WP T1- Map Ails D.T1.3.2 Pilot Profile

WP T1- Map AILs D.T1.3.2 Pilot profile

Pilot region: Gorenjska region Country: Slovenia

November 2018 • BSC Kranj

Pilot profile: Revitalisation of disused complex of former BPT -

Cotton spinning and weaving mill of

Tržič (City of Tržič, Slovenia)

BPT Pilot Profile can be downloaded at: http://www.bsc-kranj.si/projekti/trails

This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG Alpine Space programme trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Content

1) Introduction 1.1) Regional PPs and local stakeholder network 1.2) Overview of the region

2) Regional Profile 2.1) Natural conditions and landscape 2.2) Technical infrastructure and traffic 2.3) Spatial structure and settlements 2.4) Population and social infrastructure 2.5) Economic situation 2.6) Actors and networks

3) Site Profile 3.1) BPT Site (Community of Tržič)

4) Challenges and expectations 4.1) Present and future challenges in the development of the region 4.2) Present and future challenges in the development of the site

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1) Introduction

1.1) Regional PPs and local stakeholder network

Daily activities of BSC Kranj as a TRAILS PP for Gorenjska region: Regional development agency Gorenjska, BSC, Business support centre, l.t.d., Kranj, founded in 1995, is regional support institution for entrepreneurial and socio-economic development of the Gorenjska region, which is spread out in north-west Slovenia. Its mission is to carry out, together with local, regional, national and international partners, development activities that take into account the needs of the region and the opportunities it offers, thus contributing towards the creation of favourable development conditions in Gorenjska and the establishment of a regional environment favourable to economic growth. Together with partners shapes the region’s development strategy and implements programmes and integral projects that strengthen the economy by linking the needs of companies and local communities with national and European development policies. It is also the key player in the establishment of cross-border cooperation with regions abroad. Key services of Regional development agency Gorenjska – BSC Kranj: Preparation, implementation and manage-ment of regional and local development programmes (authorized by the state and municipalities), development, preparation, implementation and project management of local, regional, national, EU funded and international funded development projects from all fields of development (technology and SME development, innovations, rural development, urban development, tourism, human resource development, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency systems, ICT development, technology parks, technology centres, Business incubators, environmental topics, e-learning, employment projects, etc.) It is especially strong in project partnership building, with the wide experience from EU funded projects. It is also institution which has developed and now manage a significant number of support institutions or schemes within the region, like: Business Incubator, Guaranty Scheme, Microcredit Scheme, Labour Fund, Rural Development Centre, One-Stop- Shop, Scholarship Grant Scheme, LEADER Scheme, Voucher Consulting Scheme. It is also dealing investment promotion, business consultancy and promotion of links between small and medium-sized enterprises, institutions and cross-border and international cooperation. BSC Kranj’s activities within the elaboration of the pilot profile: Revitalisation and economic, spatial and social activation of the disued area of a Cotton spinning and weaving mill of Tržič (BPT Company) as a part of a wider sustainable development of the City of Tržič is a challenging and very difficult task within the current specific socioeconomic environment of the Community of Tržič. Community of Tržič has gone in last 25 years a difficult period of economical transtition which caused that numerous traditional industries, which were for decades big employer for wider area of community, were closed down and Tržič's status changed from a economic development center (and even development engine) to the problematic area. There are, however, important craft skills and traditions left in Tržič, as well as locations of past factories which have a big part of infrastructure and other preconditions needed for various economic and social activities. Such situation with lots of potentials, but even more problems and challenges, demands from all actors involved lots of various knowledge and skills. The key role in current and future processes of development of City of Tržič with a special focus on the disused area of former BPT Company goes to coordinator, initiator and motivator of these new development projects A combination 3 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

of numerous past and current BSC's responsabilities, task and activities which have gained to this agency rich and diverse experiences, skills and cooperation networks supports it's key coordination and initating role in active search for solutions and approaches to revizalize the area of BPT Co.. Such solutions and approaches should be implemented in a way, and in a borader contex of development of City of Tržič, that this area will not only stop being a spatial and economical problem, but bring an added value and push for a modern (sustainable) economy of City of Tržič and wider Community of Tržič (with very much needed new jobs), to the spatial structure and functions of city center (with at least partly preserved industrial heritage of BPT buildings) and to the quality of life of inhabitants of Tržič (new recreational, educational, cultural,…opportunities).

Beside BSC Kranj there are several key stakeholders in these processes:

• BPT Company – it is a company that owns almost all the central pilot area and which was first funded at the end of 19th century as one of the central textile factories of whole Gorenjjska region (known also as ''Mother of Tržič'' due to a large number of local female workers). Textile processing was going on on this location and by this company till 2005 when it was moved entirely to the other location in Slovenia when BPT Co. bought there another textile company. Today the main business activity of the company is production and selling of electric energy, as it owns several small hydropower plants on the Tržiška Bistrica river. Company is highly interested to activate this large disused area and is cooperating in this context with other partners, among which the most important is the Municipality of Tržič; • Municipality of Tržič as a main administrative and local political actor who both has major interest for revizalization of city of Tržič with a special focus on BPT area, as well some of instruments to support such process (spatial planning instruments, tax instruments, business promotional instrumets for supporting business development of Tržič and BPT Co. as an bussiness opportunity, preparation or initiation of EU and national projects which provide solution and partial financing of BPT revitalisation, …). Municipality of Tržič also financed in past years several spatial and developmental documents serving as a path to revitalize this areas, eg. Comprehensive conceptual design and plan for traffic and infrastructural arragement and arragement of public areas (2016) within revitalisation plan for BPT area. • Regional Chamber of Comerce and Industry of Gorenjska and Local Chamber of Craft and Small Entreprenourship of Tržič which both promotion finding solutions with attracting local®ional and external companies, as well as assisting to the other public actors with ideas to create favorable business environment to attract these (new) companies; • Local, regional and international companies which operate in small part of this area, and companies which have already shown or could show interest to locate their business in this areas; • National Institute for Cultural Heriage protection – Unit for Gorenjska region – the whole area of BPT Co. has a status of (industrial) cultural heritage which brings both opportunities and obstacles. On one had it brings certain limitations and rules which need to be respected when planning and implementing changes on this location (eg. demolishing or upgrading buildings of the past factory) while on the other hand confirms that BPT area is a suitable and

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attractive location for some new activities (museum, cultural events, …) and increase potentials to gain national and EU funds for revitalisation and preservation of important cultural heritage; • Medias (local, regional and national) – their active and constructuve covering of this topic is important to gain positive momentum and atmosphere for finding solutions for the revitalisation of the area, as well as for wide-scale promotion this area among potential public and private investors; • Local population – Area of former BPT is an important spatial part of city of Tržič which means that current situation all future solutions will direcly and indirectly affect quality of life of all local inhabitants (also about offer of different cultural, recreational, .. activities). On the other had this area could also offer new business and employment opportunities for local population, with a special focus on young generations. Local people are beside that also important source of new, fesh ideas about the possible development of this area; • Sport, cultural and other assocciations – area of BPT could offer an interesting and attractive place for acivities of different local and regional assocciations (NGOs), and although such stakeholders don't bring much or any profit, they can bring life, new optimism and attractivness with their activities. NGOs are beside that also important source of new, fesh ideas and humanresources (volunteers) for possible development of this area; • Museum of Tržič and Technical Museum of Slovenia – Museum of Tržič is a municipality museum with a much wider scope of activities (eg. main peddler exhibition in Gorenjska and Slovenia and one of main ski exhibitions). Current location and building of the museum is very limited, especially when taking into account the richness of (industrial) cultural heritage of this area. There are serious planns, supported with planning documents and projects, which offer solutions that part of the area and it's building would be used as modern, interactive museum location focused in the interpretation of industrial cultural heritage. The same goes for Technical Museum of Slovenia, currently based only in Bistra castle close to Ljubljana, which could either move or open new departmets, dedicated to technical heritage, at the BPT location.

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1.2) Overview of the region

Table 1 - Facts & Figures on Gorenjska region Pilot region Gorenjska region Country Slovenia Location NW of Slovenia Area (in sq. km) 2137,00 km2 Inhabitants 203.838 (2016) Number of municipalities: 18: List of municipalities: Bled, Bohinj, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Gorenja vas – Poljane, Gorje, Jesenice, Jezersko, Municipalities Kranj, Kranjska Gora, Naklo, Preddvor, and main Radovljica, Šenčur, Škofja Loka, Tržič, Železniki, cities&towns Žiri and Žirovnica Main cities and town: Kranj (37.313 inh.), Jesenice (12.300), Škofja Loka (11.611), Radovljica (6.077), Bled (4.944), Tržič (3600).

Gorenjska is a predominantly Alpine region in the north-western part of Slovenia which borders to the north to Austria and to the NW to Italy. Population and main economy activities (except part of a tourism) are concentrated in lowlands in the southern part of region and in the valleys along Sava river and it's tributaries which crosses the region in NW-SE direction, while all surrounding areas are mountainous. It is also predominantely covered by forests (60% of territory), and rich with undeground water and river streams as well as with well preserved nature (only Slovene national park and more than 1/3 of terriotry under Natura 2000). There are some important Pan-European Characteristics transport corridords passing the region which has relatively long industrial tradition dating back in 19th century and even longer tradition of the use of water energy (mills, hydro-power plants). After the brake- up of Yugoslavia in 1991 region's economy saw even stronger orientation towards Western markets with more modern industries, privatisation and shift to service sector, start of expension of suburban areas, and decline of old industrial zones in city centers and rapid motorisation and contruction of transport infrastructure. It is also home of only functioning international airport in Slovenia and hosts several high-schools institutions. Both summer and winter tourism are traditionally imprtant economy activities and in strong rise since 1991.

