Suburbanizing Sofia: Characteristics of post-socialist peri-urban change

In this article, I discuss the nature of peri-urban growth in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. I argue that since the end of socialism in 1989, Sofia's peri-urban growth has been driven primarily by affluent households relocating from the central city to its scenic southern outskirts in search of a higher quality of life. In this sense, the process exhibits the classic signs of Western-style suburbanization and is qualitatively different from the peri-urban development that occurred under socialism. Much of the new growth, however, has occurred within the borders of former villages and areas occupied by summer cottages (villas). These once-modest city environs now exhibit a peculiar blend of the new and the old and house two distinct social strata, affluent newcomers and poor long-time residents. I conclude with a discussion of the social consequences of recent peri-urban change and the response of the local planners.