A comparative exploration of neighborhood change: tale of two historic neighborhoods in Java, Indonesia

This study seeks to shed light on neighborhood change through a comparative exploration of two urban neighborhoods in Java: Laweyan in Laweyan, Surakarta and Purbayan in Kotagede, Yogyakarta. These two neighborhoods offer a compelling case to empirically examine neighborhood change given their perceived shared status as historic-rich neighborhoods with similar baseline characteristics. Using decades worth of administrative data from 1996 to 2014, this study documents within and between neighborhood change using a range of aggregated-level indicators of household, industrial activities, and amenities. Through a series of descriptive statistical analyses and qualitative visual observations, findings from this study provide suggestive evidence on three primary fronts. Firstly, despite their perceived shared historical similarities, each neighborhood went through a markedly contrasting development trajectory. Secondly, these two neighborhoods underwent changes that both reflect and contrast to the trajectory of the sub-district and city each is located. And thirdly, shocks induced by external factors, in particular natural disasters, exert a notable impact on the trajectory of the neighborhood. From a methodological standpoint, this study offers a refreshed lens to examining the dynamics of neighborhoods across Indonesia using nationwide standardized data, allowing urban scholars and practitioners alike to rapidly compare, contrast and evaluate neighborhoods.