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Map 1 and Map 2: Gorenjska region within the territory of Slovenia (coloured in red and green, respectively)

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Map 3: Gorenjska region with 18 municipalities

Gorenjska region is a Slovene region with the most dominant Alpine character which is most visible reflected in natural conditions, eg. climate with harsh winters and mild summers, partly shallow soils, extensive and rich water resources and river systems, and with territory which is in 60% covered by forest. It is reflected also in traditional and dominant economical activities (eg. dairy, partly grazing livestock breeding), specific traffic conditions as well as in all aspects of settlement patterns, social structures and cultural heritage (eg. architectural patterns). Based on some of the already mentioned natural resources (water streams and wood as energy sources + iron ore in mountain mines), combined with historical political development, Gorenjska region was the one of the most traditional industrial regions of Slovenia (and also all ex-Yugoslavia)and therefore also one of most developed within these countries. Looking back more deep into the history, industrial development of Gorenjska region, however, and same as with Slovenia in general, started only in 19th century, much later as in most developed countries/regions in Western, Central and Southern Europe. Such period of being one of the most developed part of country followed centuries when Gorenjska was part of Habsburg monarchy (over 600 years, up to 1918) and was traditionally agricultural and industrially less developed comparing with western part of monarchy (but much more developed as most of eastern parts of monarchy).

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Photo 1: Jezersko in northern part of Gorenjska region with Alpine meadow and limestone mountains shows typical landscape of norther and western Gorenjska

Photo 2: Lake Bled with the only natural island of Slovenia at the town of Bled is one of Slovenia's landmarks and combines three key elements of Gorenjska region: clear waters, rich cultural and natural heritage and Alpine tourism

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Photo 3: City of Škofje Loka historical Old town which surrounds castle above it is one of symbolls of rich history of Gorenjska region

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Photo 4: Forests cover almost 60% of the surface of Gorenjska region which make them not only a main landscape element of the region, but also important environmental factor and natural resource for local economy.

Photo 5: Alpine meadows are one of the dominant agriculture features of Gorenjska region landscape, especially in it's upper part

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Photo 6: Due to mountainous and hilly terrain significant part of Gorenjska region has Alpine and subAlpine climate with cold and snowy winters

Map 4: Topograpy of Gorenjska region within topography map of Slovenia

Rapid industrial development started in 2nd half of 19th century in old craft and iron-foundry centres (eg. Jesenice), partly based on this past proto-industrial activity, or based on some of traditional, technically less developed and small scale craft in urban and also rural settlements (eg. shoemaking, textile production, wood processing…). This was supported strongly by ‘’externa’’ capital, trend which continued also after 1st World War when Slovenia was part of new Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Gorenjska region has actually become one of the strongest industrial centres of whole country, with special focus on textile industry. This development had also deep and key impact on changing of social and settlement structure of many towns and cities in Gorenjska region. Lots of investments in this time came from more developed countries of Western and Central Europe (Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Austria), although there were also number of local company owners (eg. Peko shoe-making factory in Tržič). During this first period of industry development dominant branches were traditional ones (textile, rubber, iron-making, technical, wood-processing, ..) which were joined also with production of some more sophisticated commodities (eg. food products, interior equipment, …). Even more rapid development continued after 2nd World War when Slovenia and Gorenjska region were again among most industrialized in new socialistic Yugoslavia. All

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bigger companies were also nationalized, and Slovenia’s industry gain free access to large Yugoslav market with almost no competition. Despite such favourable situation, industry in Gorenjska region followed main trends of technical and technological development in the world, also by including new branches of industry, as electro-engineering, electro industry (eg. Iskra in the city of Kranj), sport equipment (Elan Co. for skies in Begunje). Large part of production was also exported, with important share into most demanding markets. Another consequence of such development was massive immigration from rural areas and from less developed republics of Yugoslavia (eg. Serbia, Bosnia) as companies needed large number of less qualified workers, which was, however, also part of ideological and political plan of united ‘’brotherhood’’ and solidarity among nations. This caused also need for new flats and cities of Gorenjska region grew rapidly with new neighbourhoods of blocks of flats. Economic and political transition after 1991 hit Slovenia and Gorenjska region hard, although already in the start of this period market economy principles and privatisation of many companies were introduced. Only step by step economy structure and companies adjusted to new economic situation which caused in first period massive unemployment and economic collapse and shoot-down of huge industrial complexes which once each of them employed 1000s of workers. This situation has left also vast, disused industrial areas in and around main industrial centers (eg. Kranj, Tržič, Jesenice) which became in many cases non-attractive for new investors. By 2000s, Slovenia and Gorenjska region, have largely passed this transition period and unemployment dropped under 10%. This was on one side consequence of newly established SMEs with high-added value (car industry, electronic industry, computer industries…), successful transition and upgrading of some of existing traditional industries (eg. ACRON - Steel company in Jesenice), and on the other side shift of economy into service business, eg. commerce, banking and insurance sectors. A part of such development was also additional boom of tourism which has been increasingly important since the start of modern tourism in Gorenjska in 2nd half of 19th century. Similar to the situation before 2nd World War, dominant share of big industrial companies is now in hands of foreign onwers, mainly from Europe, but also other parts of the world (USA, even Egypt). Slovene ownership is dominant in SMEs and in strategic (infrastructural)companies (hydropower plants on Sava river, banks…), although airport of Brnik is now managed by German Fraport Company.

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Photo 7: Traditional iron-foundry in Jesenice before 1st World War

2) Regional Profile

2.1) Natural conditions and landscape

Gorenjska region is Alpine region (part of European Alps) with characteristically diverse mountain landscape. It's diverse surface is characterized by high mountains, among them also Mount Triglav, highest Slovene peak and symbol of Slovene identity. In terms of physical geography some 70% of Gorenjska region territory represent mountain areas, while only 30% are part of vallys and flatlands of central Slovenia.

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Map 5: Topograpy map of Gorenjska – Altitude zones of Gorenjska region (Legend: up to 600m, 600 – 1.000 m, 1000 – 2000m, over 2.000m)

As much as 40 % of Gorenjska region lie above 1.000 metres altitude, over 60 % of it's territory is covered by forests and over 45% of the land is under one or another form of nature protection, including Nature 2000 regime (94.661 ha or 44,3 % of the region's surface is in Natura 2000 and nature protected areas. Nature protected areas in Gorenjska region are Triglav national park, Martuljek and Mala Pišnica, Pokljuka gorge, Blejski kot wetlands, Straža (Bled), Castle of Bled, Barje Za blatom on Jelovica platou, Bobovek Ponds, Kokre river canyon, Memorial park of Udin boršt, Zelenci, Castle park of Brdo, Obla Gorica and Volčji hrib, and Dovžanova Gorge (source: ARSO, Environmental Atlas).

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Map 6: Due to well preserved nature in Gorenjska region an important share of it's territory is protected under one of nature protection regimes

Climate: Gorenjska region is strongly determined by Alpine climate. It enjoys pleasant, sunny summers when days are long and temperatures can often exceed 25C, particularly in July and August. However, summer months are also unpredictable and weather can change from sunshine to clourd and rain in a matter of minutes. May, September and October are a but cooler with temperatures between 15C and 20C. Autums in gorenjska are quite long, since the summers can be short. Winter weather in Gotrenjska, by contrast, is bitterly cold, with snow and frosty days when temperatures hover at or just below freezing. Spring us usually a little late, but by the end of April flowers are blooming and trees quickly burst back to life, with day temperatures staying above 10 C. Rain can fall all year round, but the wettest months are October and November, and the driest on average January and February.

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Maps 7,8 and 9 (above and bellow): Mean annual, January and June temperatures in Gorenjska region in NW of Slovenia shown within the map of these temperatures in Slovenia in 1971-2000 period

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Maps 10 and 11: Mean seasonal snow cower and mean annual precipitation in Gorenjska region in NW of Slovenia shown within the map of these data in Slovenia in 1971-2000 period

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Graph 1: Precipitation, snowfall and snow Cover for Gorenjska expressed in average monthly snowfall and monthly number of days with snow cover and days with precipitation

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Graph 2: Precipitation, snowfall and snow Cover for Gorenjska expressed in average monthly snowfall and monthly number of days with snow cover and days with precipitation

Graph 3: Number of sunshine hours and cloudy days in Gorenjska region 20 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Graph 4: Average monthly number of hot days and number of cold days in Gorenjska region

Gorenjska region is a source area of river Sava basin, and therefore a special attention is paid on the quality of (fresh) water and on water-catchment areas. In 2014 19.814 000 m3 of water were pumped out, of which 17.205 000 m3 (86,8 %) were from underground water sources. Out of this water and trough public water distribution system 8.799 000 m3 of water were distributed to Gorenjska region households, while over 1/3 of all water (7.626 000 m3) was lost in the water distribution network.

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Map 12 – Map of water flows to, over and out of the territory of Slovenia and Gorenjska region, respectively, is an evidence of their great water richness

Photo 8 Slovenia is extremely rich with high-quality underground and surface waters in all forms (rivers, lakes, springs, …) with Gorenjska region among top water regions within the country

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Map 13: Chemical quality of underground waters in Slovenia and Gorenjkska region in NW. Except few red spots Gorenjska region as well as all Western Slovenia has good quality of underground waters

2.2) Technical infrastructure and traffic

Gorenjska region is one of the regions that are crossed by the X. Paneuropean highway and railway corridor which gives it rather favorable potentials for development. It is along the highway and railway that connects SE Europe with Austria, Germany and rest of Central and Western Europe (eg. Belgrade-Munich). Region alsohas main Slovene airport, Jože Pučnik Ljubljana airport, which lies in the souther part of the region, just 9km from the city of Kranj as the regional capital. It has been growing relatively fast all over past 20 years and reached almost 1,7 millions passangers in 2017, but it still remains rather small by the number of passangers and flight destinations, and was largely overpassed by someairport in it's neighbourhood (Zagreb, Triest, Venice,…). There have been, however, large investments in last years to transform it into the logistic hub for this part of the Europe. All this transport possibilities contribute to the rather favorable transport position of Gorenjska region and it's relativelly good accessibility (except some part as Škofjeloško subregion and community of Bohinj). Gorenjska is passed by 79 km of railways and 3.211 km of public 23 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

roads. Out of this there are 68,2 km of highways, 30,5 km of main roads, 364,5 km regional roads, 131,1 km of regional touristic roads, 1.050,2 km of local roads and 1.566,8 km of other public roads. Main backbone of railway network is monorail Ljubljana- Kranj-Jesenice-Villach section of Belgrade-Munich connection, with Bohinj Railway (Jesenice – Bohinj – Nova Gorica) as it's only branch. Region has lost, however, two important regional branches of railway connecting Jesenice with Tarvisio (in Italy) and regional capital Kranj with city of Tržič (both terminated in 1960s). Gorenjska also has a sport airport in Lesce. Region has also collected highest share of waste in Slovenia (70% of communal waste), and 95% od waste water were treated before being released into sewerage system.

