 | “Quartiersmanagement has been a success story for many individuals” 08-05-2008 “Quartiersmanagement has been a success story for many individuals”, says
Thomas Knorr-Siedow of the Berlin-based ‘Institut für Regionalentwicklung und
Strukturplanung (IRS). ‘Quartiersmanagement’ or neighbourhood management, is a
special policy created in the German capital, to prevent the city from falling
apart on the scale of neighbourhoods. “Even after two decades, post-unification
Berlin is still characterised by striking contradictions. On the one hand, the
city is happily taking on the new role of a national capital and a modern city
of knowledge, characterised by new forms of wealth generation in the tertiary
sector of the economy. However, at the same time hundreds of thousands of old
industrial jobs have gone. As formerly neglected districts are gentrifying,
others nearby are accumulating those who are the losers of the rapid urban
modernisation that is beneficial primarily to newly emerging upper classes.
Spatial as well as social peripherisation therefore form a concrete threat”,
Knorr-Siedow states.
How are these issues addressed? What role does
Quartiersmanagement play?
Because the city could not afford the generous investments into the
improvement of private rental housing anymore, public policies concentrated on
enhancing neighbourhood structures were introduced. ‘Quartiersmanagement’ is an
example of such a policy. In total, 33 areas of neighbourhood management were
introduced. “The central elements of the joint policy approach of the city
government and the districts were public infrastructure, socio-cultural centres,
physical improvement of the environment and the establishment of public-private
partnerships. Neighbourhood management agencies were also established. They are
responsible for improving communication between different actors. This is
established through the organisation of collaboration, building communicative
links between different social groups and training people to cope.”
What are the main barriers to implementing Quartiersmanagement?
Has it been successful in Berlin?
“At the beginning, expectations were too high. It was hoped that local action
could overrule global economic influence.” However, it turned out that local
action alone was not enough. Knorr-Siedow stresses that both local and national
politicians and administration must be very committed. Nonetheless,
Quartiersmanagement has succeeded on a structural level according to
Knorr-Siedow. “The policy implies a turn towards positive neighbourhood
development. Overall the development ‘climate’ of neighbourhoods improved, which
opened up opportunities for the future. Even though the numbers may not be
overwhelming, Quartiersmanagement has been a success story for many individuals.
How are citizens involved in Quartiersmanagement?
“Inviting residents to debate local development has become common practice.
But it is even more important to let residents decide about the local future. In
all neighbourhood management areas, funds are earmarked for a number of small
local projects of up to approximately 20.000 Euros. These projects range from
physical to educational and cultural plans. Decisions upon such projects are
taken by a neighbourhood jury, in which the residents and their organisations
are the majority. Neighbourhood managers and public administrators are turned
into ‘enablers’. Many districts get citizen budgets which allow the direct
participation of residents in the improvement of the quality of their
neighbourhoods in the future.”
In general, what lessons can be drawn from the Berlin
experience?
“It works! But not without the persistent commitment by politicians and
administration. Residents are often much more clever and careful in working with
public funds than thought and implied in policy debates. Quartiersmanagement
needs a structural openness to be able to adapt to the changing context of
precarious neighbourhood development. A variety of models of neighbourhood
management has evolved over the years. These range from rather traditional and
administration-guided forms of Quartiersmanagement to a strategy of involving
strong partners such as municipal housing companies. However, this new form of
extra-administrational communication between ‘system’ and ‘lifeworld’ takes
time. Trust needs to be built up in the neighbourhood.”
LinksClick here for more information about quartiersmanagement back |
| ||
| Researches Making connections... | |
