HISTORIC CITIES Urban rehabilitation issues through h URBACT experience Ewa Kipta Forum for Revitalisation URBACT project: Heritage as Opportunity (HerO)
Polish urban policies 1945-1989 attempt of synthesis 1945-56 - Post-war reconstruction + first wave of urbanisation & socialist realism + de-construction of private business and land ownership 1956-70 - stagnation and centralisation ( whole nation builds our capital ) + stress on NEW constructions in selected places + traditional urban texture treated as a burden of bourgeois 1970-80 - Third Way quantitative development (payed from credits) based on centralisation and state monopoly - second wave of urbanisation - heritage preservation under specific political correctness as tolerated (localy) exemptions from modernist concept of cities ( Polish school of renovation + state company PKZ as brand) + decline of traditional urban texture + urban renewal decomposing original, sustainable urban layouts 1980-89 - decline of centralised system (more control than development) - previous concepts as the only right solutions + poor procedures for investment preparation (reduced economic assessment of alternative concept designs) tailored for autocratic and centralised decision making process
Urban policies impact on historic cities insufficient maintenance for decades technical decline of traditional housing stock and historic urban texture social and economical decline of historic districts disintegrated urban textures spread of urbanised areas and heavy dependence on traffic simplified planning practices (reduced role of mutual agreement, sectoral one-use areas, little awareness for spatial contexts) common use of long-lasting temporary solutions of poor quality visual disintegrity poor standards of living (often with good social mix, but little integration)
TRANSFORMATION 1990-2004 demand-driven improvements implemented by local governments and private business first attempts of integrated approach (revitalisation) sectoral legislation and management on every level (such as protection of historic sites, without their contexts) public participation as a challenge slow reduction of passive attitudes among citizens - development of NGOs little support for existing housing improvements (income tax incentives - underestimated) - risk: depopulation (?)
Prospects and challenges since 2004 Structural funds: stimulation for investment, according to strategic objectives (condition!!!) > strategic planning on every level of public administration > integrated approaches (inclusiveness of planning process) > understanding of sustainability Private owners and investors as potential partners for quality development > skills for historic property maintenance and renovation > incentives for acceptance of quality requirements > user-friendly interface with historic preservation authorities > scale of investment (!!!) Increasing civic activities (NGOs) in defining and authorising public interests > skills for public debates (general, including logistics, and specific) > mutual trust and RESPECT to overcome natural al conflicts between een spontaneous character of NGOs and formalised procedures of administration > legislation adjusted to demands of tailored public participation
recommendations for historic cities Cultural heritage as a top priority of local and regional policies -supporting quality development of entire cities and regions (not only a historic sites) Cultural Heritage Management Plans as a tool of integrated approach for corporate and transparent policy Stakeholders and local communities as partners in devising coordinated and sustainable approaches (Local Support Groups) develop mutual understanding and awareness Devised inclusive Action Plans of political and managerial support help: to set up target oriented funding incentives, and thus to increase quality projects delivery from different partners, to provide efficient monitoring and to update Action Plan and sectoral policies along the ongoing changes
Results of project in Lublin Initiated cooperation of City Office departments (urban planning + culture + capital investment + historic preservation + district councils) LSG built on bottom-up approach - involving users of historic city centre (residents, businesses, cultural institutions, NGOs, administration) to create synergies between historic values and contemporary uses Public debate to devise public application to local plan for redevelopment of Podzamcze area (April-June 2010) Cultural Heritage Management Plan devised, with primary objectives: > to develop local plans as a tool for spatial integrity > to establish task force for cooperation of stakeholders (on voluntary base) > to broaden historic comparative studies Side effects: (1) URBACT LSG as an inspiration for civic dimension of Lublin s 2016 European Capital of Culture application > SPOKO group as a cloud civic structure generating ideas and building up public support. Unexpectedly strong synergy source. (2) participatory management initiated by Culture of Space Council (experts + eco/landscape branch of SPOKO) as an advisory structure for the Mayor of Lublin
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