Map 14: Main transport network in Gorenjska region (Legend: Mednarodno letališče = Intrernational airport; železnica = railway; avtocesta = highway; glavna ali regionalna cesta = main or regional road)

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Map 15: Main highways in Slovenia, so called ''Slovene highway crossroad'', with A2 crossing entire Gorenjska region and connecting it with Austria, Ljubljana and further with Croatia and Western Balkans, respectively.

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Map 16: Network of highways, main roads and local roads in the NW of Slovenia which includes Gorenjka region with Slovene capital city Ljubljana (Legend: Violet line: highway; Green and yellow lines: main regional roads; Brown lines = main local roads, Grey lines = other local roads)

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Photo 9: Airport JožePučnik Ljubljana lies in the souther part of Gorenjskaregion. It is a biggest Slovene airport, but number of annual passagers and regular destinations one of the smallest in this part of Europe

Photo 10: Karavanke tunnel is as one of 3 tunnels trough border mountains with Austria the most important traffic infrastructure that connects Gorenjska region (and Slovenia and large part of SE Europe) with Austria, Germany and rest od Central Europe

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Map 17 and 18: Map 17: Slovene railway network (Legend: Blue line: Main (international) railways; Green lines: regional railways) and Map 18: Technical charaterisitis of railways in Gorenjska within Slovenia

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Map 19: Planned railway connection (in red) connecting Ljubljana and Jože Pučnik Ljubljana airport and logistic hub (existing railways are in black)

Map 20: Main power lines across Gorenska (red lines with 3 major hydro-power plants (HE Moste, HE Mavčiče and HE Medvode

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Map 21 (above) and 22 (bellow): Main gas transporting network in Slovenia with Gorenjska region in NW being close to all major hubs, both in current and future branches

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Map 23: Map of major and local hubs and branches of power supply of a wider Gorenjska region

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Graph 5: Graph showing share of GDP devoted to environmental investments in Slovene regions (in % of GDP) in 2015 with Gorenjska region having highest share among all

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2.3) Spatial structure and settlements

There are several main characteristics of the settlements structure of Gorenjska region and it’s development in the past. This structure was mainly rural until 2nd World War with few small cities (Kranj, Škofja Loka, Tržič). The rest of population was distributed in a number of villages scattered all over the territory, even in some very remote areas (hilly and mountainous areas, narrow valleys.). Period after the war saw relatively rapid growth of the traditional and some new urban centres (Lesce), mainly due to rapid industrialisation and inflow of people from rural areas and from less developed Yugoslav Republic (Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia…). This growth has spatially not affected so much city centres, but almost exclusively suburban areas, previously rural-agriculture suburbs, where vast neighbourhood with blocks of flats have been built. Such development has, again in relative dimension, extraordinarily expanded the territory of these cities. Villages experienced on other a rapid decline, much less those near to bigger cities with lots of employment potential (eg. in heavy and textile industry) and much more those in remote locations (eg. in mountainous areas). After the start of transition to the market economy and break-up with Yugoslavia (after 1991) several new process have started: cities have been further expanding on it’s suburbs with a growth of new commercial centres (malls, entertainment venues, …) and craft&business zones, while many vast locations where previously traditional industry prevailed, are not empty, disused and even in different phases of decay, so called degraded areas. This has become one of largest spatial and developmental problems of Gorenjska and Slovenia, relatively, as more and more of the best and precious agriculture areas (Slovenia has one the smallest surface of agriculture land in Europe) have been occupied by craft, but mainly commercial zones, while large areas previously occupied by industry are now empty and diused. This has caused also further stagnation of city centres, as more and more of commerce, craft and even entertainment activities has moved out of the city centres which left them half empty. This has started to change only in last 5-10 years with number of initiatives, mainly from local communities, touristic actors and small commerce, to revive and revitalize city centres.

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Map 24: Density of population in municipalities of Gorenjska region in 2012 (which has since changed just minimally)

Map 25: Network of major settlements of Gorenjska region

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There has been also big growth of many villages around big cities (eg. Kranj, Jesenice, Tržič) as many people moved back from cities to villages to live there while still working in cities. Although number of inhabitants of these villages has grown, many of these commuters only sleep there, and are not fully integrated in social life of villages. Some of villages, especially those closer to Ljubljana or along main transport routes (eg. Ljubljana – Munich highway) have also started to build their own business-craft zones with some of them being among largest ones in the region (eg. Šenčur zone). One of the pushing factors in such processes was also partition of the region which has only 5 municipalities in 1991 into 18 municipalities by 2006. This meant that each of them, despite being often quite small, wanted to have their own business-craft zone, bringing also additional tax money to local budget.

Photo 7: Photo 11: Regional capital, city of Kranj, with historical center on the confluence of Sava and Kokra river, and new suburbs spreading out

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Photo 12: Planina neighbourhood of flat blocks (with Planina 1, Planina 2 and Planina 3) at the edges of city of Kranj has today 16.000 inhabitants (out of 37.000 of all inhabitants in the city)

Photo 13: City of Jesenice, traditionally strong ironwork industry center, spreads along Sava Dolinka river in relatively narrow Gornjesavska Valley, along Ljubljana – Munich railway and highway

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Map 26: Disused and degraded or semi-degraded zones (in blue) occupy large part of City of Kranj and represents large economic, spatial and environmental problem

2.4) Population and social infrastructure

In 2016 Gorenjska region had around 203.000 inhabitants which is around 10% of all Slovene population. This region was on top among Slovene regions regarding the share of population in the age group 0–14 years (15,7 %). Also population growth was in Gorenjska region among highest ones (2,1 on 1.000 inhabitants), while migration growth was a negative one (–2,3 2,1 on 1.000 inhabitants). It was also on the second place among other regions according to the share of population with high school and university education (27 %) with 62% of Gorenska regionstudents studying in the Central Slovene (Ljubljana) region. Rate of unemployment was in 2014 in Gorenjska region the lowest one (9,5 %), and also rate of long-term (more than 1 year) and super long-term unemployment (more than 2 years) were in Gorenjskaregion among lowest ones. Almost ¼ of labour active population of this region or 19.000 of people worksinthe Central Slovene region. Average monthly salery was slightly bellowed Slovene average (1.025 EUR). Inhabitants of this region were in 2016 among most satisfied with their lifes with 7,6 mark (with 10 as the highest mark). Number of apartments per 1.000 inhabitants (394) was lower than Slovene average (417), while this flats were regarding the average surface of these apartments among bigger ones (86 m2); 26 % of flats were with 5 or more rooms.

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Graph 6: Natural increase and net migration in Slovene regions shows slight natural increase of population, but negative net migration numbers for Gorenjska region

Graph 7: Coefficient of elder dependent person across Slovene regions, including Gorenjska region in 2008 and 2008 (as a relation between share of population above 65 years and share of labour active population) is another evidence of ageaing population in Slovenia and Gorenjska region, respectively

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Map 27: Index of population ageing across municipalities of Gorenjska region reveals problematic trends, especially in northern and western parts of the region

2.5) Economic situation

Rapid industrial development started in 2nd half of 19th century in old craft and iron-foundry centres (eg. Jesenice), partly based on this past proto-industrial activities, or based on some of traditional, technically less developed and small scale craft in urban and also rural settlements (eg. shoemaking, textile production, wood processing…). This was supported strongly by ‘’externa’’ capital, trend which continued also after 1st World War when Slovenia was part of new Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Gorenjska region has actually become one of the strongest industrial centres of whole country, with special focus on textile industry. This development had also deep and key impact on changing of social and settlement structure of many towns and cities in Gorenjska region. Lots of investments in this time came from more developed countries of Western and Central Europe (Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Austria), although there were also number of local company owners (eg. Peko shoe-making factory in Tržič). During this first period of industry development dominant branches were traditional ones (textile, rubber, iron-making, technical, wood-processing, ..) which were joined also with production of some more sophisticated commodities (eg. food products, interior equipment, …). Even more rapid development continued after 2nd World War when Slovenia and Gorenjska region were again among most industrialized in new socialistic Yugoslavia. All bigger companies were also nationalized, and Slovenia’s industry gain free access to large Yugoslav market with almost no competition. Despite such favourable situation, industry in

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Gorenjska region followed main trends of technical and technological development in the world, also by including new branches of industry, as electro-engineering, electro industry (eg. Iskra in the city of Kranj), sport equipment (Elan Co. for skies in Begunje). Large part of production was also exported, with important share into most demanding markets. Another consequence of such development was massive immigration from rural areas and from less developed republics of Yugoslavia (eg. Serbia, Bosnia) as companies needed large number of less qualified workers, which was, however, also part of ideological and political plan of united ‘’brotherhood’’ and solidarity among nations. This caused also need for new flats and cities of Gorenjska region grew rapidly with new neighbourhoods of blocks of flats. Economic and political transition after 1991 hit Slovenia and Gorenjska region hard, although already in the start of this period market economy principles and privatisation of many companies were introduced. Only step by step economy structure and companies adjusted to new economic situation which caused in first period massive unemployment and economic collapse and shoot-down of huge industrial complexes which once each of them employed 1000s of workers. This situation has left also vast, disused industrial areas in and around main industrial centers (eg. Kranj, Tržič, Jesenice) which became in many cases non-attractive for new investors. By 2000s, Slovenia and Gorenjska region, have largely passed this transition period and unemployment dropped under 10%. This was on one side consequence of newly established SMEs with high-added value (car industry, electronic industry, computer industries…), successful transition and upgrading of some of existing traditional industries (eg. ACRON - Steel company in Jesenice), and on the other side shift of economy into service business, eg. commerce, banking and insurance sectors. A part of such development was also additional boom of tourism which has been increasingly important since the start of modern tourism in Gorenjska in 2nd half of 19th century. Like the situation before 2nd World War, dominant share of big industrial companies is now in hands of foreign onwers, mainly from Europe, but also other parts of the world (USA, even Egypt). Slovene ownership is dominant in SMEs and in strategic (infrastructural)companies (hydropower plants on Sava river, banks…), although airport of Brnik is now managed by German Fraport Company.

