Effects of rapid urbanization on living satisfaction: Insights from a Black Sea city

Coastal cities have experienced an increasingly extensive built-up development owing to the growth of tourism in recent decades. Property developers and local authorities have often prioritized the expansion of built-up areas, often overlooking the effects on the quality of life of residents and the additional management costs incurred. In this study, we examine how rapid housing development affects resident satisfaction in a new neighbourhood in Năvodari, a town that borders Constanța, the city that hosts the largest harbour in the Black Sea. We highlight the rapid pace of urban expansion using diachronic maps and assess residents' satisfaction with their new neighbourhoods through semi-structured surveys. Our results reveal that, although residents generally appreciate living in a seaside environment, they express considerable dissatisfaction with public amenities provision, planning policies, and the influx of tourists during the summer months. The study's findings demonstrate that attractive scenery can partially offset the challenges associated with high density. Nevertheless, this visual appeal cannot resolve the complex issues residents face daily. We hypothesise that, once the novelty of the landscape wears off, planning shortcomings may prompt inhabitants to reconsider their choice of residence, potentially leading to a decline in property values. Such insights may assist planners and policymakers in adopting more sustainable approaches to urban development. • Post EU accession led to rapid urbanization in Romania's coastline. • Volatile planning regulations led to dysfunctional and unsustainable neighbourhoods. • Overcrowding and scarce amenities influence residents' perception on quality of life. • The proximity of the sea mitigates the dissatisfaction levels, keeping people to buy properties.