European Union Regional policy and cohesion

Autumn 1997

Second Phase of Urban Pilot Programme Approved In this issue

In July 1997, the European Commission approved the second phase of 1-2 the Urban Pilot Programme. The Programme aims to support innovation Second Phase in urban regeneration and planning within the framework of the broader of Urban Pilot Community policy for promoting economic and social cohesion. Programme Approved 3-4 Urban areas throughout the European Union share common prob- Over 500 Submis- lems and characteristics. Even some of the largest and more pros- sions Received for perous European cities are faced with problems of environmen- the Urban Pilot tal decay, pollution, industrial decline, unemployment and social Programme exclusion. The projects supported through the Urban Pilot Pro- 5 gramme are experimenting with different approaches to tackle The New Urban Pilot these problems. They also help develop and share their results Projects: Themes and and experiences at Community level. Financing Details 6-14 The Programme is funded under Article 10 of the European Regional The New Urban Pilot Development Fund. For its second phase, a total of 26 Urban Pilot Projects: Descriptions Projects were selected from 14 Member States (no applications were and Contact Details received from Luxembourg) to be implemented during the 1997- 15 1999 programming period. The first phase of the Programme (1990- The Old Urban Pilot 1993) included 33 projects from 11 Member States, about one third Projects: Annual of which are still within their funding periods. Report 1996 Newsletter Newsletter The second phase of the Urban Pilot Programme was initiated on 16 30 November 1995 when the Call for Proposals was published in The European the Official Journal of the European Communities. By the closing Commission Gives date for submissions (29 April 1996), a total of 503 proposals had New Priority to Urban Issues been received from local authorities across Europe. The number of applications exceeded all expectations. Due to budget restric- 16 tions, the Commission could only fund a limited number of projects. Europe’s Cities

This is the first edition of the URBAN PILOT PROJECTS NEWSLETTER. News on Urban Pilot Projects were previously included in the RECITE NEWS editions. The UPP NEWSLETTER is published on behalf of the Directorate General XVI of the European Commission by ECOTEC Research and Consulting Limited (13B avenue de Tervuren, B-1040 Brussels, tel: + 32 2 743 89 49, fax; + 32 2 732 71 11), which has been appointed by the European Commission to provide technical assistance for the implementation of Urban Pilot Projects funded under Article 10 of the European Regional Development Fund. The views expressed are not

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○necessarily those of the European Commission. Article 10 European Regional Development Fund Urban Pilot Projects Second Phase of Urban

Pilot Programme Approved (continued)

Following a long and thorough evaluation grated approaches to tackling these prob- process which involved both external ex- lems. The proposed strategies combine perts and the Commission’s services, 26 hard infrastructure with environmental, so- projects were selected. Their total planned cial and economic measures in an attempt budget amounts to ECU 162.3 million. The to promote sustainable development and European Regional Development Fund promote citizens’ quality of life. Target ar- (ERDF) co-finances approximately 40% of eas and target populations are well defined, this budget, that is ECU 63.6 million. Cities and overall there is a strong emphasis on in Objective 1 regions receive an ERDF grant community participation. of up to 75% of their total eligible cost. This level of co-financing goes up to 50% for cit- The European Commission is looking to ies located in Objective 2 regions, and up to these, as well as to the first phase Urban 30% for cities with no Objective status. Pilot Projects, to draw policy lessons for the post-1999 programming period. The second phase of Urban Pilot Projects addresses a wide range of urban problems, The rest of this Newsletter presents more from traffic congestion and waste manage- details on the selected projects as well as ment to derelict buildings and economic information on recent Commission publica- decline. They all tend to adopt highly inte- tions on urban issues.

The Locations of Phase 2 Urban Pilot Projects (1997-1999)

Falun/Borlänge Helsinki

Randers Huddersfield/Kirklees Dublin Bremerhaven Leicester Utrecht Friedrichshain () Brussels Dortmund Leipzig

Besançon Graz Bordeaux Leon Turin Bilbao

Vila do Conde

Granada Brindisi Naples Alexandroupolis

West Athens

Gran Canaria

Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997

○○○○○○○○ 2 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Over 500 Submissions Received for the New Programme of Urban Pilot Projects

Following the success of the previous round 500,000. Some 30% of the proposals were of Urban Pilot Projects, the European Com- submitted by medium-sized cities of be- mission was inundated with proposals for the tween 100,000 to 200,000 inhabitants. The second phase, receiving 503 submissions by greatest number of submissions (40%) came the closing date of 29 April 1996. from towns with a population of less than 100,000. These were mainly either settle- The high number of submissions - only 200- ments adjacent to larger centres and conur- 300 were anticipated - perhaps reflects the increasing priority given by city authorities The distribution of UPP proposals by size of urban area within Member States to pioneering new 250 200 ways of achieving economic and social co- 150 hesion as well as the lack of readily avail- 100

able resources to tackle the problems which 50

they confront. However, only 26 projects 0 under 100,000- 250,000- over 100 000 250,000 500,000 500,000 (around 5%) could be funded. Population

