The area was the last part of Horsens to be physically renewed. The physical environment was characterized by worn down housing, streets and common areas. Furthermore the area was characterized by having a large part of the unemployed citizens, poor people and alcoholics/drug-addicts of the town. Hence, a stronger focus needed to be directed at the social problems of the area and both physical and social projects would be necessary to start a positive and sustainable development in the area.

The area was selected because it was deprived, had a high rate of unemployment, the city renewal took place in this area already, and it is the last area in Horsens that had not been renewed.

To bring the status of the area up to date and at the same time to enlarge the possibilities of the inhabitants to improve their own environment and everyday-life.

Housing renewal and improvement of recreational areas together with new facilities for common purposes in the neighbourhood.

We did not increase the numbers of shops along the approach road.

Most of the budget for the renewal programme has been dedicated for physical renewal, however the social projects have not been under –prioritised but instead initiated by the citizens. There has been a strong citizen participation, which started with making the budget of the programme. The citizens decided how the budget for the different physical projects should be in 2001. Around 250 citizens participated and 100 of them continued in smaller work-groups.

Besides that the citizens have been given a budget for social projects and activities, of which they could apply for money if they wanted to do something for the neighbourhood. This means that citizen-groups are working together and get funded by the renewal-programme.
All greater decisions are being taken in large open meeting for all citizens and many citizens participate in these meetings, from 90-250 participants at each meeting.

All of this means that a new network of citizens has been established and a community centre is being built right now, in which the future citizen-activities will be located and gathered.

The poor housing conditions and public spaces were improved
Physical development has been planned and carried out, among other things the approach roads, pavements, trees, streets and sewers and the general beautification of the area. New housing is to be built for singles and a new " hang-out area" has been created for the local alcoholics, so they have a place for themselves to stay during the day.

The high unemployment rate was improved, though a project which was managed by the social administration and given 2 mio. kr. DK.

In the neighbourhood the 16 different volunteer associations act together with the 2 schools, the 2 churches, the shops, some of the public institutions and groups of active residents.
The organisation of the project reflects how the sectors work together toward a joint goal. The project is governed by the head-politicians and the head-di rectors from the municipal administration. The KVARTERLØFT office is manned by one staff member from each sector in the municipality.

Private investors are not involved in the planning. They are a part of the development of the neighbourhood by buying and building.

In this neighbourhood less than 3% of the residents are immigrants so this was not an issue in Vestbyen.

The physical renewal strategy was one of the key elements of our strategy and hence the physical aspects have been given high priority.

The projects we have carried out are now forming a significant part of the development of the area, together with private initiatives, which we did not have in this area before 2000. Now we have a group of active residents and the neighbourhood has achieved an improved image.

The city-renewal programme has been carried through, both the ordinary projects and the "KVARTERLØFT" projects.
The common facilities chosen by the residents are successes in the neighbourhood. 

Since the area was know to be one with many people with only few resources, then the strong participation of the citizens have been a positive surprise.

Some of the key factors to our success have been the many open-minded and tolerant people in the neighbourhood and the councillors who let residents decide how to use the project-money. All in all the project is characterised by being a non-hierarchical organisation form, since all greater decisions are being discussed with the citizens and the many social projects are being run by citizens. 

The financial resources of the project have been limited, since the municipality has been in a period of tightening the budget. This means that only the resources mentioned below have been available and hence the ambitions of some of the projects had to be fairly low.

The 3.500 residents in the neighbourhood

83,5 mill kr. DK. Partly paid by the municipality, and partly by the Danish State.
More money was fundraised for different projects.

KVARTERLØFT secretariate
Ms. Lene Krogh (Project coordinator), tel. +45 76 29 25 98

19/10/2007

case

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Urban renewal