Urban redevelopment seems to always play havoc on the poor who live in areas being redeveloped. Arab News reports that plans to redevelop the southern part of Jeddah are running into people who built their own houses, sometimes as long as 20 years ago, in unauthorized areas (’random districts’ in the paper’s parlance). Most lack deeds for the land on which they built, so they are being reimbursed only for the value of the buildings being torn down. Those buildings are not worth much, for the most part, so the inhabitants are being squeezed because housing prices are very high at the moment. Many claim that they will end up homeless.

South Jeddah facelift to leave many homeless
Hasan Hatrash I Arab News

JEDDAH: Residents of south Jeddah’s random districts, which are to be developed under a multimillion riyal contract, have expressed fears they may end up homeless.

Jeddah Municipality has signed a contract with the Jeddah Development and Urban Recreation Company to develop several random districts in the southern parts of the city.

The municipality last month began the process of acquiring buildings from their owners. However, many residents are concerned they may not be compensated for land and be left homeless, as they do not possess deeds proving they own the land on which their properties stand.

According to a press release issued by the Jeddah Municipality, people who do not possess deeds for their homes would only be compensated for their buildings and not the land. The statement added that compensation would be given according to the size of the structure.
…