Well over half the proposals received were from 3 Member States - (24%), Spain bations or smaller towns in less urbanised (19%) and Germany (14%). The map below countries such as Sweden and Finland. depicts the distribution of the Urban Pilot Project proposals by country. Submitting Authorities As expected the vast majority of proposals were

The distribution of UPP proposals by country submitted by local authorities. A smaller pro- Italy Ireland 24% Netherlands portion was submitted by regional authorities, 2% Greece 2% 8% Portugal 4% whereas a certain number of proposals were

Germany The distribution of UPP proposals by submitting 14% authority Spain 450 19% Denmark 400 1% France Belgium UK 8% Finland 8% 350 3% Sweden 4% Austria 2% 1% 300 250 200 150 100 Small and Medium-Sized Cities 50 0 Regional Local Partnership Others Partnership Mark Their Presence authority authority of local and of public regional authorites authorites and other The range of size of submitting cities could not have been wider. Submissions were re- the result of partnerships between local and ceived from the largest European capitals, regional authorities as well as between public down to small market towns. Approximately authorities and the private or voluntary sectors. 10% of the submissions came from large cit- Submissions classified as “other” came from ies with populations of over 500,000 and a a number of different organisations, such as similar proportion was received from cities housing or development agencies or private with populations of between 250,000 and enterprises.

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ 3 Over 500 Submissions Received for the New

Programme of Urban Pilot Projects (continued)

Emphasis on Integrated Approach tal improvements and the need to tackle to Urban Regeneration functional obsolescence in run-down areas were also popular. The Call for Proposals specifically men- tioned that projects “may relate to any ac- Not surprisingly the distribution of applica- tivity which is the responsibility of the par- tion themes varied between Member States, ticipating local authorities, provided the reflecting local circumstances. For example, actions proposed are necessary compo- high priority was given to environmental ac- nents of an integrated innovative socio- tions in Germany, the regeneration of periph- economic strategy”. Ten indicative themes, eral estates featured strongly in France and or rather combinations of themes, were priorities for the regeneration of historic cen- listed (see diagram). tres were most common from Italy.

The distribution of proposals by theme was The Selection Process uneven, but many proposals fell within In terms of numbers, the response to the Call more than one category. The most popu- for Proposals was overwhelming and unex- pected. The selection process put in place

The distribution of UPP proposals by theme by the European Commission was rigorous 250 and objective - and inevitably lengthy. As a first step, a preliminary overview was under- 200 taken by the Commission, noting whether

150 proposals met the basic criteria for applica- tion as laid down in the Call for Proposals. 100 Following this initial examination, a team of 27 independent experts from all the relevant 50 Member States was appointed by the Euro-

0 pean Commission to assess in detail the 503 applications. Proposals were subject to Other - K Other -

Access - H more than one reading by different experts. ontraints - J They were assessed in terms of uburbanisation - A Social integration E - ●

Institutional c their innovative character Information technology I - Functional D obsolescence - Functional

Unplanned s ● Environmental F improvements - their potential for demonstration and Area-based integrated approach - C Area-based integrated approach-

Advantages of medium-sized cities - B - Advantages of medium-sized cities wider applicability Preserving “disadvantaged” buildings - G Preserving “disadvantaged” buildings - ● their employment impact

● the proposed partnerships and self- lar theme was the most general “area- financing potential in the medium term. based integrated approach” to regenera- tion. Clearly the need to match urban re- In deciding on the final selection, the Euro- newal or economic activity with softer pean Commission also considered issues of measures such as training or environmen- feasibility, timescale, eligibility in relation to tal actions was perceived to be of high pri- European Regional Development Fund ority. Submissions proposing environmen- Regulations, the country and theme distri- bution of proposals.

Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997

○○○○○○○○ 4 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ The New Urban Pilot Projects: Themes and Financing Details

The table below lists the 26 Urban Pilot Projects described as an area-based integrated ap- selected for the 1997-99 funding period. It also proach. Three projects (Turin, Milan and Hud- indicates the total eligible cost for each project dersfield) deal with functional obsolescence and and the planned Community contribution. The only one project (Huddersfield again) attempts selected projects broadly reflect the balance of to tackle institutional constraints. Six cities (al- distribution of the proposal submissions, both in most one fourth of the sample) are undertaking terms of country and “thematic” distributions. It environmental improvements and another six are should however be noted that most projects pro- planning to achieve greater social integration. pose an integrated approach and fall under more Five cities plan to undertake actions in each of than one “theme”. the remaining thematic categories: unplanned suburbanisation in peripheral neighbourhoods, The titles of the projects listed below already pro- exploiting the advantages of medium-sized cit- vide an indication of the main thematic approach. ies and using information technology to stimu- Short project descriptions follow. About one third late economic development. of the projects aim to achieve what could be

Total Eligible ERDF ERDF % City Title of Project Cost (MECU) (MECU)

