The conventional models of the market economy have not been able to reduce asymmetries, or generated by the transformation of the urban space. Although the discourse on sustainable urban development has been grounded in social inclusion and an ecological perspective, environmental gentrification has subordinated equity to profit-minded development and deepened economic disparities (Checker, 2011). Social exclusion, due to social markers such as race, gender, nationality, age or sexual identity to name but a few, has defined the experience of minorities in relation to access to the city. Representations of their perspectives are usually underrepresented in the design of the landscape. Their access to social, cultural and safety facilities has been impaired. Participation by minorities in the decision-making processes of urban planning has been permanently neglected. Taking the notion of the inclusive city as a starting point, this session aims to reflect on the traps that the inclusion discourse might produce in relation to urban planning issues and public policies. The session will also highlight the strategies, intervention models, methodologies and policies that work towards an urban regeneration proposal that values heterogeneity in terms of landscape, economic alternatives, aesthetic experience and uses of city space. Different proposal formats are welcomed, including scientific papers, case studies, policy briefs, and artistic performance, among others. Given the emphasis on public policies, the participation of policy-makers and analysts, social scientists and environmental activists is encouraged.
CHECKER, M. (2011).Wiped out by the “Greenwave”: Environmental gentrification and the paradoxical politics of urban sustainability. City & Society, 23: 210-229. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-744X.2011.01063.x
Nothing equalizes children, (single) parents, elderlies and persons with disabilities (PWD’s) as much as public space. By accessibility rules, customs and physical impediments, their participation and access to social, cultural and safety facilities is discouraged. Since women are traditionally seen as caregivers, providing care to children, elderly, PWD’s, as well as to all the others in need of care, accessibility to public space has to be observed through the gender lens.
Due to the traditional role of caregivers, more than one third of Serbian young women aged 25-29 do not even seek employment (35.7%) (Babović 2019: 18). At this age, women are mostly raising children, who need open public space for their proper development. Besides small green and children parks in the city centers, they usually do not have much of a choice of activities in the public space. While taking care of others, women rarely may practice or consume some quality activities for their own well-being. Nature-based solutions, that would satisfy and develop cultural and social needs of all, are of great need in Serbia.
If we look closer at the cultural public space, we see that less than 25% of museums in Serbia are accessible to PWD’s, while something more than 50% of museums do not have accessible interior and public space (ZAPROKUL 2022). Most of the cultural programs, especially performing arts, are organized separately for adults and children. Most of the adult programs are not even permitted to children, either by behavior expectations (silent, calm, seated…) or by inadequate hours, air, noise, etc. In this way, parents, children, elderlies, PWD’s are more and more pushed towards virtual world of internet, at least those 78% who used Internet in 2020 (Statistical 2021). With the pandemic, internet usage has increased, but brought even bigger challenges.
“Cultural sustainability supports and connects the other three dimensions of social, economic and environmental sustainability” (Opoku, 2015: 49). Still, traditionally half of the Serbian population is excluded from participation in cultural life (Mrđa, Milankov 2020), especially divorced single parents (66%) (Stanojević 2014: 79). Apparently, all the responsibility of citizens' social status and participation in public life is on individuals, while public policies are still remaining ignorant towards gender dimension. A child-friendly city could satisfy the needs of the most, if their needs are acknowledged.
References:
ZAPROKUL (2022). Koliko su muzeji u Srbiji fizički pristupačni? https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=314196407384336&set=pb.100063819369670.-2207520000, accessed 31.01.2022.
Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (2021) https://data.stat.gov.rs/Home/Result/270201?languageCode=en-US , accessed 31.01.2022.
Babović, Marija (2019) Zatvaranje kruga, položaj žena na tržištu rada na početku i kraju karijere. Žene na prekretnici.
Opoku, Alex (2015). The Role of Culture in a Sustainable Built Environment, in: (ed.) A. Chiarini Sustainable Operations Management, Measuring Operations Performance. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-14002-5_3
Mrđa, Slobodan, Milankov, Marijana (2020). Kulturna participacija građana Srbije. Beograd: Zavod za proučavanje kulturnog razvitka.
Stanojević, Dragan (2014). „Društveni položaj jednoroditeljskih porodica”, u: (ur. Tomanović, Smiljka, Ljubičić, Milana, Stanojević, Dragan. Jednoroditeljske porodice u Srbiji sociološka studija. Beograd: Institut za sociološka istraživanja Filozofskog fakulteta u Beogradu. Str: 49-91.
Urban regeneration practices are increasingly used in urban development in different contexts, with the aim of reclaiming degraded urban areas of the city. The regeneration of urban areas, especially when these represent strategic areas of cities, are inserted in a scenario of increasing competition between cities. This competition is intensified by globalization and the context of neoliberalism. Neoliberalism is associated, in turn, with an idea of neoliberal urbanism and, also, with the concept of urban entrepreneurship, the role of the private sector being of great relevance. In this sense, many urban regeneration practices are implemented through public-private partnerships.
