Spaces of Diversity: An Analysis of Amenities Promoting Mixing Among Residents with Varied Income and Backgrounds

Abstract

The portrayal of diversity within urban contexts often unfolds through two contrasting narratives, highlighting the tension between celebration and socio-spatial separation. On one hand, there is a narrative that celebrates diversity and cosmopolitanism, envisioning interactions among residents from various backgrounds as a potential source of hybrid cultures and creative enrichment (Beauregard, Body-Gendrot, and Beauregard, 1999). Conversely, a prevalent media portrayal emphasizes socio-spatial separation among diverse groups within cities, resulting in reduced community cohesion (Phillips, Davis, and Ratcliffe, 2007). Despite these differences, both narratives underscore the significance of group coexistence and interactions in the pursuit of social cohesion.

These perspectives find their roots in Allport's seminal work, "The Nature of Prejudice" (Allport, 1954), where inter-group contact is seen as a mitigating force against prejudice, fostering positive attitudes and reducing inter-group conflicts. This theory, advocating for enhanced personal attitudes toward individuals translating into positive attitudes toward entire groups (McLaren, 2003), has influenced policymakers and urban planners. Consequently, there have been efforts to design spaces that encourage inter-group encounters. However, practical evidence supporting the ability of specific spaces to increase inter-group exposure remains ambiguous (Houston et al., 2005).

The evaluation of group coexistence extends beyond the residential domain. While significant work has been done on measuring residential segregation, examining why it emerges and what attracts specific groups to neighborhoods (Bettencourt, Dixon, and Castro, 2019), there is a pressing need for new evidence on the aspects of areas that attract certain groups to visit them. Understanding the dynamics of segregation in visited areas is crucial for enhancing diversity in public spaces.

Given that group segregation often occurs along multiple dimensions (Manley, Johnston, and Jones, 2019), it becomes essential to identify areas where income-diverse individuals or individuals from different backgrounds intermingle. This analysis aims not only to pinpoint areas of inter-group mixing but also to establish connections between these findings and the characteristics of a given area, shedding light on the amenities that encourage social mixing.

In an era where urban centers are expected to accommodate a diverse resident population, the design of public spaces that foster intermingling becomes a potential avenue toward greater social cohesion. A fundamental prerequisite for achieving this objective is understanding which amenities have the capacity to attract residents from various backgrounds. Conducting an empirical analysis by analyzing visitor demographics in each of Auckland's neighborhoods and cross-referencing these findings with neighborhood characteristics, we found that areas drawing residents with divergent incomes tend to have more consumption-oriented spaces. In contrast, areas fostering mixing between residents with migratory backgrounds and residents born in New Zealand tend to have a higher prevalence of places of worship. Remarkably, regions promoting both dimensions of social mixing present a varied array of amenities. Moreover, areas encouraging different forms of social mixing are closely situated, indicating that geographical proximity alone does not suffice to explain the pattern.

To quantify the diversity of visitors, the Shannon entropy measure was employed. Visitors were categorized based on either the average income in their neighborhoods or the proportion of residents with migratory backgrounds. The entropy measure yields its highest value when visitors are proportionally representative of all three groups, indicating a location with visitors from low, middle, and high-income backgrounds. Conversely, the lowest score occurs when all visitors originate from the same group. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of the diversity dynamics within urban spaces, offering insights for urban planners and policymakers to foster more inclusive and cohesive communities.