Planning imaginaries of co-existence in urban renewal families and persons with substance use disorders in Copenhagen

Abstract

This paper addresses new planning imaginaries of co-existence through the urban renewal case of Sydhavn (South Harbour) in Copenhagen. Although planners have traditionally placed family life in suburbs, away from the ‘ills of the city’, in this novel case planners built an imaginary of thriving diversity in urban spaces among newcomer urban middle-class families and persons with substance use disorders. Based on an analysis of planning documents, media representations, municipal meeting notes, as well as fieldwork, the paper concludes that building on the ideal of living together apart, planners capitalized on marginal residents to attract middle-class families, as they acknowledged middle-class social privilege and confidence in urban spaces (Kern [2005]. “In Place and at Home in the City: Connecting Privilege, Safety and Belonging for Women in Toronto.” Gender, Place & Culture 12 (3): 357–377. https://doi.org/10.1080/09663690500202590). However, the urban renewal plans intensified the living together in ways that made it impossible to maintain the necessary distance, and displacement of the persons with substance disorder followed.