Alexandroupolis (GR) ALEX - POLINET - International Networking City 3.382316 2.536737 75.00% Besançon (F) CHORUS - Centre Historique: Opération de Revitalisation Urbaine et Sociale (Urban and Social Revitalisation of the Historic Centre) 14.271850 3.168093 22.20% Bilbao (E) OTXARKOAGA - Social, Economic and Environmental Revival of the Peripheral Neighbourhood of Otxarkoaga 4.962500 2.481250 50.00% Bordeaux (F) Bordeaux les Deux Rives (TheTwo Banks of Bordeaux) 13.068031 3.000000 23.00% Bremerhaven (D) Entwicklungspool Dienstleistungszentrum (Multifunctional Service Centre) 4.140000 2.070000 50.00% Brindisi (I) PROTAGONIST - Recovery of Old Town Areas to Generate Employment and New Initiatives in the Social and Tourism Sectors 2.750000 2.062500 75.00% Dortmund (D) Umweltinitiative Scharnhorst (Environment Initiative Scharnhorst) 2.835548 1.388115 48.95% Dublin (IRL) Maintaining the Historic Heart of Dublin 2.639672 1.979754 75.00% Falun, Borlänge (S) Ecological Sustainability as a Driving Force in a Medium-Sized “Urban Region” 3.750000 1.875000 50.00% Friedrichshain (Berlin) (D) Strategien für Friedrichshain (Strategies for Friedrichshain) 4.638769 2.191977 47.25% Gran Canaria (E) Proyecto Guiniguada - La Estrategia del Parque en la Rehabilitación del Paraíso (Guiniguada Project - The Park’s Regeneration Strategy) 7.008086 2.705245 39.00% Granada (E) Economic Regeneration of the Historic Centre of “El Albayzín” 6.051140 2.953897 48.82% Graz (A) e.l.m.a.s. - ein Leben mit allen Sinnen (Living with One’s Senses) 7.148000 2.150000 30.00% Helsinki (FI) LASIPALATSI Film and Media Centre 9.000000 2.700000 30.00% Huddersfield (Kirklees) (UK) Huddersfield - The Creative Town Initiative 10.299850 2.926780 28.42% Leicester (UK) Blueprint for Sustainable Development 6.479155 1.939855 29.90% Leipzig (D) Die Weiterentwicklung des Systems der “Behutsamen Stadterneuerung” (System of “Careful Urban Renewal”) 3.918831 2.939100 75.00% Leon (E) BUILDING LEÓN (A Development Project for the Old City) 7.567544 3.000000 39.60% Milan (I) Servizi e tempo per gli anziani e le famiglie (Services and Time for Elderly People and Families) 3.356883 1.007065 30.00% Naples (I) Rete di Piazze Telematiche per la Città di Napoli (Network of Telematic Squares) 4.007394 2.966750 74.00% Randers (DK) Underværket (The Wonder) 7.731677 2.246826 29.10% Turin (I) The GATE: Living not Leaving 5.069316 2.530186 49.90% Utrecht (NL) Utrecht Museum Quarter 12.586084 2.981246 24.00% Vila do Conde (P) Voyage à la Rose des Vents 5.066000 2.999200 59.20% Ville de Bruxelles (B) RECYCLART - Renovation of the “Gare de la Chapelle” 5.950500 1.785150 30.00% West Athens (GR) SWANS - Sustainable West Athens Novelty Scheme 4.640751 3.016488 65.00%

Total 26 Projects 162.319897 63.601214 39.18%

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○ 5 The New Urban Pilot Projects: Descriptions and Contact Details

ALEXANDROUPOLIS This project aims to improve the Museum Information Centre will help economic competitiveness of ensure that people are aware of the Alexandroupolis, a relatively isolated significance of these habitats. The ini- city at the extreme east of the EU, tiative also aims to improve the skills by strengthening the city’s interna- of two socially excluded groups - tional links using information tech- Pontian refugees and young local un- nology. The project involves the res- employed people. toration of a building into a Network

Contact Details

○○○○○○○○ Information Centre which will spe- ○○○○○○○○○○○○ cialise in economic development ac- Andreas Kafetzis tivities with Balkan and Black Sea Deputy Mayor countries. In addition, it is proposed Municipality of Alexandroupolis that internationally ecologically im- 306 Demokratias Ave GR-68100 Alexandroupolis portant features such as the Evros Greece Delta, the forest of Dadia and the Tel: 0030 551 255 55 Drana Lagoon will be protected. The Fax: 0030 551 262 64 development of a Natural History E-mail: [email protected]

BESANÇON Besançon is a town whose architec- ment of the arts and crafts sector. The tural and historical heritage is gener- Time Museum, based on the city’s ally overlooked and undervalued. watch-making tradition, will also be re- The project aims to support local stored and links will be created with commercial and cultural activity and other museums. A study of commer- reinforce the town’s role as a regional cial development opportunities and a capital. Within the town centre there visitors survey will also be undertaken. is an urgent need to reduce traffic

congestion whilst not discouraging Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ people from visiting the centre and Jean-Luc Matthey its shops. A number of actions are Ville de Besançon aimed at improving the Saint Jean 2, rue Mégevand District, including the purchase of F-25034 Besançon Cedex commercial buildings, the redevelop- France Tel: 0033 3 81 61 50 50 ment of a covered market area and Fax: 0033 3 81 61 50 99 cinema complex, and the develop- E-mail: [email protected]