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Photo 14: Tradition cotton spinning and weaving factory, BPT Co. in Tržič around 1st World War

Photos 15 and 16: One of the branches of ISKRA Company, which started with production of various electro products after 2nd World War, in 1950 (above) and highly automatized production of in 2010s (bellow)

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Gorenjska region has on average became in last 15 years more tertiary with share of jobs service sector on 60%, and even more in administrative units of Kranj, Radovljica in Jesenice. In spite of this many of local community are or have been recently still in the transition from industrial to post-industrial phase or they search new productsand technologies to upgrade or substituite old (traditional) industries. Comparison in number of employments between period before 2008 crisis showed drop in the number of employed in construction sector, commerce and car maintainance and reparing sector and public administration; all these sectors,except public administration, has started to rise again after the start of economic recovery and high growth in last 3 years. Strong drop was evidedented in processing sector which again has started to change in last years of economic conjucture. Number of employees has increased in expert, scientific and technical activities, health sector and social care and in education sector. Agriculture and forestry employe on average around 3,5 % of population. There were slightly more than 18.000 companies in the region in 2016 with around 69.000 employees. 50 of those companies are so called fast-growing companies which represent 9% of all Slovene fast-growing companies. Gorenjka (statitistical) region

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Map 28: Daily flow of labour force from Slovene regions to Central Slovene region (with capital city of Ljubljana ) with almost 20.000 (10% of entire populatin) daily migrating from Gorenjska

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Map 29: Annual migrations of high-skilled labour force from Slovene regions to abroad with Gorenjska region having a negative result of almost 150 high-skilled person/year

One of most perspective and fastest growing economic activities in Gorenjska region is tourism. Gorenjska region is, with it's diverse and largely intact nature, cultural heritage and events&actvities offered for visitors, important turistic destination which is visted annualy by over 650.000 tourists (considering visitors who sleep over at last once). In 2014 Gorenjska legion was visited by over 650.220 tourists (11,1 % more than in 2008), which represented 19,7 % of all tourists in Slovenia. Slightly lower as the increase of number of tourist arrivals was the increase of touristic overnight accommodations which were 1.670.653 in 2014 or 4,4 % more as in 2008. Occupancy rate of touristic beds is highest in summer and winter months. In summer months this rate is high due to large number of people visiting Gorenjska region (in 2014 as much as 39,9 % of all overnight accommodations were generated in only two summer months, July and August), while in winter months it is due to longer average stay of guests (in January 2014 average stay of guests was 3,4 days). Gorenjska region is also popular destination for one-day trips and excursion tourism, respectively, as it's mountains, lakes, waterfalls and gorges, winter sport and recreation centres, numerous cultural attractions and old historical town centres attract numerous one-day visitors. Gorenjska statistic region had in 2014 the highest numbr of beds among 44 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Slovene regions (26.307). As much as 79 % of overnight stayings were done by foreign tourists.

Map 30: Annual number of overnight staying in Slovene regions in 2015 with Gorenjska region having highest number among all regions

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Map 31: Annual GDP per capita and it’s growth in Slovene regions and Gorenjska region in NW of Slovenia, respectively, in 2015

Graph 8: Number of beds in touristic acommodation establishments in Slovene regions in 2015 with Gorenjska region having the highest number of all 46 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Graph 9: Average monthly net earning in Slovene regions in 2015 with Gorenjska region being on the 3rd place among all just slightly under national average

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2.6) Actors and networks

It was mentiond before that Gorenjska region as such is not a ‘’real’’ region as Slovenia has not yet established a regional administrative level inbetween local communities and the state. Therefor there are no energy regional policies, regional legislation and regional strategies/programs for Gorenjska region alone, at least legaly binded ones. Such documents exist only at the state, and to very limited extent also on local community level. Therefore, cooperation and networking among different public and private partners on all levels is even more important.

Beside BSC Kranj there are several key stakeholders in (regional) development processes:

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• National Institute for Cultural Heriage protection – Unit for Gorenjska region – the whole area of BPT Co. has a status of (industrial) cultural heritage which brings both opportunities and obstacles. On one had it brings certain limitations and rules which need to be respected when planning and implementing changes on this location (eg. demolishing or upgrading buildings of the past factory) while on the other hand confirms that BPT area is a suitable and attractive location for some new activities (museum, cultural events, …) and increase potentials to gain national and EU funds for revitalisation and preservation of important cultural heritage; • Medias (local, regional and national) – their active and constructuve covering of this topic is important to gain positive momentum and atmosphere for finding solutions for the revitalisation of the area, as well as for wide-scale promotion this area among potential public and private investors; • Local population – Area of former BPT is an important spatial part of city of Tržič which means that current situation all future solutions will direcly and indirectly affect quality of life of all local inhabitants (also about offer of different cultural, recreational, .. activities). On the other had this area could also offer new business and employment opportunities for local population, with a special focus on young generations. Local people are beside that also important source of new, fesh ideas about the possible development of this area; • Sport, cultural and other assocciations – area of BPT could offer an interesting and attractive place for acivities of different local and regional assocciations (NGOs), and although such stakeholders don't bring much or any profit, they can bring life, new optimism and attractivness with their activities. NGOs are beside that also important source of new, fesh ideas and humanresources (volunteers) for possible development of this area; • Museum of Tržič and Technical Museum of Slovenia – Museum of Tržič is a municipality museum with a much wider scope of activities (eg. main peddler exhibition in Gorenjska and Slovenia and one of main ski exhibitions). Current location and building of the museum is very limited, especially when taking into account the richness of (industrial) cultural heritage of this area. There are serious planns, supported with planning documents and projects, which offer solutions that part of the area and it's building would be used as modern, interactive museum location focused in the interpretation of industrial cultural heritage. The same goes for Technical Museum of Slovenia, currently based only in Bistra castle close to Ljubljana, which could either move or open new departmets, dedicated to technical heritage, at the BPT location.

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3) Site Profile

3.1) Tržič city center with a focus on disued area of a former Cotton spinning and weaving mill of Tržič (BPT Company) Full name of the pilot: Revitalisation and economic, spatial and social activation of the disused area of a former Cotton spinning and weaving mill of Tržič (BPT Company) as a part of a wider sustainable development of the City of Tržič)

Table 2: Facts & Figures about BPT pilot site City center of Tržič with a focus on disused area of former Site name Cotton spinning and weaving mill of Tržič Company (BPT Co.) Area (ha or m²) 4,6 ha Status Disued/degraded Textile industry until 2005 (now partly used by small enterprises and Type of industry craftman) Owner Voje Co. (daughter company of BPT Co.) - Private ownership

Map 32: Tržič community (area above the blue arrow) within NW Slovenia and the road and railway accessibility

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Image 1: Aerial view of Community of Tržič

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Photo 17: Landscape images of the central part of Community of Tržič at the passage from flat and agriculture southern part to mountainous central and northern parts

Photos 18 (above) and 19 (bellow): Typical Alpine pasture landscape in the hills and mountains of northern part of Community of Tržič with predominant dairy livestock

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Photos 20 – 23 (above): Territory of the community of Tržič is extremely rich with well preserved nature, dominated by water streams, mountains and forests. Due to this as much as 80 % of community is under Nature 2000 regime

Map 33: City of Tržič within the Local community of Tržič (blue arrow)

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Photo 24: City of Tržič from the southern approach (mountains on the top of the photo are already a border with Austria)

Photo 25: Southern, industrial part of the City of Tržič and with blue arrow marking the location of BPT complex which continues with the Old town of Tržič (orange arrow)

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Photo 26: City center of Tržič (with old town) along Tržiška Bistrica river. In the very bottom of the photo building are already a northern edge of BPT Co. site.

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Photo 27: Main street of the Old town of Tržič

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Map 34: Site of BPT disused area is marked with blue arrow on the map of wider area of City of Tržič (above).

Map 35: Location of the BPT Co. pilot site within the core area of City of Tržič (in the narrow valley of Tržiška Bistrica river)

Cotton spinning and weaving mill Tržič (BPT Co.) has been all the time since it’s establishment and construction a very important component part of city of Tržič. It’s funder was Edmund Glanzman which has from 1885 till 1891managed all activities in organizing of this production plant. BPT was also one of the oldest companies in Slovenia. Soon after the creation of BPT Co., Tržič got city rights which was definitely a consequence of intensive industrialisation of so far market town of Tržič where importanted factories were established and attracted numerous new labour force. The same was happening in the same period all over Europe as it was the same that these factories started to die down after a bit more than 100 years. Only empty buildings have remained and some of them simply collapsed into onself. On the contrary of above described fate of many old industry complexes, complex and all industrial area of BPT Co., which was established according to the plan of Sequin&Bronner architectural bireou, has been preserved until today. Due to it’s natural location and it’s own development BPT Co. area present one of rare preserved industrial complexes which have not been not incorporated in any other constructed structure or passable urban structure but have created it’s own by themselves. It is due of this uniqueness that BPT Co. site was recognized as Slovene industrial cultural heritage.

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Photos 28, 29 and 30: (above and bellow): Cotton spinning and weaving mill Tržič (BPT Co.) in 19th and early years of 20th century when it was known as ‘’Mother of Tržič’’ due to large number of woman employed there

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Photos 31 – 38 (bellow): Complex of disused BPT Company in the center of Tržič today

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OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY OF TRŽIČ AND CITY OF TRŽIČ as the microregion of the pilot SITE

Community of Tržič is one Slovene local communities on the north-west of the country and one of 18 communities of Gorenjska region on the north of the region. It covers 155,4 km2 of the territory and borders on the north with Austria with border on the mountain ridge of Central Karavanke mountains. Almost entire community belongs to the river system of Tržiška Bistrica river and only smaller part to the river system of Kokra river. Administrative center and biggest settlement of local community is the City of Tržič. Central part of Karavanke mountains covers also northern part of the community, after which terrain gradually lowers towards Dobrava flatlands in the southernmost part of the community which belongs to the northern part of Ljubljana basin. In the mountainous part of the community there are bigger and smaler valleys, with the valleys of Tržiška Bistrica river, Mošenik stream and Lomščica stream as the biggest ones. A consequence of the above described mountaonous landscape is a harsh alpine climate which is demonstrated in relatively low temperatures and amount of precipitations above the average for Slovenia. 70 % of the community surface is covered by forests with spruce as a extremely dominant tree specie.

Photo 39: Southern part of Community of Tržič (on photo village of Križe) is relatively flat and fertile and therefore the most important agriculture area of the community

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Photos 40-42 (above) photos showing passage from flat south of the Community of Tržič into more mountaonous terrain, rich with water streams, waterfalls, ...

