Abbas Akhoundi, former Minister of Roads and Urban Development, expressed his concerns about the current state of cities in a meeting on urban governance. He pointed to the severe differences between various areas, especially between District 1 and District 18 of Tehran, stating: "This level of polarization is unprecedented and is due to selling the city for the benefit of a select few."
Housing Market Situation in Pardis
Pardis has been recognized as one of the most expensive new cities around Tehran in recent years. Unlike the city of Parand, which is still affected by government housing projects, factors such as phase location, construction quality, and year of building have a greater impact on price determination in Pardis. On average, the price per square meter of apartments in Pardis has reached high figures, indicating serious changes in this market.
Challenges of the National Housing Movement
The National Housing Movement was formed with the promise of reducing construction costs for the homeless population. This program was specifically dependent on the government providing land and offering banking facilities to applicants. However, the sharp increase in construction costs has posed serious challenges to this model. The gap between the actual construction costs and the financial capacity of households has significantly widened, which may seriously harm the housing market.
Akhoundi emphasized that instead of selling the city, we should focus on creating suitable infrastructure and good governance in cities. He stressed that superficial solutions to housing problems are insufficient and that we need comprehensive and effective programs.
In this context, recent studies show that the rental and sales housing market in Tehran is influenced by multiple variables. For example, in examining the rental listings of commercial units in malls and shopping complexes in Tehran, the costs of entering these markets have significantly increased. Additionally, the effects of price fluctuations in various areas of Tehran, especially in the southern part of the city, are clearly observable.
Proposed Solutions for Improving the Housing Market
Akhoundi also pointed to the need for increased oversight of housing advertisement platforms, stating: "The lack of professional oversight on these platforms has led to many problems in the market." He urged the government to focus on improving the living conditions of citizens instead of concentrating on sales and short-term profits, and to take appropriate actions to enhance the quality of life in cities.
Given the existing challenges, it seems that attention to social and economic issues alongside urban planning can help create a sustainable and fair housing market. Abbas Akhoundi concluded by emphasizing that only through collaboration and mutual understanding can urban issues be resolved.
Read more: The Vice President of the Article 90 Commission Called for Examination of the Plan to Withdraw from the NPT · Discovery of a Shipment of Several 10 Billion Toman Medicines in Southern Tehran
