A microcosm of Addis Abeba’s vibrant yet convulsive changeover unfolds in the jammed corridors of the Arada District Land Management & Administration Bureau, on Adwa St. Residents, burdened with a mix of hope and anxiety, queue for compensation, a wanting consolation for the upheaval their lives are undergoing due to the city administration’s ambitious urban redevelopment plans. Despite the uncertainty, many find a silver lining in securing a condominium on the city’s outskirts, a bittersweet transition demonstrating the broader shifts affecting over 2,000 households in the District. The backdrop to their stories is Addis Abeba’s acute housing shortage, a crisis exacerbated by an outdated census and a growing demand for affordable homes. The city’s Housing Development Corporation officials are scrambling to address this through the sale of condominium units, aiming to deal with a staggering debt while providing residents with a pathway to homeownership. Yet, the response comes with its own problems, from affordability concerns to the practicalities of adapting to smaller, unfinished living spaces.

Simultaneously, Addis Abeba is undergoing a massive “beautification and modernisation” project, promoted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and spearheaded by Mayor Adanech Abebie. The project aspires to transform the city’s infrastructure with new roads, bicycle lanes, and green spaces, beginning with an extensive corridor stretching from the Adwa Zero Kilometre Museum to the city’s heart. This ambitious initiative seeks to enhance the capital’s aesthetic appeal and improve its global standing. However, the drive for modernity has its casualties. The demolition of neighbourhoods and displacement of residents have sparked debates about the social and historical costs of such development. While promising economic resurgence, the Grand Corridor Development Project caused the relocation of thousands, raising concerns about the loss of community ties and the erasure of the city’s rich historical legacy.