The assumption behind diversification is that attracting middle class will create a better social setting, which will influence for instance behaviour in the public space and raise the level of schools. An issue of dicussion is how to keep fysical renewal and social measures in equilibrium.

At least 7200 new lower houses will be built to replace the 6500 flats that are demolished: 30% will be social housing, 40% medium segment private property and 30% is expensive property or rental (free sector). In the end, half of the housing stock will be social rentals. The program involves also measure to improve the social quality of the neibhbourhood, addressing multicultural living, cleanliness and criminality.

The large scale renovation is half way and inhabitants think that the area is improving a lot, both fysically and socially. The percentage of immigrants is not going down, since middle class immigrants like the multicultural character of the neighbourhood.

The renewal of Amsterdam Zuid-Oost has been evaluated extensively. Publications can be found on the website 'Vernieuw de Bijlmer' (see link below) Both neighbourhood surveys and surveys about the image of Zuid-Oost among Amsterdammers show improvements.

Recommendation: always involve the inhabitants in planning.

The neighbourhood looks better, housing quality improved, the infrastructure improved, it is cleaner and safer. Both poorer and middle class inhabitants like this. In total it involves about 50.000 households.

It is a public private undertaking. The larger funds are: selling ground, the muncipal of Amsterdam, three housing corporations, the national fund for housing, the Ministry of Social Affairs and EU neighbourhood programs like URBAN.

Platform Amsterdam Samen, City of Amsterdam
Ms Marian Visser (Contact person for the CLIP network, working at Platform Amsterdam Samen), tel. +31 20 2518625

01/01/1992

case

Urban Policy

Housing