Homes And Minarets: The Effect Of Masid-Ur-Rahmah On Surrounding Property

Muslims are required to pray five times a day in congregation at different intervals, this eludes to the importance of the Mosque. Many Muslims centre their daily life around the prayer thus indicating the symbolic significances of the Mosque. This has a spatial manifestation, as the Mosque is the focal point of the community. In post-apartheid South Africa, it is seen that Muslims are migrating to previously white suburbs to take advantage of better services and amenities. The growth of the Muslim population in these areas increases with the construction of a Mosque, new families settle in the immediate vicinity of the mosque. A similar effect is seen within the Jewish community. Studies found that Synagogues adds value to surrounding properties. This study will examine the effect of the Greenside Mosque on surrounding properties; particularly investigating if the Mosque increases the price of properties. One objective is to shed light on spatial trends that emerge in post- apartheid Johannesburg. Besides the physical characteristics, the price of property is determined by its location in relation to external factors. External factors can have a positive effect e.g. closeness to services. While other characteristics can be detrimental such proximity to a cemetery. Hedonic value is the value that a particular characteristic adds to the property. To ascertain the value of the Mosque on surrounding properties, the study will employ a hedonic analysis. Property prices of Greenside will be inputted into a Geographical Information system, to analyse its relationship with the Mosque. It has been hypothesised that the Mosque will have a positive increase on the surrounding property.