Photos 43 – 44: Due to mountains of Karavanke which rich more thatn 2000 metres in the north of Community of Tržič, winters are cold and rich with snow

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Photos 45 and 46 (above) – Karavanke mountains in the northern part of community form a geological contact between African and European tectonic plates, and sea was in prehistoric period covering majority of it’s territory. Consequently, northern part of community is one of geological hot-spots in Europe, especially Dovžanova Gorge with numerous rare and important fossils, and therefore protected as geological natural heritage

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As for climate, the majority of Community of Tržič,. Along with city of Tržič, has moderate Alpine climate. During the months of June, July, August and September weather is most stable and pleasant with pleasant average temperatures. Cold season / winter is in the months January and December. On average, the warmest month is July, while the coolest month is January. July is the wettest month and January is the driest month. Graphs bellow present main climate/weather conditions in Tržič trough graphs showing some of the key climate elements for the nearby city of Klagenfurt (Austria, 50km distance) which has literately same climate.

Graph 10: Average minimum and maximum temperatures in the Community of Tržič troughout the year (based on the measurment made in the nearby city of Klagenfurt

Graph 11: Average monthly sunhours in the Community of Tržič troughout the year (based on the measurment made in the nearby city of Klagenfurt)

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Graph 12: Average precipitation (rain/snow) n the Community of Tržič troughout the year (based on the measurment made in the nearby city of Klagenfurt)

Graph 13: Average number of rainy days in the Community of Tržič troughout the year (based on the measurment made in the nearby city of Klagenfurt)

Tržič is located along the main Ljubelj road which runns from Ljubljana to Kranj and trough Tržič and Ljubelj tunnel to Austria. The distance to the Ljubljana as a capital city is only 45 km, with 25 buses from Ljubljana to Tržič on working days, 12 buses on Sathurdays, Sundays and holidays and 19 buses during teh period of summer season and school holidays, relatively. Jože Pučnik (Ljubljana) intrnational airport is only 20 km away which in total makes Tržič community easy accessible. Community of Tržič had in 2015 14.994 inhabitants (7.422 man and 7.572 woman). The average density of population was in 2013 97 person/km2, which is less than Slovene average with 102 person/km2. Natural population growth per 1.000 person was has been negative with 0,3 (in Slovenia 0,9). Negative was also migration growth with -4,3 person per 1000 (in Slovenia 1,1). Average age of inhabitants was in that year 42,8 year which is higher than Slovene average (42,2 years). Number of members of oldest population group was higher as those in the population group which is the same situation as in the majority of Slovene communities: on each 100 person inthe 0-14 years age group there were 130 person in the age group of 65 years and more. This is higher as average aging index in 71 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Slovenia with 119. It also describes that aging of population is more rapid as on average in Slovenia. Number of woman members in the oldest age group was higher than number of those in the youngest age group, while situation for man was balanced. Beside children and youth in kindergartens, primary schools and high schools there were 40 students and 8 gradutes per 1.000 person, while average for Slovenia was 44 students and 9 graduates.

Among people in the age 15-64 years age group (t.i. among labour capable population) around 57% were employed or self-employed (t.i. labour active) which is similar to the Slovene average. Among labor active there were 12,1 % registred unemployed people which is a bit lower as Slovene average. As in majority of Slovene communities unemplyment was higher among woman as among man. Tržič has a long tradition of labour-intensive industry in spite of constant decrease of the industry, especially in last 25 years. Companies have been in this period closing down, moving to other location (away from Tržič) or shrinking their production capacities. Only few of them remainsand expand (Cablex, Migi). Craft has had in Tržič always extremely important role, especially as it has multiplicative effect on other economic activities (eg. tourism). City of Tržič has a long and very rich shoe-making tradition (especially with ex-Peko Company) which is demonstrated with annual festival od shoe-making ‘’Peddler’s Sunday’’. Other smaller craftman and entrepreneurs have started to enter to this tradition by manufacturing, selling and distributing of shoes.

During most of 20th century Tržič served as one of the strongest employments centers not only for central Gorenjska region, but for all Slovenia and less developed regions of ex-Yugoslavia. This coukld be illustrated with a fact that Peko Co. had on the peak of it’s production in 1977 as much as 5288 ljudi employes, produced annualy 3,7 pairs of shoes and was one of the leading companies in Europe. Also, other factoris empolyed hundreds or even thousands (eg. BPT Co) of people from all Gorenjska, Slovenia and ex-Yugoslavia; the later also contributed to the strong migrations from other republic of ex-Yugoslavia, especially Craotia. Consequence of that was that in 1991 15 % of comjunity population and almost 30% of city of Tržič’s populations was non-Slovene. These companies have not, however, survived long period of transition after the introduction of market economy in 1991, mainly due to bed management, changed situation on Eurpean&world markets and some cases of corruption.

Community 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 of Tržič Number of 951 1037 1091 1103 1106 1154 companies Number of 3.582 3.543 3.458 3.217 3.123 3.073 employed person Income ( in 219.804 205.830 226.430 214.375 208.548 198.668 1.000 EUR)

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Number of 3,8 3,4 3,2 2,9 2,8 2,7 person per company Table 3: Growth of companies in Community of Tržič in 2008-2013 period

In 2013 there were 1.154 registred companies with microcompanies as the prevailing size of the comoanies (504). Among this group of companies more than 66 % were self-employed entreprenours. In the period from 2008 till 2013 number of companies grew for more than 21% while number of person employed there decreased for around 14 %.

Photos 47-48: Tržič has a rich history of shoe-making which has had a deep influence on it’s economy, societal life and culture&traditions for more than 200 years. One of such traditions is Day of St. Gregory which is traditionally marked with children putting so called Gregorčki 73 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

(self-made candels ) into Tržiška Bistrica river in the mid of March. This symbolise the start of period when artficial lights were no more neccessary in shoe-making workshops

Bigest share of micro, small and middle size companies were in the sectors of Catering, Expert&Science and Technical economic activities and Commerce&Maintainance and Reparing of motor vehicles.

Number of companies grew most rapid in the sector of Catering and reached 71 companies or 97% increase. The growth was also evidented with number of microcompanies while number of small companies decreased.

Although 2008 crisis hit the ecomomy of Tržič and it’s companies hard, which was accompanied with final phases of collapse of some of old industry companies (eg. shoe-making Peko Co. which was eliminated in 2016 after long agony), Tržič has successfully recovered and has been steadily progressing since 2010 on, which reflects in several companies, number of jobs, average salaries and also some indirect indicators showing development in the economy and society, eg. number of children enrolled into kindergartens.

Graph 13: Number of companies registred in Community of Tržič in 2006 and in 2016

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Graph 14: Number of jobs in the Community of Tržič in 2006 and in 2016

Graph15: Average gross salaries in the Community of Tržič in 2006 and in 2017

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Photo 49-50: Visit of Ministry of Economics Zdravko Počivalšek at the family Migi Company which has since 1989 successfully developed and produced specialized orhopedic shoes and which employs today more than 20 people. More tha 80 % of it’s production is exported to foreign markets, mainly to Japan, Germany and Switzerland. During this visit Migi’s management predicted 20% growth in 2018 and stated they would need more workers. Company’s production now takes place in the former buildings of bankrupted Peko Co.

Community of Tržič has in past years succesfully carried out a set of soft measures and activities to promote economy and entreprenourship. Among them were meetings on a topic ‘’How to attract more investments to the community of Tržič’’ and ‘’How to additionaly awaken entreprenourship in the community of Tržič’’ where key advantages were analysed and number of opportunities identified, and creation of the catalog of 76 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

investment and business opportunities in the community which was adressed both to Slovne and foreigh investors. In year 2017 alone municipality spent 170.000 EUR for promotion of economy and entreprenoutrship development. Municipality of Tržič announced in 2017 that it will put in following year even more focus on promoting entreprenourship among residents, on promoting development and connecting among existing companies and supporting Slovene and foreign investments. Very clear evidence that people from Tržič are more and more enterprising has been increasing of the number of companies in the local community as well as increasing of the company’s income, while registred unemployment has been decreasing to the current level of 8%.

In order to motivate with fresh and perspective business opportnuties and approaches even more residents of Tržič for independent entreprenourship path, Municipality of Tržič has prepared in cooperation with Tržič Institute for Adult Education has been annualy preparing since 2016 a set of motivation and education workshops withing a so called Podjetniška akademija (Academy of Entreprenourship), fiananced by Municipality of Tržič. This program included beside the Academy also Entreprenourship Evening and Entreprenourship Breakfasts.

Photo 51: Final presentation of bussiness project of pupils of 6 teams from Tržič and Križe Primary Schools One ‘’branch’’ of these activities was also a program for pupils ‘’It is good to start with entreprenourship young enough’’, within which teams of pupils from different schools from the municipality of Tržič prepared and publically presented their business ideas.

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Graph16: Number of newly enrroled children into kindergartens in the Community of Tržič in 2006 and in 2017

Agriculture and land-use in Community of Tržič: Forest is a dominant land-use in the community (70%). Extensive agriculture use includes 20% of land, while better condition for agriculture and fields covers only 1% of the community surface, mainly on the flat southern parts. Forest landscape is especially protected on the areas of erosions and landslides, and on the areas where protected animal and plant species depended on forest environment are presented. Due to the abandoning of agriculture, and in some settlement also decrease of number of population, relatively large plots (in total 262 ha or 1,5% of territory) are affected by overgrowing and gradually turn into forests. Poor condistion for agriculture reflect also in the orientation of farms, in relatively small number of farms and in the level of intensity of agriculture production. Out of agriculture land by far largest share belongs to the permanent grasseland and grasslands (82,5 %), which is followed by fields (14,8 %) and permanent plantations&gardens (2,7 %). Municipality supports organic farming as the the most co-natural form of agriculture which ensures safe and healthy food, protection of environment well-being of animals and preservation of biodiversity. Beside preservation and restoration of high-grown orchards,production of fruits and vegetables, integrated farming and gardening also grazzing on farms is being introduced (in the context of increased local food self- supply) along with organic bee-keeping adn developement of supplementary economic activities on farms. Beside main economic activities of agriculture and forestry hunting and fishing is still preserved in the community of Tržič. Area with more intensive agriculture production are in the southern part of the community where grassland and fields prevail. Northern and central hilly parts are entirely listed amongf areas with limited production factors; here traditional agriculture production, preventing of overgrowing, preservation of biodiversity and natural values

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are supported. In the areas which are affected by the overgrowing of agriculture land agriculture renewed agriculture use of the land is supported.

