Infrastructure redevelopment in central business districts (CBDs) in urban centres has become an important theme in urban development studies in both developed and developing world economies. The study investigates the changes in property use to commercial uses in cities in the developing world using Kumasi-Ghana as a case study. Dwelling on urbanisation and bid-rent theories, the study adopts an in-depth interview to identify change factors in central Kumasi. Findings of the study indicate that population and economic growth, location, financial motivation, institutional pressure, lack of sub-commercial centres and desire of property owners to own commercial properties are factors behind these changes. Such changes have significant effects on the livelihoods of stakeholders including: indigenes, property owners, tenants and state institutions and this forms the basis for a future study. The findings of the study contribute to existing literature on urban regeneration and redevelopment in cities.