Livelihood Reports Al Amrikeya Area - Final Assessment | Page 103

2.3.4 INFRASTRUCTURE AND
PAVING CONDITIONS
2.3.4.1 Infrastructure Conditions
Most manholes in the AAA are safe, however
most inspector chambers are unsafe, espe-
cially around Diamond Mall. Shop owners and
mall managers with whom private interviews
were conducted expressed dissatisfaction with
plumbing and drainage infrastructures, ex-
plaining that some mall basements suffer from
frequent leakages. Basements are ventilated
through air vents o ften covered by shop owners
with carpets to hide their unattractive appear-
ance or to expand their shop’s outdoor space.
This presents a dangerous fire hazard to these
spaces, especially where they are used for stor-
age. Whilst fire equipment is provided in Dia-
mond Mall, Zamzam Mall, Aly al-Deen I and II
Malls, it is lacking in Magda and al-Amrikiyya.
Malls. Without fire protection equipment, they
are not eligible for licencing by the Civil Defense
authorities; therefore most shops inside these
malls are unlicensed. The authorities provide
power supply for malls and official shops, but
some kiosks and small shops take electricity
from neighbours. Although electricity boxes do
not obstruct mobility and are all in good condi-
tion, they often accumulate trash around them
as it is blown away to the periphery or dumped
there by users.
2.3.4.2 Paving Conditions
Most roads in between the malls are unpaved
dirt roads in poor condition (Figure 31). Some
roads are used as back alleys or service roads
and are not frequented by visitors. Although
these roads provide a great potential for the
area in terms of alleviating traffic from other
streets, they currently pose an issue in their
current state. Currently, unpaved roads accu-
mulate dirt and garbage in contrast with the
façade of the clean exterior of the main roads.
59 | Understanding the development context
One of the main hindrances to their improve-
ment is the lack of clear ownership rights and
disputes between mall managements as well
as authorities over paving materials. Any area
that is not overlooked by a shop is usually left
unmaintained as nobody takes responsibility of
it and it is not of benefit for any specific indi-
vidual.
Findings indicate that ceramic tiles are the
predominant material of sidewalk pavements
around malls, the majority of which are in good
condition. Shop owners lay their own type of
tiles in front of their shop as an outdoor ex-
tension to it. As such, the sidewalks, although
mostly composed of ceramic tiles, appear as
a bricolage of different shapes and sizes of til-
ing that correspond to the different shops and
their respective outdoor extensions, indicating
informality (Figure 32). Often the CA performs
unplanned visits to the area, to monitor public
space activities, removing shop extensions. Af-
ter the destruction, each shop owner is respon-
sible for repaving the area outside of their shop
through private financing, resulting in low qual-
ity materials and at times mix and matched tiles
leftovers. The predominance of ceramic tiles
on sidewalks proves that shop owners take care
of the pavement while it should be the task of
the authorities. A small percentage of tiling is
in bad condition due to breakages or low main-
tenance. These are especially found far from
shop extensions or at mall entrances and steps.
The second most common paving material is
interlock, which is provided by the authorities
and is mostly in good condition. Main roads are
paved with asphalt and are generally in good
condition.