6 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BILBAO Bilbao’s project tackles the social, eco- ments, and optimisation of green spaces); nomic and environmental problems of (b) the lack of economic activity (a study of Otxarkoaga, a peripheral neighbourhood of local commerce, initiating training activities the city of Bilbao. The district consists of and a business interest group, and the res- an area of unplanned dense social hous- toration of a shopping area); and (c) high ing dating from the 1950’s, which suffers unemployment (vocational training and from economic and social degradation, other labour market integration measures). high unemployment, a lack of economic Contact Details activity, drugs and crime. This situation is ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ compounded by the peripheral nature of Ricardo Barkala / Joseba Egia Ayuntamiento de Bilbao - Lan Ekintza SA the district. The UPP plans an integrated Uribitarte 18, 4.° dcha. package of measures targeted at: (a) the E-48001 Bilbao Spain area’s environment (establishment of a re- Tel: 0034 44 20 53 00 cycling centre, environmental enhance- Fax: 0034 44 20 53 13 E-mail: [email protected]

BORDEAUX The project focuses on a dilapidated in- people, and a number of social and cul- dustrial and port area along the Garonne tural/tourist events, including theatrical river with severe economic and social tours, festivals, the creation of a view- problems, including high unemployment point, the introduction of cruise ships, and a large proportion of immigrants. the renovation of a youth hostel and The aim of the project is to improve the creation of a social centre.

district, revitalise the economy and de- Contact Details ○○○○○○ velop the area both socially and cultur- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Pascal Gerasimo ally. The project is part of an overall strat- Director egy for local development. The actions Bordeaux Métropole Aménagement (BMA) Les Citadines include a number of quayside develop- 25, rue Jean Fleuret ments (building demolition and renova- F-33000 Bordeaux tion, and creation of open spaces), a France Tel: 0033 5 569 931 82 number of training initiatives for young Fax: 0033 5 569 821 04 E-mail: [email protected]

BREMERHAVEN The overall aim of the Bremerhaven ment of a marketing and public relations project is to regenerate Grünhöfe, a office, a TV station and a migrants office; neighbourhood of 12,500 inhabitants the creation of a training site, weekend characterised by high levels of unemploy- market, youth workshop and training ment and social exclusion. It attempts company; and a counselling service en- to integrate, in a coherent manner, a couraging women into self-employment number of mutually-reinforcing measures opportunities.

under four main themes: the stimulation Contact Details ○○○○○○ of economic activities; environmental ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Norbert Friedrich improvements and community safety; Seestadt Bremerhaven social and cultural activities; and train- Postfach 21 03 60 ing. There are several inter-related ac- D-17524 Bremerhaven (Bremen) Germany tions planned, including: the develop- Tel: 0049 471 590 32 25 Fax: 0049 471 590 20 79

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter 7

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BRINDISI This project focuses on the restoration ist services. A new company will be es- of the old town of Brindisi and devel- tablished to enhance the redevelopment ops appropriate services for transit tour- of the local handicraft and tourist indus- ists. It is believed that the provision of tries. The project is expected to have a new opportunities for tourists who have significant employment impact, both in a few hours to spend in Brindisi will terms of temporary and new/permanent bring about the necessary private sec- posts. tor funding for the revival of economic Contact Details activity in the old town of Brindisi. The ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Carlo Cioffi project aims to create a new Tourist di Brindisi Office to be housed in an old building Piazza Matteotti 16 to be restored for this purpose, and give I- 72100 Brindisi Italy incentives to companies providing tour- Tel: 0039 831 22 92 43 Fax: 0039 831 22 92 65

BRUSSELS The target area of the Brussels project employment for young people and the is the “Gare de la Chapelle” district, unemployed; and support for local busi- situated between the “Gare du Midi” ness. The latter includes promoting the and the “Gare du Nord”. A large pro- arts and crafts market and the organisa- portion of its population live on social tion of cultural and artistic activities benefits; there are large numbers of im- (sound and light, musical and theatrical migrant families, as well as an ageing activities etc). An agency will be created and poor population. The district’s in- to carry out and manage the project.

habitants will participate in the project Contact Details ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ which includes: the restoration of the Wim Embrechts station to incorporate workshops, a Ville de Bruxelles café and meeting places for young art- Délégation au Développement du Pentagone ists; development of squares and pub- Boulevard Anspach 6 (12-14) B-1000 Bruxelles lic spaces in the district; training and Tel: 0032 2 279 31 46 Fax: 0032 2 279 31 26

DORTMUND The Scharnhorst-Ost area of Dortmund addressing at the same time the social and consists of a 1960s development of 3 -7 economic problems affecting the area. A storey apartment blocks, with 15,000 in- public campaign aims to involve the resi- habitants. The area has a high concen- dents in the implementation of the project, tration of deprived households, a high in- and there is a strong emphasis on creating flux of immigrants from Eastern Europe permanent jobs for local residents. Dortmund

and above average unemployment rates Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ affecting, in particular, young people. En- Gisela Bartholomä vironmental pollution is high with no strat- City of Dortmund egy for waste management: insufficient Department for Urban Planning Katharinenstrasse 9 facilities for the collection and treatment Zimmer 441 of waste and no recycling facilities. The D-44122 Dortmund project sets out to improve the handling Germany Tel: 0049 231 502 56 04 of waste through an integrated approach, Fax: 0049 231 502 57 88

8 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ DUBLIN This project covers two segments of Dub- ration skills such as window making, lime lin (North and South City Centre) which pointing and lead work, and the training have buildings of high architectural value. of guides/curators. Public/ tourist access As part of the project an inventory will be to the area will also be improved and the undertaken, including the development of project will support a series of refurbish- a database and illustrated record of build- ments of architecturally important build- ings built before 1900 and significant post- ings for community benefit.