Tourism: Development of tourism has been in previous decades based on Alpine skiing, with increasing importance of montaineering which can be carried out troughout the whole year. Since 2014 there is very popular swimmingpool center Gorenjska beach (on the location where old swimming pool was renovated) in the community. Taking into account natural and constructed (man-made) conditions community of Tržičhas favorable conditions for development of tourism and recreation, but in spite of that tourism is underdeveloped. Majority of overnight stayings is on the account of transite guests and mountaineers. There is great opportunity in one-day guests whose number in nearby big cities (Kranj, Ljubljana, Celovec-Klagenfurt) is rapidly increasing. Focus of the tourism development is on eco-tuorism which is closely connected with environment and especially with nature. Actvities of eco-tourism try to affect the nature and local community in a minimu possible way with nature experience as the main aim. Community wishes to become recognisable touristic area with links to the regional core touristic areas of Gorenjska region, Ljubljana urban region and region of Austrian Carinthia

Photo 52 – 54 (above and bellow): Important step in the development of Tržič tourism was construction of new swiming-pool complex called ’’ Gorenjska plaža’’ (Gorenjska Beach) in 2014 which welcomed already by July 2018 more tha 100.000 visitors. Project costed around 4,2 millions euros and was buiilt mainly by EU regional development funds and state funds (in total around 3 millions euros.

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Diversity of preserved and rich cultural heritage and nature are good bases for development of tourism. One of the main priorities of tourism is tourism directed in the old city center of Tržič. Development of entire Podljubelj valley in the north of community, all the way untilthe Podljubelj tunnel, is directed into tourism with recreation (montaineering) and into organizing supplementary (touristic) activities on local farms. In these plans the area of abandoned Ljubelj border plateau would be used for setting up acommodation capacities and acompanying touristic programs. Tourism will be based on stronger promotion and marketing of touristic offer in the community, increase of the accommodation capacities (also in existing touristic

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structures), renovation and development and construction, respectively, of touristic and recreation infrastructure, inclusion of nature protected areas, natural values, Natura 2000 areas and cultural heritage into tourism offer, support and further development of touristic culture events, revitalisation and activation of traditional crafts (shoe-making, weaving) and gastronomy offer, as well as connecting with surrounding communities, regions and (cross-border) states.

Graph 17 (above): Raise in the number of overnight stayings in the municipality of Tržič from 2012 till 2017 (blue= all tourists, orange= Slovene tourists, Grey = Foreign tourists, yellow = all tourists at Zelenica mountain tourist resort) and from 2013-2017

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Graph 18 (above): Raise in the number of overnight stayings in the municipality of Tržič from 2014 (grey colum) till 2017 (green colum)

There were 964 turists in 2014 in Tržič, of which majority were domestic ones (53,21 %), while foreign visitors created majority (62,81 %) of all overnight stays in Tržič . For development of economy (with tourism) traffic connections by main road with Austria are important, as well as connection to the highway cross connecting it to the center of Slovenia (with Ljubljana) and the rest of the regions. On the other side Tržič with it’s geography of basin location is distanced from all of these traffic connections (and their negative impacts), so that they don’t affect the quality of life in the community.

Graph19: Slovene local communities with highest growth in the tourist-based income in the 2012-2017 period (in the % of the growth; Municipality of Tržič has achieved 4th place with 515% of growth)

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Photo 55: 2018 pre-election poster of current mayor of Tržič Borut Sajovic stating a goal to reach in 2022 30.000 overnight stayings (in 2017 this number was at almost 15.000).

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Photos 56-59 (above): Mountain Fairy Tale glamping park with 6 glamping houses is a new touristic investment just at the entrance to the City of Tržič and near Gorenjska beach aqua- park. It was finished in autumn 2018 and each of houses has 4 beds. Total investment was around 400 000 euros. 84 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Photo 60: In 2018 a well-established Hop-on, hop-off line in nearby touristically well developed Radovljica Community was extended also to the Community of Tržič with a city of Tržič as a main stop. Number of free guided tours in Tržič were offered to the visitors using this bus .

Photos 61-62: Ski center Zelenica in the border mountains of Karavanke (with Austria), which was very popular and visited in 1970’ and 1980,’ had faced severe crisis after so called ‘’green winters’’ became more and more common. Now focus of the tourist offer is shifting from skiing to other winter activities (eg. winter walking, sledding) and especially to summer time activities (eg. walking and nature education). Important share of finences for new equipment was bought trough number of cross-border project Interreg SI-AT 85 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

Photos 63-65 (above) – New geotourism offer has been developed and promoted also in the northern part of community which is one of geological hot-spots in Europe, especially Dovžanova Gorge. Focus is now shifted from classical guding to nature interpretation and 5 sense nature experiences

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Photo 66: Traditional International days of minerals, fossils and environment (MINFOS) in Tržič, which have seen already a 45th repetition in 2018, is internationally recognized and well visited event of all people interested in this part of geology

Photo 67-70: Rapid growth of tourism in the Community of Tržič is largely based on attracting visitors by the wide range of nature activities in well preserved local nature, both in summer and winter (off-piste skiing, fishing, biking, ...)

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Photos 71-73: Cultural heritage with Tržič museum (P:71), local art-crafts (P: 72), monuments based on local legends, and gastronomy, especially those at the mountain pastures (P:73),ares increasingly important parts of tourism in the Community of Tržič

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4) Challenges and Expectations

4.1) Present and future challenges in the development of the region

The main challenge in the development of the region is to ensure sustainable production with added value (also based on region’s natural and human resources) which would ensure successful business and (new) qualitative jobs while at the same time minimize it’s negative impact on spatial and other environmental elements and social structure of the area. Well preserved environment (with big quantities of high-quality water) and nature, respectively, which is both rich and very sensitive, is here important element and long-term developmental source which should not be jeopardized with narrow-viewed and short-term economic decisions. But not only production, also it’s products should be sustainable and enabling sustainable consumption, considering here their entire product life cycle. On the business side relatively low-level of purchasing power of local market is important factor, as well as limited spatial potentials which are needed also for other activities as industry and commerce (especially agriculture).

Photo 74: Steel statue of dragon, one of the symbols of the City of Tržič, feature also in numerous legends

In current situation and considering mid- and long-term perspective, it is therefore very important to reactivate and revitalize old industrial zones which cover large areas in traditional industrial cities as Kranj, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Jesenice, but also some other production zones (as mines). Without that, these areas will continue to present important spatial, environmental and social problem, while at the same time occupy land which could be used for industry, commerce, living, culture, traffic…instead of very limited regional space and land which is so much needed for eg. agriculture. Information that partly or fully disused industrial zones occupy half of center of Tržič and photo bellow, showing disuse or/and degraded zones in the regional capital of Kranj, are illustrating very well this problem and challenge, respectively. Important or even the biggest problem is a private ownership with it’s financial expectations which often blocks or at least slows down finding sustainable solutions which are in interest of broad society. On the positive side is a fact that such problems and challenges often produce

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innovative solutions and approaches which have positive effects beyond solving only problem of certain disused/degraded zone.

Map 75: Disused and degraded or semi-degraded zones (in blue) occupy large part of City of Kranj and represents large economic, spatial and environmental problem. Similar situation occurs in number of other cities and town around Gorenjska region which were once stron cebntres of traditional industries, eg. textile ind., rubber ind., shoe ind., steel factories (in Tržič, Jesenice, Škofja Loka).

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4.2) Present and future challenges in the development of the BPT disused site

Current situation and trends (2005 - 2015)

Current situation of the former Cotton spinning and weaving mill of Tržič (BPT Company) complex shows the abandonment of the majority of buildings and limitations imposed by the cultural heritage protection aspects which need to be taken into account when intervining in this spatial area. Unique location of the former BPT Co. is presented as a unique complex which joins past with future with a view to the future potentials. The area is in the city center of Tržič and is a important cultural heritage with a big potential for development of diverse set of activities. This triggered in the past 15 years numerous ideas and initiatives for revitalisation od this degraded area which, together with the rest of old industrial zones, occupies half of the Tržič city center. BPT factory complex, which saw basic textile production of the factory being removed from here in 2005 (to other locations in Slovenia and abroad), is located in the southern part of the city of Tržič and covers plateau which is on the northern and western side limied by Tržiška Bistrica river, on the south by the hill and Predilniška street (Spinning and weaving Street), while on the east by a dam and area of buildings for central functions and flats. Area with a size of 4,6 ha is located at the entrance to the old (historical) center of city. Factory complex occupies this location already from the start in 1885 and natural conditions enabled undisturbed development of industry. In this way a comprehensive industry complex was formed which can be compared in a surface to the nearby center of old town of Tržič. Beside factory building, there are also some other objects in the area as mill-pond, power plant, steam boiler-hall, water tower and vila. All addings and changes in these buildings are preserved in original volumes and almost entirely also regarding their shapes. Building are interconnectd with communiction areas, eg. there is still preserved factory transport railway. Urbanistic charateristics of the area are it's closeness, self-sufficiency and equable internal innterconnection. Access is available from the NE side, while access from the SZ is currently not in function. Building intensity of the area is high, while factor of use-efficency is low as most of the buildings are one-floor. The hight of the buildings is rather hymogenous, with exception of only two buildings. Spatially dominant element is water tower on the SW of the area. Shape of the building originates back to the period when the area was designed. There are no designed green area with the exception of space around monument at the main management building and at the vila. BPT is today partly abandoned, only to small extent ocuppied by some new (business) activities, while primary textile production has left the area in the beginning of 2000s. Complex is also entirely in private ownership, owned by the Voje Co., a 1 employee company estabished in 2012 as a daughter company of BPT Co. BPT Co. was a previous owner of entire complex who’s main current business is managing & selling eletricity from several hydro-power plants (HP). These HPs were in the last 100 years built and managed for providing eletricity for textile production in BPT. One among them is also at the location of BPT. Among some of the projects which were designed for this are was also a large-scale project of Kranjska Investment Co. in 2006 which wanted to build flats on at least half 92 trAILs – WP T1: Pilot profiles (draft)

