Reference no: EM133410352

Case: Even though there were many changes, there were still people who had lived in the inner-city suburb Greening for generations, and they valued their strong links with the locale and their sense of being part of a community. Over the years, a number of organisations had developed, run by local residents, where people could join together around local issues. Examples of these were the Family History Association, the Environmental Action Group, and the Neighbourhood Watch group. The Family History Association ran regular events where the newer residents could meet the long-term residents. The school, with the help of volunteers, had recorded the names of all the teachers who had taught there since its establishment.

Housing styles had changed with the single bungalow making way for apartment blocks. Young families were moving into the area, renovating the older houses, and buying the apartments. The city council office was not in Greening and local residents thought that the council did not recognise the strength of community feeling in Greening and the activities that residents took voluntarily to enhance it. For example, the council had recently been lobbied unsuccessfully for purpose-built accommodation for older residents so that they could stay in the area. Residents had been told that there was such accommodation already in the community although it was several suburbs away and distant from Greening.

On the other hand, a large housing development company was constructing apartments and capitalising on how it interpreted a 'sense of community' in Greening. 'Live in a vibrant urban community' was the catch phrase on billboards and in elaborating on the vibrant urban community, the promotional brochure referred to the open space that was being developed by the company for a playground and the building of cycle stands outside the apartments.

Question 1 What might be the different perspectives on 'community' in relation to Greening?

Question 2 What might be the underlying motivations for the perspectives?

Question 3 In what circumstances might these different perspectives need to be resolved?