1900 buildings. A strategy for regenera- Contact Details ○○○○○○ tion will be developed in partnership with ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ John O’Sullivan community, business and other interests. Administrator A new Building Advice Centre will provide Dublin Civic Trust conservation advice and produce techni- 10 South Frederick Street Dublin 2 cal guidance leaflets. The project involves Ireland the preservation of traditional craft resto- Tel: 00353 1 677 52 85 Fax: 00353 1 677 52 85

FALUN / BORLANGE Falun and Borlänge are two neighbour- will be persuaded to incorporate sustain- ing towns which function increasingly as able environmental practices. The project a single urban area. Their project involves will also stimulate awareness and under- the further development of the Natural standing of sustainable issues.

Resource Centre - an environmental tech- Contact Details ○○○○○○ nology centre - to stimulate the economic ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Elsmari Julin restructuring of a traditional industrial NaturResursCentrum Dalarna area, and to help convert the region into Vassbo 20 a model of sustainable development. S-791 93 Falun, Borlänge Sweden This will be achieved through relevant Tel: 0046 243 22 38 02 research and support to environmental Fax: 0046 243 22 38 07 E-mail: [email protected] SMEs. New environmental businesses will be established and existing companies

FRIEDRICHSHAIN (BERLIN) The project consists of an integrated se- residents. In the long term, a private body ries of measures to socially and economi- will be created to ensure the continuity of cally rejuvenate the Friedrichshain mu- project activities beyond the end of the nicipality of Berlin which is suffering from UPP programme.

job losses in the industrial sector. In the Contact Details ○○○○○○ short and medium term, the project sets ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Rudolf Netzelmann out to improve the environment for SMEs KirchBauhof through the development of a “consulta- Forster Strasse 5 D-10999 Friedrichshain (Berlin) tion agency for SMEs”. The project also Germany aims to provide vocational training for Tel: 0049 30 611 20 11 unemployed people and to develop cul- Fax: 0049 30 611 34 35 E-mail: [email protected] tural/recreational facilities (including an adventure playground) for the district’s

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter 9 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ GRANADA The project aims to revitalise the his- vironmental improvements on, and toric “Moorish” centre of Granada, “El around, the ancient walls and tourist Albaicín”, and secure its medium and routes), the setting up of a University of long-term development. The centre in- European Restoration and a tourism cludes the famous monument of the school, the establishment of a craft cen- Alhambra Palace, designated a human tre and archaeological displays, and eco- heritage site by UNESCO. The area nomic incentives to set up businesses. Granada

suffers from accessibility problems, an Contact Details: ○○○○○○○○○○○ ageing population, the gradual deterio- ○○○○○○○○○ Montserrat Castelló Nicás ration of buildings and a general lack Ayuntamiento de Granada of economic and cultural vitality. A set Departamento De Rehabilitación - Area de of actions will be undertaken in the fol- Urbanismo Escudo del Carmen 3 lowing areas: tourism, education, cul- E-18009 Granada ture and business. These include res- Spain Tel: 0034 58 24 81 32 toration and renovation work (with en- Fax: 0034 58 20 46 12

GRAN CANARIA

This project consists of a set of pilot and conservation. It comprises a pilot environmental improvement measures phase for future actions. The project will to be undertaken in a peripheral area concentrate on those areas mostly under of the city of Las Palmas de Gran pressure from urbanisation. A number of Canaria. Through these measures, the environmental awareness activities are project aims to stimulate environmen- also planned.

tally friendly economic activities. The Contact Details ○○○○○○○○○○○ target area is located in a park in the ○○○○○○○○○ Alejandro M. Castro Medina river basin of the Guiniguada River, an Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria area of high ecological value. This plan- Oficina Insular de Planeamiento ning-oriented project attempts to find c/1° de Mayo 39, 2a Planta (Edificio Humiaga II) E-35008 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria a solution to the challenges on land use Spain from urbanisation, declining agriculture Tel: 0034 28 37 31 99 Fax: 0034 28 36 47 84

GRAZ Investment in culture will be used by overall approach is integrated, with em- this project to rehabilitate the run-down ployment training measures complement- of inner city district Jakomini. The dis- ing infrastructure works and local eco- trict has a population of 30,000, with a nomic promotion measures building on high proportion of students, ethnic mi- public-private partnerships.

norities and elderly residents. The Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ project aims to amalgamate three ex- Hansjörg Luser isting arts organisations - a cinema, a Magistrat Graz theatre and a museum - in one central Neues Bauamt Europa-Platz location in order to stimulate the regen- A-8010 Graz eration of the area and encourage Austria synergy between arts facilities. The Tel: 0043 316 872 42 00 Fax: 0043 316 82 45 30