of the available area. Company steped down from this plans as they failed to get all permissions required, especially the one from the National institute for cultural heritage protection. At that time entire location was on sell by BPT Co. for 4 millions EUR. Out of total surface of 47.000 m2, as much as 30.000 m2 are covered ones, t.i. buildings (mainly factory halls). After the abandoment of textile production around half of them were rented to different companies and institutions. Despite that BPT Co. remainded optimistic to find solution, alone or in the cooperation with municipality administration; some proposed options were mixed apartment-craft zone or assisted apartments for elders. BPT after that invested millions of euros for renovation of almost 100 years old hydropower plants which they saw as a prospective business. The current mayor of Municipality of Tržič, Borut Sajovic, which was in 2018 elected for his third term in office, stated already after his first election in 2006 that they will find a solution for BPT althought Municipality is not the owner of BPT complex. They promised to consider wishes and needs of potential investors while preparing spatial plan of the municipality. He expressed his optimism based on the interest expressed by some of the potential investors (he personally showed the location to 3 potential investors in 2006-2007 period alone), and that compromise could be reached between demands of cultural heritage protection and expectations of investor. There were many critics on behalf of Voje Co., which was established in 2012 as the daughter company of BPT Co. and now serves as the owner of the BPT complex, that it hasn’t done anything for reactivation and revitalisation of this location and that all buildings are just decaying. There have been, however, a number of small companies which started to use buildings suitable for warehouse for their production. Also some assocciation were invited to use empty places for their activities by paying just a minimum price. There was evident that goals of Voje Co., are rather serious and ambitious as they were aware of the strategic position of this location nearby to the city center and to all important institition of the municipality.

Current situation and trends&perspectives (2015 - )

Regional unit of Slovene institute for cultural heritage protection has issued in 2015 a starting-point conservation requirements for renovation of the area which are importantg part of regulating documents for interventions in the area. The entire area is under culture protection regime as a industrial heritage which has to be preserved even if with new contents. This requirements has been prepared and presented by the Institute in 2015 within a document ''Valorisation and conservation bases for a revitalisation of BPT area'' where recommendations were suggested for the revitalisation of the area. Within the document a valorisaion of individual part of the former complex was done and all objects divided into 3 groups (A, B, C), with A being highest and C lowest valued objects. For each of these buildings a development directive was prepared which needs to be fullfilled within the future development of the area, with balancing and comparing potential future contents rather than with stric separation of individual objects.

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In 2015 BPT Complex (along with other locations in the Local community of Tržič) was visited also by Slovene minister of culture during which minister discussion with local authorities and BPT Co. on the possibilities for preserving this important cultural heritage in the center of Tržič one one and arranging a suitable environment for companies on the other side. On that occasion Alenka Žibert and Damjana Habjan from Voje Co, as the BPT owner, ensured, that they are aware of the importance of the BPT complex and that they are putting an afford to mobilize, together with partners, 12.000 m2 of the area and bulding space, along with acceses and paths, for Museum of Tržič and Technical museum of Slovenia (TMS). They estimated that such arrangements would cost around 500.000 EUR. Representatives of TMS presented their major current problem which is how to save many of their exhibit items which now they deposit at separated, and often unsuitable locations. Additional problem was to find a solution where to keep items from old Kamnik gunpowder storage house and Vevče paper mill. For that reason, they found offer to use some locations in BPT very interesting, of which they would at that moment use between 2000-3000 m2, but only if that would be a long-term solution, not just for 5 years. Such proposals had been found interesting also by minister of culture mrs. Julijana Bizjak Mlakar which, however, warned about limitations of the projects with public-private partnerships. Municipality of Tržič and Voje Co., which owns the property of BPT, have since 2015 prepared plans for concrete steps for revitalisation, among which preparation of development concept for the area is the initial phase of this process. Such concept would also have a potential activities listed and with definition of possible interventions on the protected buildings. As one part of this concept and as one of basic developmental and revitalisation documents, Municipality of Tržič prepared in 2015 (and presented to the public in autumn 2016) a planning document called ''Revitalisation of idustrial areas of BPT Tržič'' which contains idea concepts for traffic and communal arranging and public area in this disused area. For this purpose further strategic document was prepared in 2016 for designing traffic infrastructure and other infrastructure in the area. Furthermore, there was a public debate organized in september 2016 in Tržič about development opportunities of the BPT complex. Starting point or better say a trigger for a discussion was already mentioned ''Revitalisation of idustrial areas of BPT Tržič''. It was a decision of Municipality council of Tržič already back in February 2016 that all citizens of Tržič and other interested parties will be invited tio these debate which will also have an opportunity to send their written suggestions and initiatives until the end of April 2016.

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Photo 76: Public debate wit representatives of Municipality of Tržič (with a mayor Borut Sajovic at the extreme right of the photo) and

Photo 77: A map of the BPT complex with future public interventions in the peripherial zones, also by purchasing part of the land, to improve it's infrastructure and greeing the are (eg. parking lots, public park, …)

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During this public event an interest in revitalisation and development was expressed both by the Voje Co. which is majority owner of the complex and by the Municipality of Tržič which is aware that ensuring comprehensive renovation is possible only with partly public ownership of the complex which will be followed by public-private intervention and later by purly private investment cycle.

Photo 78: Public debate was well attended which proves high interest for the BPT location both by individuals’ citizens, institutions and business actors

All the participants agreed that there is a lack of such flat and empty spaces in Tržič, that financial challenge is to big to be handled only by public finances and the whole complex to be bought by municipality. It is, however, very welcomed, that municipality will buy those parts where no private investment can be expected. They also agreed that it would easier to pull down this old building and build something new rather just preserve it in current form. They also agreed that project about BPT can be finalized successfully only in form of dialogue with unified position of owners and local community. The important part is also that owners has not only a vision but also plan to implement this vision. It was evident from the plan within the idea project that such project allows production activities as well as service activities as the location would offer not just museums, but it will become also place of sport, recreation and tourist accommodation, and will be also intertwined by parks and walking paths. Representatives of Slovene national institute for cultural heritage underlined two important aspects which are very important about this technical cultural heritage and need to be preserved; first one is a flat area in a settlement which is otherwise squeezed between mountains, and well preserved architecture dating back to the end

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of 19th century which is unique in Slovenia for the beauty of it’s implementation as well as for the level of preservation.

There were several ideas, as well as concerns raised by different institutions, associations, companies and individuals:

● some associations of youngsters of Tržič expressed a strong wish that buildings of BPT complex could host young artists who would find here their place and that center of urban arts and sports would be established here. To compensate support of the municipality in such plans they expressed their willingness to give to the location’’spirit of youth’’ and to work in arranging the location from the very start of project; ● concerns were expressed by local entrepreneurs that there would be a lack of parking space if the location will be revitalized as it is planned as the big potential for the location is business based not only on customers from Tržič; such entreprenours would be interested in renting office at the location; ● as the broader area of Tržič is becoming interesting for bike tourism, some of entrepreneurs consider opening a big sport shop which so far doesn’t exist in Tržič, and to build a covered bicycle track which would attract adrenalin fans from all Slovenia and abroad. In order to get it, location and local community would need, however, offer some competitive advantages to such business activities; ● there is an opportunity for wooden biomass heating plant due to the richness of Tržič’s hinterland with forests; ● it could be a location for setting up film studio; ● fears were expressed that owners of the complex, Voje Co., could just financially exploit Municipality during the revitalisation process despite that electric power production brings them high profits. Some suggested that Voje Co. could simply donate BPT area, not sell, to the Municipality of Tržič, as the costs of building demolitions which are allowed will be very high; ● location offers opportunity for new library as the facilities of the current one is small and unsuitable; ● some of the companies currently renting facilities in BPT Co. warned they need more warehouse facilities and that there is not enough space for turning over bigger trucks. If nothing will be changed, some of the companies might move their business to other locations; ● some of architects warned that location needs to become more opened which means that more of the buildings should be demolished as it was suggested in current documents. ● One of the general messages was that when planning the future of BPT Co. we should think mostly about needs of younger generations which will be able to benefits from the money and afford which is invested now.

Borut Sajovic as the Mayor of Tržič underlined that municipality has taken many steps which will help to activate this space. As one of them, they will buy a part of the location which is important for infrastructure. As one obe the stated obstacles is also too high

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density of buildings within the complex, some of less valuable buildings, builz after the war, will be demolished.

All these decisions, particularly about stronger activation of the local administration, were made after it became evident that owner alone is not capable of making major breaktrough, even though complex of former BPT presents with it’s 4,5 hectars of land within city center a major opportunity for city center and entire municipality both in spatial and content terms. Municipality of Tržič now participates in a part which is in public interest, especially about improvements of public infrastructure. This meant arranging an access road, bridge, parking places and, as already mentioned, demolishing several buildings in northern part of the location which do not serve to their purpose anymore (and they are not under cultural heritage protection). The same goes for empty and very precious space for public space on the location of former management building and old weaving mill. Municipality of Tržič wishes to clean these micro locations and prepare space for playgrounds, walking paths, bike paths and creat a city park, something that doesn’t exisit yet in Tržič. Mayor Borut Sajovic expressed a view that majority of buildings need to be preserved, but behind old, well conservated facades create new contents adjusted to need of modern times. In such way revitalisation of former BPT is a favorable opportunity for craftsman and entrepreneurs as they will be able to carry out different activities within the complex: from less disturbing craft and other business activities till buildings and spaces for sport, culture and other actvities of public and bralder social importance.

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Map 37: General map with within ''Revitalisation of idustrial areas of BPT Tržič'' showing main idea concepts for the spatial revitalisation of BPT area with a special stress on 3 public interventions on it’s margins

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Map 38: Section map with a detailed plan of public intervention in the northwestern part of the BPT complex where some of the buildings will be renovated and used as museum and other cultural activities. There will be also public walking path arranged on the enture norther periphery of BPT Co., which will pass also this section

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Map 39: Section map with a detailed plan of public intervention in the northeastern corner of the BPT complex where one of the buildings will be renovated, while others will be demolished in order to create a public city park. There will be also public walking path arranged on the enture norther periphery of BPT Co., which will pass also this section

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Map 40: Section map with a detailed plan of public intervention in the southestern part of the BPT complex where parking space with 79 parking lots will be arranged. Access bridge will also be newly built, along with new section of internal road connection parts of the location.

