Table 1 The initial list of indicators of economic sustainability in cities. Source: Author, based on [12, 14, 15]

Environmental elements

Economic elements

▪ Protection from pollution and soil protection

▪ Steady economic growth rates

▪ Protecting ecosystem networks

▪ Increasing local production

▪ Reducing resource depletion

▪ Providing job opportunities

▪ Rationalizing energy consumption

▪ Satisfying investment rates

▪ Reducing heat island phenomenon

▪ Reducing unemployment rate

▪ Working to increase vegetation cover

▪ Managing rainwater, water reuse, and avoiding flooding

▪ Efficiently using and managing waste

Urban elements

Social elements

▪ Green infrastructure availability

▪ Preserving the legacy and identity

▪ Applying the green architecture principles to the buildings

▪ Preserving the culture

▪ Suitability of density for the type of use and nature of space

▪ Improving the quality of life and standard of living

▪ Mixed-use availability

▪ Achieving equality and social justice for individuals

▪ Ease of accessibility between the locations

▪ Diversity in housing prices

▪ Availability of services and public facilities

▪ Maintaining public health

▪ Using local building-materials and recycling building materials

▪ Social interaction and cohesion

▪ Availability of public transportation

▪ Providing security and safety

▪ Providing open spaces

▪ Accessing the services