10 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ HELSINKI The main focus of the project is the res- is the regeneration of the surrounding toration and refurbishment of the neighbourhood which is at the hub of the Lasipalatsi building to a Film and Media city’s transport system. The project will Centre. The new centre will support the restore public spaces around the build- arts, provide a cinema, and enable free ing to attract new leisure activities and ex- access to the Internet as a part of an in- hibitions.

formation service designed for young Contact Details ○○○○○○ people. Located next to the Olympic Sta- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Marjatta Raunila dium and the central railway station, the City of Helsinki Lasipalatsi building was built in 1936 for Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13 the Olympics. It is a landmark work of FIN-00170 Helsinki Finland modern architecture of national and in- Tel: 00358 9 169 22 44 ternational importance. The broader aim Fax: 00358 9 169 38 71 E-mail: [email protected]

HUDDERSFIELD (KIRKLEES) The focus of Huddersfield’s Creative Town a mixed use development of office, light Initiative is the support of creative indus- industrial, retail and cultural activities and tries. It forms part of a long-term inte- a series of support measures.

grated strategy to reinforce, nurture and Contact Details ○○○○○○ sustain Huddersfield as a creative town ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Phil Wood by capturing, developing and harnessing Manager the creative potential of its citizens. The Huddersfield Creative Town Initiative project focuses on a prominent, but func- Huddersfield Pride Ltd Standard House tionally obsolescent, sector of the town Half Moon Street centre which is currently blighted by sev- UK-HD1 2JF Huddersfield Tel: 0044 1484 54 78 79 eral redundant former premises. The UPP Fax: 0044 1484 46 97 81 fits within the council’s strategy to regen- E-mail: [email protected] erate this area as a “creative quarter” with

LEICESTER The project offers an integrated package employment and SMEs (particularly of measures to support sustainable eco- amongst the Asian and African-Caribbean nomic development and urban regenera- community); and measures supporting tion. It aims to ensure that SMEs recog- social cohesion and combating exclu- nise the competitive advantage of apply- sion, racism and xenophobia.

ing environmental management tech- Contact Details ○○○○○○ niques. The project focuses on 14 inner ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Ian Lindley / Jef Miller city wards which are characterised by a Chief Executive’s Office decline in industrial employment, social Leicester City Council exclusion, a lack of business confidence Block A, New Walk Centre Welford Place and substantial ethnic minority commu- UK-LE1 6ZG Leicester nities. The UPP has three key elements: United Kingdom Tel: 0044 116 252 72 56 / 0044 116 252 72 99 measures supporting urban regeneration Fax: 0044 116 255 63 85 and environmental improvements; meas- E-mail: [email protected] ures supporting economic development,

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter 11

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ LEIPZIG Leipzig’s project attempts to address between tenants and empower tenants’/ the serious problems caused by its poor residents’ groups. As well as support for housing stock and stimulate the proc- local construction firms, the programme ess of housing renewal. It provides consists of a series of support and train- support for the construction industry ing measures for landlords and tenants.

which has been badly affected by the Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ downturn in office-related construction. Karsten Gerkens (Amtsleiter) / Steffen Mildner Neither private tenants nor property- Stadt Leipzig der Oberbürgermeister owners can afford the high costs of Amt für Stadtsanierung und Wohnungsbauförderung (ASW) housing renewal and there is no tradit- Prager Strasse 26 ion of active tenants’ associations in D-04103 Leipzig Germany Eastern Germany. Learning from les- Tel: 0049 341 123 54 19 sons in Frankfurt and Birmingham, the Fax: 0049 341 123 54 12 project hopes to stimulate co-operation E-mail: [email protected] (Karsten Gerkens) [email protected] (Steffen Mildner)

LEON The project’s objective is to regenerate ures include the installation of a refuse the historic city centre of León through collection system, rehabilitation work (in- an integrated package of regeneration terior and exterior) and environmental im- actions. The target area lies within Ro- provements (including the renovation of man and medieval walls and is of high a square) and training actions.

historic and cultural value. However, it Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ is suffering from the combined prob- Cecilio Vallejo Fernández lems of vehicle access, out-migration, Concejal de Urbanismo an ageing population, poor housing, a Ayuntamiento de León Plaza de San Marcelo, s/n decline in craft and retail activities, and E-24071 León the spread of night-time leisure activi- Spain Tel: 0034 87 89 55 24 ties. The project aims to revitalise the Fax: 0034 87 89 55 05 area by increasing its resident popula- E-mail: [email protected] tion and economic activity. The meas-

MILAN This project aims to create an inte- which will enhance co-operation between grated system of services for the eld- health and social services, and improve erly and their families. It aims, in par- the quality of, and access to, facilities and ticular, to develop local partnerships to services for the elderly. Daytime care will address the specific problems experi- be improved and a training programme enced by elderly people and to revital- in elderly care implemented.

ise the local community. The project Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ targets (-Cà Matteo Fiore / Francesca Feraboli Grande--), an Comune di Milano area characterised by significant socio- L.go Treves 1 I-20121 Milan environmental problems, an ageing Italy population and run-down buildings. Tel: 0039 2 655 54 03 / 0039 2 620 868 41 Fax: 0039 2 657 05 46 There are a series of measures planned

