions rather than real neighborhoods. Newly developed areas such as Mehr Housing—mainly built through mass housing programs have often been designed without adequate attention to social, environmental, or physical dimensions of sustainability. This has resulted in low quality of life, weak social interaction, and urban inefficiency. In this regard, the principles of New Urbanism can provide a scientific framework for analyzing and improving the sustainability of neighborhoods.
 
Mothodology
This study was conducted using a mixed-method approach quantitative. First, through a systematic literature review, the theoretical foundations of New Urbanism and its main indicators including walkability, mixed housing, mixed land use, environmental sustainability, public transportation, and social participation were identified. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population consisted of residents over 18 years old living in the Mehr Housing neighborhood of Zahedan. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample size of 382 was determined, and for greater accuracy, 400 questionnaires were distributed using a simple random sampling method. The research instrument was a researcher-made Likert-scale questionnaire. Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.82). Data were analyzed using SPSS, and one-sample t-tests, Friedman tests, exploratory factor analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the status of variables and relationships among them. In the research model, neighborhood sustainability was the dependent variable, and New Urbanism was the independent variable.
 
Findings
The findings showed that the Mehrshahr neighborhood of Zahedan was evaluated based on six dimensions of New Urbanism: walkability, mixed housing, mixed land use, environmental sustainability, transportation, and social participation.Walkability: Access to educational centers and the neighborhood center was satisfactory; however, the quality of urban furniture, green spaces, accessibility for people with disabilities, and sidewalk materials were below the desired level.Mixed Housing: Residents’ satisfaction with apartment complexes and the general quality of housing was above average, but elements such as façade harmony, structural durability, investment conditions, and appropriate neighborhood location scored lower. Mixed Land Use: Income diversity and some public services were evaluated as moderate or higher, but land-use diversity and the spatial distribution of activities were considered insufficient. Environmental Sustainability: Indicators such as daylighting, ventilation, and environmental cleanliness were rated as average, while green spaces, number of parks, asphalt quality, and waste separation were below the expected level. Transportation: Access to bus and taxi stations and parking facilities was satisfactory, but street safety, cycling infrastructure, signage, walking distance to daily services, and commuting costs were assessed as weak. Social Participation: Participation in community affairs and neighborly relations was moderate, while involvement in environmental health, green space maintenance, and neighborhood problem-solving was low. Factor analysis indicated that six main components mixed land use, transportation, walkability, mixed housing, environmental sustainability, and social participation explained more than 83% of the variance in neighborhood sustainability, with mixed land use being the most influential factor (37%). Additionally, neighborhood network analysis showed that after crises, functional capacity dropped to about 34%, yet the presence of a gradual recovery capacity indicated potential for improvement and enhanced neighborhood sustainability.
 
Discussion and Conclusion
The results indicated that traditional urban neighborhoods, developed gradually and in harmony with environmental, physical, and social values, met the stable needs of residents. However, contemporary neighborhoods—due to population growth and rapid urban expansion struggle to meet evolving resident needs and suffer from various disruptions. A sustainable neighborhood approach, integrating neighborhood-based development with New Urbanism principles, can effectively address these shortcomings in the face of rapid urban change. This study showed that key New Urbanism indicators including access to public transportation, enhanced walkability, mixed housing and land uses, strengthened social participation, and improved environmental quality play a crucial role in promoting neighborhood sustainability. Weaknesses in physical, social, and environmental dimensions reduce social interaction, limit access to essential services, and diminish quality of life, consistent with both national and international findings. Strengthening neighborhood infrastructure and amenities and leveraging internal capacities can foster vitality, social interaction, and environmental sustainability. Implementation of the proposed model combining New Urbanism indicators with the contextual characteristics of the Mehr Housing neighborhood in Zahedan demonstrated that simultaneous enhancement of physical, social, and environmental dimensions can improve residents’ satisfaction and offer a transferable model for the improvement and redevelopment of other Mehr Housing neighborhoods across the country.