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Photo 79: Current building of the Museum of Tržič, which is one of ‘’candidates’’ for BPT facilities. Museum preserves and presents rich cultural heritage of it’s territory, mainly traditions of different (art)crafts (eg. shoe-making). After interior renovation and new concept and equipments for heritage interpretation museum received in 2018 Valvasor award, highest museum award in Slovenia. It has, however, serious problems with a lack of space on the current location in the Tržič City cemter.

Within this development and to realize above mentioned plans, Council of the Municipality of Tržič unanimously passed in August 2016 a decree for buying some real-estates at the location of former BPT. By this they could carry out a plan to arrange there a city public park, modernize already exisiting public parking park and set up a public road within the BPT complex. Gradualy they would renovate also communal infastructure, t.i. construction of biking and walking path and other public infrastructure on the outer ring of the complex. Municipality paid from the budget of municipality of Tržič for 12.285 m2 of real estate around 340.000 EUR to the owner Voje Co.

BPT complex as the biggest disused industrial area in the Community of Tržič has started it’s revitalisation from 2018 on. After closing a deal with Voje Co. Part to buy above mentioned real-estates, Municipality has started already in the beginning of 2018 with demolishing several buildings which are not under cultural heritage protection. Also a suggested traffic arrangements are already in implementation phase and will be realized by the 2019.

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Within this process a contract was signed in March 2018 between Community of Tržič and Voje Co. as co-financer and selected construction company for demolishing part of the BPT complex. Buildings to be demolished included new management buildings, firefighter hall and wooden shed. The total list of these works on BPT included:

• Phase 1: Demolishing management building and other accompanying buildings (as mentioned above);

• Phase 2: Construction of new Sokolnica roundabout;

• Phase 3: Construction of new access road and renovation of bridge leading from main road to BPT. Photo 80 (bellow): Poster announcing start of 3-phase demolishing and construction works at the BPT complex location (in March 2018)

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Photso 81-83: Demolishing works at the BPT location in spring 2018 when managements facilities with lower cultural heritage value were demolished. Almost at the same time a local bakery found the place for it’s production in tsome of he building of old BPT

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Photos 84 – 86 (bellow): construction of new Sokolnica roundabout on the northern edge of BPT complex

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Photos 87: New Sokolnica roundabout finished on the northern edge of BPT complex in summer 2018

Photo 88: Old and already unsuitable bridge leading from main road to BPT complex prior to reconstruction

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Photos 89-90: Renovation of bridge connecting BPT location with main road

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Photos 91-92: Construction of new access road passing by BPT location in summer and autumn 2018

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Photo 93: Renovation of old, damaged and too narrow bridge at the northern entrance to the BPT complex enabled access over the chanell also for pedestrians and bikes, and allowed safe access to the 79 free parking spaces owned by local community after the 2018 purchase

After finishing all 3 phases of reconstruction and constructions works on the periphery of BPT Co. complex, the Municipality of Tržič started to prepare already new project to revitalized and use other parts of the complex which they purchased in 2018. Among these new interventions, the main one is setting up City park of Tržič in 2019 which will include green park areas, walking paths, pump-track polygon, children playground and tree-lined alee. Community already ensured 113.000 EUR of funds from European Regional Development Fund. Another step will be constructing of circular walking path which will connect old city center with suburbs of Tržič by crossing all over BPT Co. complex.

Community will also continue with purchasing and demolishing less valuable bilding according to the new Municipality Spatial Plan. Urbanisticlly ‘’cleaned’’ complex will be more attractive and possible to offer on the market to the potential investors.

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Map 41: Map of the new City park of Tržič in northeastern corner of BPT area which will have also pump-track and playground for children, planned to be bulit in 2019 and for which finences and all permissions are already provided ensured

Photo 94 (above): New City Park of Tržičl will offer also new pump-track

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Photo 95: Renvations works inside of the existing BPT production halls which are partly rented for new production activities, especially by local craftman

Lots of progress has been done also within the complex where many private and small- scale renovations has taken place. There is enough space and opportunities for inventive and innovative craftman and other entreprenours. Some of the changes made were well visible and measurable; beside above-mentioned large construction projects (eg. roundabouts), there were also smaller renovations on roofs and interiors of the buildings.

Photo 96: New roof was built on one of the buildings within the BPT complex

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Major progress was done also on the planning and concept levels which is very important especially for the core are of the complex. By November 2018 two major planning documents were prepared and approved which will allow concrete renovations and new contents within the complex. The first of these documents was Preservation plan for renovation of industrial area of BPT -Cotton spinning and weaving mill of Tržič’’ (May 2018), while the second one was ‘’Detailed Spatial Plan for BPT Complex’’ (November 2018) with later one being approved by Municipality Council of Tržič after 3 years of work and harmonizing. The second document will also allow to apply and get concrete building permissions for number of activities in the complex as well as some further demolishions which will clean out the area and give it new added value.

On the side of new ideas for contents of core complex, student group from the Department of Landscape Architecture of TU Munchen headed by dr. Udo Weilacher visited BPT area in October 2017 and prepared by spring 2018 a set of 4 interesting, creative and innovative project ideas. Their starting point was that after decades of producing textile and when the BPT factory was closed, it left a gap in Tržič. Thid gap divides the historic old town on the northeast and the newer parts on the southwest. The old town is very heavily built-in, it lacks in quality open spaces. In contrary the newer residential area mostly has detached houses with private gardens. On these two sides of the town we get two very different situation, but the outcome is very similar. Tržič does not have enough open spaces to the population, especially if we consider that most of the open area are used as parking lots. Starting strategy for all project ideas were to activate the spaces only with small initial points which can spread out in the further phases. The aim of our project is to create a bond between the residents and the BPT complex. It is useful for the local economy as well, because the buildings are rentable on a fair price for crafts and startups and if these comanies are expanding they can invest more money in the site. To reach these goals we work with pahses and scenarios. These phases are centered around the municipality, the local economy and foremost the residents of the town and redound the bonding between them and the site.

All project ideas prepared by the TU Munchen student groups can be dowloaded at the BSC Kranj’s webiste of the trAILs project: http://www.bsc-kranj.si/projekti/trails

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These well elaborated and comprehensive project ideas were following:

➢ Aquaculture Facility – project idea was to convert former BPT site into an aquaculture facility with an annual fish weight of 575 tonnes, which can be regionally marketed and can also be used for export. This would include aquaculture pounds, fishing pounds for visitors, fish restaurant, location for (tourist) visitors; ➢ Research campus for sustainable agriculture – the project idea was to transform the BPT complex into research campus for sustainable agriculture which would be as a sustainable, dynamic and systematic campus already by it's structure learning poligon for green buildings, water system and green spaces and as such opened also to tourists and citizens; ➢ Spatial complex with diversity of micro-characters - the project idea was to transform the BPT complex by using it’s diversity of micro-characters. The quality of the former textilmill BPT is constituted by a high diversity. Over 50 existing micro-characters are creating the identity of the closed down area. The aim of the project idea is to keep the diversity of the area under any circumstances. The area can be transformed flexible without loosing its face, as long as the defined characters are always kept. For this porpuse, the personalities are cat- egorized by the strength of their character. After the activation of the area by the initiation of acupunctual interventions, the process starts. Starting with the transformation of the less characteristics, a (symbolic) new layer will be added in each phase. The developed strategy should not provide a finished complete solution, but guide through the following complex transformation process; ➢ Complex for green tourism and other green activities - the project idea was to transform the BPT complex into the area for different activities of green tourism, recreation and other green free-time activities of locals as well as tourists. The design mainly retains part of the buildings which would be given new functions, such as tourist service center, traditional handcraft workshop, café and so on. The rest of the building will be demolished, and the construction waste will be used for the remodelling of the site landscape. The central region will be developed under the principle of the low maintenance for natural restoration, in order to support new development in the future. The design focuses on the basic services of tourists, the daily space requirements of local residents and the economic and ecological benefits that the site may create for the town. The main functions of this site will include tourist service area, community park area and land to be developed. And the design will add multiple walkways to the surrounding residential neighbourhoods, rivers and woods, connecting site with nearby sorrouning areas. -

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Photo 97: Spatial model presenting project idea of one of student group from TU Munchen who vissited BPT area in October 2017 and prepared by spring 2018 a set of 4 project ideas

There were also other initiatives on all levels showing a high interest and motivation in a broader community of Tržič to address challenges of BPT revitalisation. A group of pupils of Primary School of Tržič prepared in 2017 a research-based paper work about revitaslisation of BPT Co. complex for which they were rewarded by the mayor of the Municipality of Tržič; their proposed solution was that future BPT should have mixture of business, light production, tourism&recreation and education&museum functions.

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Photo 98: Pupils of Tržič Primary School being awarded by the mayor of Municipality of Tržič Borut Sajovic for their research-based school paper work with proposals for revitalisation of BPT Complex

Photo 99: Poster presenting main results/suggestions by research-based school paper work with proposals for revitalisation of BPT Complex prepared by pupils of Tržič Primary School

And finally, but for sure not the last, there was a website established in 2017/2018 titled ‘’Revitalisation of BPT area project’’ (http://www.bpt.si/projekt/index.html# ) which offers some main information about the history, potentials and plans about this area for all interested to take part in the revitalisation of this unique location. The website introduction states that revitalisation of BPT area is a project of wider social/community importance and that project’s stakeholders are all actors who are aware of the value and importance of BPT as an SLOVENE industrial cultural heritage. The most interesting part of this website, also for investors, is a 3D simulation on how this area

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could look like after the finalisation of revitalisation process, and most important, what functions would indivividual parts have (by the click on selected building).

Images 2 and 3 (above) : 3D simulation images showing possible scenario for BPT area and it’s building in the future

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According to this 3D simulation the main individual (and most spacious) buildings with their surrounding open-spaces would get following functions:

- Western buildings (2800 m2): Culture, Sport, Accomodation; - Northern building (4800m2): Business - Central building – South (3500m2): Museum, Museum depots - Central building – Center (3000m2): Production, Craft - Central building – North1 (3500m2): Small craft, Market place - Central building – North2 (350m2): Catering

There would also be lots of park and other green areas and walking paths which would connect both different parts of the location and the location with other parts of City of Tržič.

One of the ‘’promises’’ of this website, which is not yet fulfilled, is that it would offer all this information also in English, German and French, which will certainly expand the range of possible investors and other revitalisation actors.

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