EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Citizen’s initiatives for the improvement of the green areas and the spaces between the apartment buildings in the Izgrev district, Sofia

Citizen’s initiatives for the improvement of the green areas and the spaces between the apartment buildings in the Izgrev district, Sofia - Bulgaria

Introduction

The problem related to the decrease in green areas within the Izgrev region, as a result of the intensive construction activity carried out on restituted land, is to be debated and solved by the involvement of all stakeholders and the community.

Problem

The conditions and problems of the green areas between the apartment buildings:

Legal and regulatory framework:

legislation, decrees and local government resolutions, opportunities for citizens’ participation with the decision-making process;

Conflicts of interests:

the viewpoints of proprietors, entrepreneurs, construction firms, ecologists, environmentalists;

Construction and maintenance:

participation and control in planning, designing, construction and maintenance of green spaces.

Environment and health:

Green areas - playgrounds for children, sports and recreation sites
Waste management - places for collection of waste, transportation and preservation of cleanliness of the shared areas, selective collection of waste.
Homeless dogs – the attitudes of the different groups towards them, alternative solutions to the problem, obligations of the administration.

Social issues:

Aesthetic development of the areas in question – cleaning, maintenance, urban design and small architectural forms, participation of the citizens in the development of the surroundings;
The street as a place for social contacts – entrepreneurs, designers, construction companies, ecologists, environmentalists, users;
Areas between apartment buildings – parking lots; improvement of the infrastructure; partnership between the residents and the rest of the users thereof;

Citizens’ participation:

Equal access for all – providing for the access of marginalized people, manifesting tolerance and mutual respect, observing the public interest;
Infrastructure for creative activity, specific peculiarities and requirements, educational and training effect, the role of schools and kindergartens.
Participation in planning, a dialogue between the administration and the citizens, respecting the interests of the different groups, the role of the young people.

The Public Forum Programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) was successfully implemented in the “Izgrev” district of Sofia municipality in the period November 2002 – September 2003. In 2004 the project embarked upon a new stage of its development.

The Public Forum Programme has been applied in Bulgaria since 2000 and has been implemented in sixteen municipalities so far. The practice is based on Swiss and German cities, and it presents a successful form of citizen’s participation effected through discussions held between municipalities, non-profit organizations, and business with the goal of finding solutions to problems of key importance.

Description

Izgrev Forum has been held as a experiment in the capital city, and was launched after the priority issues and the clearly formulated specific goals were identified: the problem relating to the decrease in green areas within the Izgrev region, as a result of the intensive construction activity carried out on restituted land, is to be debated and solved by the involvement of all stakeholders and the community.

The tasks of the project were specified and fulfilled under an agreement of 7th April 2003 signed between the Swiss government through SDC, together with Sofia Municipality-District “Izgrev”, and the Agency for Sustainable Development and EU integration “Ecoregions“ (ASDE).

The preparation for the inclusion in the program took a six-month period and was effected by the partners to the project with local civic organizations to set the priorities within the region and mobilize citizens’ initiative.

Approach

Development of routes and sites with an equal access to everybody, including the disabled.
Construction of bicycle paths and zones for children and adults.
Renovation of the spaces between the residential blocks, creating facilities for children’s and sports playgrounds - 12 sites in the housing estates of Dianabad, Iztok, and Izgrev.
The establishment of a “Children’s environmental club” at schools and kindergartens.
The construction of a playground and a stage for holding different events of a public nature behind “Dobri Chintulov” community centre.
The aesthetic development and ecological protection of the urban environment in the properties Balkan
A program developed, projects drawn up and measures taken to solve the problem with homeless dogs.
Designing a bridge spanning over Novatchitza River in Roussalya Street of Izgrev district in Sofia.
A pilot project for local waste management – models of selective collection
The district’s residents – hosting part of the Borrissov Garden park.
An aesthetic land shaft of spaces surrounding the apartment buildings in the residential area of Dianabad, blocks No.43, 45, 47, 53, 54.

A structure of pro-active participants was established to provide for the efficient work of the forum. All participants were grouped along topics around working tables; an operative group was chosen, and key figures - moderator, assistant-moderator and the district’s representative. Being an open and transparent process, the Forum provided the opportunity for guests, observers and the mass media to take part.

Results

6 recommendations addressing the institutions and bodies held responsible for the solution of all problems, relating to the regulatory framework, organizational structures and specific action to be taken
11 ideas for projects and citizens’ initiatives to improve the conditions of the green spaces, the streets and the spaces between the apartment buildings /one in realization.
Establishment of New NGO. /September 2004/

Thus Public Forum Izgrev will continue its activity by the new created NGO, relating to the implementation of citizens’ ideas and projects, with effective public participation in urban development.

The most reliable guarantee for the sustainability of the results of the Forum’s work is its very existence, maintained by the district administration and the Sofia community.

ASDE “Ecoregions” is determined to continue its work not in the capacity of a coordinator, but also as a body to monitor the fulfillment of the resolutions passed, and contribute to the implementation of the projects set as priorities.

Beneficiaries

Citizens of the Izgrev district.

Resources used

The major information tool of the Izgrev Forum was the own bulletin with a print run of 5000. This event was reflected in transparents, posters, radio broadcasts and other mass media events. 250 invitations were sent before the beginning of each session (including the invitations to 30 institutions), the bulletin managed to reach some 4000 mail boxes /25% of the households.

To contact citizens, two telephone lines and two mail boxes for the recommendations were provided. The sessions were announced on a photo panel as well.

Contact info

ASDE “Ecoregions”
Dipl.arch. Ionka Marinova (Project coordinator), tel. +359 2 745021

Project start date

//2003

Article on the subject (2300 KB, Word, English)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing policy

Keywords

Collective housing