Livelihood Reports Al Amrikeya Area - Final Assessment | Page 28

Figure 4: Location of 6th of October City within the Greater Cairo Region Figure 5: Location of Al-Amrikiyyia Area within the 6th of October City Figure 6: The immediate surroundings of Al-Amrikiyyia Area The history of the 6th of October City dates back to 1979 when the then-president Sadat decreed the construction of several desert cities outside of Cairo (1) . The 6th of October City, located forty kilometres to the west of Cairo (Figure 4), was one of several new towns to be constructed with the vision of a self-sufficient industrial city that con- stitutes both factories and housing for workers within a controlled area. Initially, the city was intended to house around 500,000 dwell- ers and provide them with housing and employment. Perhaps due to its proximity to Cairo, the 6th of October City was one of the few successful new urban communities carried out by Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA). The 6th of October City soon became an active industrial node, although until 1990 much of the area desig- nated to its development remained vacant. In 1995, NUCA embarked on the development of another nearby city/new urban community known as Sheikh Zayed, to the north-east of the 6th of October City (2) . At this point, the 6th of October City became more than just an indus- trial zone with flocks of residents arriving to the area, imposing the need for various new functions. Soon after, the 6th of October Univer- sity was constructed at the heart of city and along one of its main cor- ridors, Al-Mehwer Al-Markazy, becoming the first building along that major road at the time. Later on, Al-Amrikiyya Area started growing around the University, as the 6th of October city began to expand to the west, defining this area as one of the most significant and oldest zones in this part of town. The 6th of October City began to attract residents from various parts of Greater Cairo Region (GCR) and from abroad, being a growing residential, educational, administrative, com- mercial, and industrial hub. Today, the AAA sits on a very unique and attractive block (Figure 5). It is surrounded from all sides by large residential districts (1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th District). It lies meters away from a major hospital, al-Hossary Mosque (Figure 6) the 6th of October University, major retail centres, the CA premises and the city’s sporting club. AAA gains its signifi- cance from its central location within the 6th of October City, as it falls on a central service axis for the city, as well as from its surround- ing landmarks (Figure 1) On the northern side, El-Tahrir Road marks a defined edge for the area. On the East as well as the West, the two directions of Al-Mehwer Al-Markazy mark a clear boundary as they are both major arteries into and out of the 6th of October City. On the South lies the University with its definitive fence, marking a final boundary around the area (Figure 2,Figure 3) On the three other edg- es, the area is surrounded with residential and mixed-use buildings. AAA’s shopping malls, located on all of its edges, serve the surround- ing residents’ needs and attract them to spend their time there. 1-  David Sims, Egypts Desert Dreams, p.125 2-  Ibid., p.128 2.1 | Location And Boundaries | 12