Regarding the projects, despite the different urban contexts, some specific typologies of projects can be observed, thus identifying common characteristics of projects in different contexts. Thus, the current work seeks to identify, from a more comprehensive literature review about PPPs in urban regeneration, specific typologies of urban regeneration projects carried out through public-private partnerships. The objective is, beyond the identification of typologies, to understand the main characteristics of the projects and, above all, to understand the consequences and the asymmetries resulting from their implementations.
The results point to some well-defined typologies such as mega-events projects, business improvement district (BID), brownfields redevelopment and industrial areas, sustainable cities and low carbon cities, creative cities and smart cities, waterfront projects, entertainment and shopping center projects, projects related to heritage and historic areas. Regarding the asymmetries, it is observed that many of these projects, while providing urban and economic regeneration that benefits specific groups, present evidence of processes of exclusion and gentrification. The asymmetries observed intensify as these projects are increasingly inserted into the logic of neoliberal urbanism and the strong action of the private sector to the detriment of the public sector. Neoliberalism thus finds a very clear formulation in urbanism, fostering urban entrepreneurship and private appropriation of value.
Smith, A. (2014). “De-Risking” East London: Olympic Regeneration Planning 2000–2012. European Planning Studies, 22 (9), pp. 1919-1939.
Guimarães, P. (2021). Business improvement districts: A systematic review of an urban governance model towards city center revitalization. Land, 10 (9), art. no. 922.
Glumac, B., Decoville, A. (2020). Brownfield Redevelopment Challenges: A Luxembourg Example. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 146 (2), art. no. 05020001
Borst, A. (2008). Regenerative french urbanism: Sustainable planning strategies in lille, lyon, and Montpellier. Journal of Green Building, 3 (3), pp. 79-87.
Jung, T.H., Lee, J., Yap, M.H.T., Ineson, E.M. (2015). The role of stakeholder collaboration in culture-led urban regeneration: A case study of the Gwangju project, Korea. Cities, 44, pp. 29-39.
Morgan, K., Webb, B. (2020). Googling the city: In search of the public interest on Toronto’s ‘smart’ waterfront. Urban Planning, 5 (1), pp. 84-95.
Lee, I., Hwang, S.W. (2018). Urban Entertainment Center (UEC) as a redevelopment strategy for large-scale post-industrial sites in Seoul: Between public policy and privatization of planning. Sustainability (Switzerland), 10 (10), art. no. 3535
Hospers, G.-J. (2017). People, Place and Partnership: Exploring Strategies to Revitalise Town Centres. European Spatial Research and Policy, 24 (1), pp. 65-79.
Yoga teacher, cycle activist and with master’s degree in philosophy at UFPR, Goura was elected state deputy in 2018 with 37,366 votes. His mandate has a constructive feature, with 39 draft laws approved, 60 public hearings held and hundreds of proposals. Goura is also President of the Environment, Ecology and Animal Protection Commission (CEMPA) of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Paraná (ALEP). He has an important role questioning - and stopping, if possible - environmental setbacks led by state and federal governments.
Cycle mobility was the subject that introduced Goura into politics, as a city councillor. He supports the integration of the bicycle, a “non-dominant” transport, in the Curitiba urban mobility debate. This intention to break paradigms is present in many other banners defended by the deputy: environmental protection; urban agriculture and agroecology; organic food; cycle tourism; urban waste management and better working conditions to recyclable waste pickers; cities for people; urban mobility; art, culture and historical heritage; public security; social housing; human rights; LGBTQIA+ rights; mental health; humanized childbirth; medical cannabis and drug policy; traditional people support (indigenous, quilombolas and caiçaras); education and public workers.
The mandate is organized in a collective and non-hierarchical way, open to the permanent contribution of participants and supporters. An intense agenda of communication and debates with society was established from the beginning, through informative booklets, field visits and community listening, in addition to dialogue with the executive and judicial representatives, universities, NGOs and professional associations. Especially at this critical moment for Brazilian democracy, the engagement of the deputy is fundamental in the public debate and to represent groups excluded from the current planning process.
Regarding the theme of this session, we emphasize that the mandate has been working with communities in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba to guarantee their right to housing - and to the city - especially in the health emergency context between 2020 and 2022. The “Popular Housing Conference of Curitiba and RMC”, held in November of 2021, was part of this work. The conference was attended by 26 organizations (among resident’s associations, universities and mandates) and produced a manifesto entitled “For a Public Policy on Quality Housing”. Deputy Goura also looked for an understanding with judiciary power to extend the validity of the federal legislation that suspended evictions during the pandemic, approved with the support of the Zero Eviction campaign.
The search for infrastructure and safety conditions for pedestrians and cyclists is also part of the contest for urban space that Goura supports in Paraná. In addition to that, he sought, during the public budget approval, to guarantee state resources for culture, whose workers were hit hard by the Covid pandemic. The mandate also stands up for agroecology and community-based tourism policies, aiming to preserve traditional people's culture and territories as a counterpoint to the current economic model (agriculture commodities for export), which has a great impact on local ecosystems and brings few benefits to the population.