Purposeful Regeneration Using Development-Inducing Projects Approach via the Integration of COPRAS Algorithms and CCDS: The Case Study of Imam Street and Kohne Dezh Neighborhood, Dar- ol-Marhame, Semnan

The rundown urban buildings and old neighborhoods with ancient, valuable constructions are like the beating heart of the cities. Nonetheless, they have lost their social, cultural, and economic functions. Urban regeneration is an approach that intends to revive and modernize these rundown buildings and traditional neighborhoods. The purposeful effort to reinject life into these areas and provide conditions for the public presence and participation in its practical process are among the valuable objectives of this approach. The main question of this study revolves around the way to choose intelligently and purposefully the type of regeneration, the intelligent and purposeful selection of the development-inducing uses and project, and the examination of the purposeful effects of the urban development-inducing projects on the process of urban regeneration in Semnan neighborhoods intended for regeneration. This study adopted a descriptive-analytical research method. In order to rate and prioritize regeneration types, land uses, and development-inducing projects in the process of neighborhood regeneration, COPRAS model was used, while CCDS was used to weigh the criteria. In the document analysis part, the main documents in the urban regeneration and development-inducing arenas were examined. Moreover, in the field study section, three committees – comprised of the experts of urbanism and urban regeneration, urban designing, and social and architectural studies – were formed and tens of meetings with the managers and officials of Semnan districts along with urbanism representatives were held during which the development-inducing regeneration capacities in these neighborhoods were discussed and investigated. The results of COPRAS test showed that the development-inducing regeneration with touristic and recreational uses along with the opportunity- and value-making factors of tourist attraction as well as the increase in the international ranking of the city through the purposeful, development-inducing plan of designing and constructing sidewalks and making the central part of the neighborhood walking-oriented, and the development-inducing project of the walking zone of Imam street with the score of 0.739 from the top factor of the purposeful regeneration of Semnan, which needs a serious resolution and precise planning. The first rank in the purposeful regeneration of Dar al-Marhama neighborhood in Semnan is the development-inducing regeneration with the purposeful touristic and recreational use that will increase the position of the city in the competitive and macro environments of Iran and international space. Attracting Iranian and international tourists, changing the nature of the rundown buildings, and preparing the mental state of the citizen about tourism development, this regeneration plan will increase the international status of the Semnan city at the international level and will create urban opportunities and values.