Very small enterprises in a gentrified neighborhood : a case study of Qobayat, Mar Mikhael, Beirut.

Abstract

Since 2008, the Qobayat area in the neighborhood of Mar Mikhael, Beirut has experienced changes in its urban fabric brought on by forces of gentrification. The area has seen an influx in new residents, Arts, Crafts, and Design businesses, as well as higher-end restaurants, cafes, and shops. Within the real-estate sector, the area is home to two highend development projects, as well as an increase in Airbnb use and a rise in rent prices. Using Henri Lefebvre’s theory on the production of space, this thesis will argue that gentrification forces are currently the key shapers of the area, possessing the mode of production necessary for the production of space in Qobayat. However, the thesis unpacks how the quiet, residential neighborhood with a large number of pre-2008 Very Small Enterprises was first produced and relies on the theories of Pierre Bourdieu to examine the value of the cultural and social capital that played a vital role in its production. While gentrification continues to shape the changing area, the thesis seeks to document how the area was produced, the position of the original producers currently within the area and begin a discussion on approaches to policy.