According to the Housing Fund, the Stadtgrund was an area considered as potentially problematic. A lot of houses were damaged from the fronts as well as inside (deprived from the minimum comfort such as bathrooms). Consequently, a part of the population of the neighbourhood moved to other parts of the city. Moreover, as the rents were cheap in the area, migrant worker households settled in the Stadtgrund, in particular Portuguese and Italian families. These newcomers with low incomes did not contribute to improve the housing conditions in the neighbourhood. The media underlined the dramatic aspect of the situation. Finally, public and private investments decided to renovate the neighbourhood. The inhabitants and the local authorities have foreseen the gentrification risks. Private investors on the one hand and the State, the city and the inhabitants on the other, disputed the developments in the Grund quarter during several years.

The project began with the complete reorganisation of the Winnschoul. Between 1980 and 1984 14 apartments were realized and 5 public showers constructed for the inhabitants without bathrooms facilities. These showers are not necessary anymore and they have been closed in the mid 90s. Finally, houses of all types have been created in the Grund quarter for all the inhabitants, even the ones with low incomes. From the beginning of the measure onwards, the Housing Fund has created 60 housings. At the end, it should realise 77 dwellings (of which 66 for rent) and 17 commercial areas.

The positive aspects of this measure is that inhabitants could stay in their neighbourhood despite of the important public and private investments.

The area has been improved and it is attractive again. The regeneration was organised in such a whay that gentrification could be avoided and local residents could stay in the neighbourhood. The local authorities promoted a rehabilitation programme of the area that met the needs of the population. It also realised a modernisation of the area to the extent that the area is still affordable for the local inhabitants. Moreover, the success can be also explained by the involvement of a social operator, the Housing Fund; an operator aware of the situation and the needs of the more deprived population.

The Housing Fund has been the main public actor in charge of this rehabilitation measure in the Stadtgrund.

Bierger Center
Luxembourg
Lorenzo Depalma (social worker), tel. +352 4796-2751

//1980

case

Urban Policy

Housing