12 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ NAPLES This project tackles the problems of unem- commercial area. The project will be man- ployment and social exclusion in Naples aged by a joint public/private venture cre- through a wider use of telematics and mul- ated by the City Council. The Council timedia by local citizens and enterprises. hopes to improve the city’s image through It involves two urban areas of Naples, the enhanced telematics provision, training and historical centre and the eastern part of the citizens’ access to information.

city. The creation of two “telematic piaz- Contact Details Naples ○○○○○○ zas” or computer suites will form the focal ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Scipione Bobbio point for the project. These facilities will Naples City Council offer numerous opportunities for Informa- Palazzo San Giacomo Piazza Municipio tion Technology development; they will in- I-80133 Naples clude a reception area, a workshop, a mul- Italy timedia centre, an Internet club area, meet- Tel: 0039 81 795 21 47 Fax: 0039 81 552 15 39 ing and video-conferencing facilities and a E-mail: [email protected]

RANDERS The project builds on the success of the developing the city’s run-down Ostergade Kulturkaelderen Non-Government Organi- district. The project will also support a sation which has developed training pro- training course for entrepreneurs.

grammes targeted at immigrant and refu- Contact Details ○○○○○○ gee women. The project involves the set- ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Steen Sonne Andersen ting up of a new market place offering Randers kommune small workshops, shops and cafés in the Laksetorvet style of a bazaar. The project will encour- DK-8900 Randers Denmark age greater integration and employment Tel: 0045 89 15 11 30 of the immigrant population in Randers. Fax: 0045 89 15 10 20 E-mail: [email protected] It will capitalise on cultural diversity whilst

TURIN This project aims to enhance economic training etc.), and a programme of waste opportunities for the residents of Turin’s recycling and energy conservation will be Porta Palazzo/Borgo Dora District, which undertaken. In addition a training pro- is located in the historical part of the city gramme and information service will be and houses the largest market area in created to promote social inclusion and Europe (with around 1,000 market trad- enhance community participation.

ers and 200 permanent shops). The Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ project aims to improve the neighbour- Ilda Curti hood’s security and environmental con- Head of International Department ditions and promote its physical revitali- Città di Torino SA XI Relazioni Internazionali sation. The market place will be refur- Via San Francesco d’Assisi 3 bished with parking and transport facili- I-10100 Torino ties being re-organised. A business sup- Italy Tel: 0039 11 561 92 98 port service will be established (identify- Fax: 0039 11 54 58 84 ing new business opportunities, offering E-mail: [email protected]

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter 13

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ UTRECHT Utrecht’s Museum Quarter will be sub- This will be achieved through restoration, jected to a set of regeneration actions business support and marketing actions. through this project. The district is one It is hoped that the project will contribute of Utrecht’s historic neighbourhoods, but towards creating an attractive cultural and is shows signs of decline: economic ac- historical district with a unique identity.

tivities have relocated to decentralised Contact Details

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ neighbourhoods. There are traffic prob- Elise de Roos lems in the area and public spaces are District Manager being neglected. Moreover, museums Utrecht Inner City Wijkbureau Binnenstad and other cultural attractions are being Drift 10 under-utilised. The objective of the NL-3512 BS Utrecht project is to improve the quality of life in The Netherlands Tel: 0031 30 286 39 60 the Museum Quarter, by supporting the Fax: 0031 30 286 39 66 development of high-quality tourism. E-mail: [email protected]

VILA DO CONDE The suburbanisation of Vila do Conde has undertaken on the riverside area; a replica created the need to renew the town’s ship from the “discovery era” will be built; identity. The project aims to build on the and a documentation centre on shipping historic significance of the ancient mari- will be established. It is anticipated that time port of Vila do Conde, which is in- the town will develop “international” links creasingly being integrated into the and that the number of visitors will increase.

greater metropolitan area of Oporto. It Contact Details ○○○○○○○○○○○ will therefore help maintain and develop ○○○○○○○○○ Mário de Almeida the identity of Vila do Conde. It will offer Câmara Municipal de Vila do Conde 1.2 million people (inhabitants of the Rua da Igreja greater metropolitan area) access to a P-4480 Vila do Conde Portugal valuable cultural maritime centre, based Tel: 00351 52 64 25 00 in the restored customs office. In addi- Fax: 00351 52 64 19 00 tion: environmental improvements will be

WEST ATHENS The project comprises a series of inte- provement measures. New technologies, grated actions aimed at addressing especially telematics and renewable en- common problems faced by the nine ergies sources, are the key elements of municipalities of the West Athens area. this project which aims to improve com- The area is characterised by high lev- petitiveness of SMEs, via a teleworking els of unemployment and a high pro- centre, and mobility, through the creation portion of immigrant and repatriate of a mini-bus line.

communities. In addition the area has Contact Details ○○○○○○○○○○○ severe transport related problems. Five ○○○○○○○○○ Moskos Diamantopoulos intervention packages are proposed, Association for the Development of West Athens aimed at the establishment of an Inter- Ethnikis Antistaseos 65 national Centre for Information Manage- GR-121 34 Peristeri Greece ment, the creation of an SME support Tel: 0030 1 574 58 26 unit, and a series of environmental im- Fax: 0030 1 575 95 47 E-mail: [email protected]

Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997

○○○○○○○○ 14 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Urban Pilot Project Annual Report 1996 Highlights Project Achievements to Date

The Urban Pilot Project Annual Report 1996 Union regeneration programmes. For in- is based upon the Urban Pilot Projects’ ex- stance, it discusses which conditions are periences during the period 1990-1996. necessary for the success of projects and The report provides an overview of the 33 provides practical advice on project manage- projects which have been funded during ment and how to deal with project level evalu- the first phase of the Urban Pilot Pro- ation. This section of the report also pro- gramme, under Article 10 of the European vides examples of project activities aimed at Regional Development Fund (ERDF). the transfer of know-how and exchange of experience at European Union level. Initially the report outlines the key objectives of Article 10 and of the Urban Pilot Programme, To conclude, the report provides a review of and highlights some of the problems which the the proposals received for the second phase first round of Urban Pilot Projects have sought of Urban Pilot Projects and some indication to address. The report also provides some in- of the rigorous selection process undertaken. dication of the extent to which the projects have For those interested in the individual project achieved their stated objectives. objectives and achievements, the key char- acteristics and contact details of the first The report goes on to review a number of les- phase Urban Pilot Projects are included in sons that have been learnt by these pilot the report’s annex. projects which may be relevant to those in- volved in urban regeneration across the Mem- The report, produced in English and French, ber States and at Community level. These in- has been widely circulated across the Euro- clude achievements in the following areas: pean Union following a high demand from local and regional authorities, research in- ● Integrated approaches to regeneration; stitutes and other policy making bodies. The ● Improved competitiveness in European first print of 3,000 copies has been ex- Union cities; hausted, and the European Commission is ● Creating employment and combating currently preparing a second print of an ad- social exclusion; ditional 3,000 copies. Copies will soon be ● Sustainable urban development; available again from the technical assistance ● Organisation and partnership office at ECOTEC Research and Consulting development; Limited in Brussels (fax: 0032 2 732 71 11),

● The integration of projects into wider the Office for Official Publications of the Eu- regeneration programmes; ropean Communities (L-2985 Luxembourg), the European Commission DG XVI and ● Informing urban regeneration policy. European bookshops. For those interested in broader European Un- ion issues, the report provides some insight into more general changes affecting the European Union including:

● New forms of employment;

● Changes in urban structure;

● The role of medium sized cities;

● Various approaches to urban governance. The report also provides some useful infor- mation for the second phase Urban Pilot Projects and others involved in European

Autumn 1997 Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter

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A new Commission Communication - “Towards social problems which affect Europe’s major cit- an Urban Agenda in the European Union” - pub- ies is beyond the means of the Community or lished in May of this year, reflects the increased even Member States alone to resolve. priority given to urban issues within the Euro- At the same time, the document argues that pean Union. The Communication has sought to much can be achieved by a greater integration launch a debate about EU urban development. and co-ordination of European sectoral policies The document states that “the starting point for as they affect cities, as well as by greater co- future urban development must be to recognise ordination between the different actors, both the role of the cities as motors for regional, nat- public and private, at European, national and ional and European economic progress”. local levels. The Communication also recognises that cities The European Commission is also working on a have borne many of the social costs of economic second policy paper on urban issues to be pub- restructuring and contains a bleak, if realistic, lished sometime in 1998. There are also plans recognition that resolving the complex web of to hold an Urban Forum towards the end of 1998.

Commission Publication “Europe’s Cities”

This new publication of the European Commis- under the Cohesion Fund and the Life (innovative sion highlights the measures which the Union is environmental actions) programme, are presented. undertaking to enhance prospects for the future ● The city and culture. of its cities. The document provides a detailed overview of the main challenges facing cities The report outlines some projects and pro- across the European Union under the following grammes to preserve cultural heritage including five themes and provides a range of illustrative the Kaleidoscope programme which is seeking case studies drawn from across the Community: to promote cultural and artistic creativity.

● The dysfunctional city. For those who are confused by the multitude of EU programmes which are relevant to cities and The report highlights measures which aim to who are interested in the possibilities of using achieve integration of those who are at the mar- EU funding to help address some of our social, gins of society. Grassroots projects such as economic and environmental problems, the re- those under the Urban Community Initiative are port provides a clear and concise guide “through reviewed as well as initiatives targeted at spe- the maze”. It is available in all Community lan- cific groups such as women and immigrants. guages from the Office for Official Publications ● The urban economy. of the European Communities (L-2985 Luxem- bourg, ISBN 92-828-0286-8). The report also highlights actions on research and development as well as on new technolo- gies, aimed to support the co-operation between towns and cities and local development initiatives.

● Mobility. A number of examples of projects undertaken in the field of mobility are provided - these include projects under the European Union’s Urban Civil Engineering COST Programme and the telematics applications research programme.

● Sustainable development. Case studies and actions being implemented

Urban Pilot Projects Newsletter Autumn 1997

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