In recent years, the components of urban deteriorated textures have faced challenges in various dimensions, and residents’ dissatisfaction with living in these areas stems from daily problems and the urban planning system’s neglect of their fundamental needs and demands. Urban regeneration, as the dominant paradigm for renovation and revitalization and one of the most important approaches to the sustainability of these areas, offers multi-dimensional and comprehensive opportunities for urban planners, designers, and managers to undertake targeted interventions.
The present quantitative and applied study, using a descriptive-analytical approach, investigates the needs assessment of the marginalized communities in Ansar and Arvand neighborhoods located in District 6 of Mashhad Municipality for sustainable regeneration, and prioritizes the needs of these communities across physical-functional, transportation and accessibility, environmental, urban services and disaster management, cultural-social, and economic dimensions. For this purpose, documentary and library studies were conducted to examine the theoretical and empirical framework, and field observations along with a structured questionnaire were employed. The survey included a sample of 377 participants at the sub-neighborhood level, using a multi-stage sampling method. To analyze and prioritize the data, SPSS software and the Friedman test were utilized. The results indicated that the most important need of local communities is the removal of street-addicted individuals from the neighborhoods, followed by urban beautification, activities aimed at enhancing the reputation and social identity of the neighborhood, and environmental cleansing and rehabilitation (including resolving surface water drainage issues, waste collection, and disposal). Based on these findings, it is possible to design fully objective, human-centered, and participatory policies and planning strategies for the sustainable regeneration of deteriorated and inefficient urban neighborhoods.