Facing sustainable city challenges: the quest for attra-chment

Abstract

To face the challenges of sustainable urban development, city managers and decision makers involve citizens in place (re)making. However, not all citizens engage in participatory place (re)making because their attachment to the place varies. In addition, different opinions of how to enhance place attractiveness exist. This paper aims to explore the role of place attachment and attractiveness in participatory sustainable urban development. The research question is: how do city managers and decision makers incorporate place attachment and attractiveness while engaging citizens in sustainable city (re)making? By adopting a case study approach with empirical focus on the sustainable development of Näsby district, Kristianstad City (Sweden), this paper shows that a key element of participatory place (re)making is to address both attractiveness and attachment simultaneously and throughout the entire process. City managers and decision makers should be aware of the intertwined nature of place attractiveness and attachment, coined as “attra-chment”, by thinking about the multiple bonds that citizens have with their place, as well as what they find attractive, i.e. what they like and want. When citizens’ emotional attachment to the place is considered and valued in all phases of participatory sustainable urban development, their engagement in place (re)making can be a propulsive force for attractiveness.