Graz Historic Centre Conservation Act: Former suburban historical centres under protection ST. PETERSTRASSGANG

Local SWOT analysis ST. PETER ARGE START

Local SWOT analysis: Internal factors - ST. PETER positive factorsnegative factors Strengths/SWeaknesses/W Public green space in the centre Small stream nearby, flanked by a walking and cycling path Interest of local population in improving public spaces City of Graz owns at least one building in this historical centre Interest of economic stakeholders in the project St. Peter as future regional centre (Concept of Urban Development) Traffic and commuters Shopping centre nearby No cafés or restaurant No visitors from surrounding areas Lack of identification of the local population with the centre No offer for youth Playground in the centre Currently no funds, follow-up projects and traffic solution

: Local SWOT analysis: External factors - ST. PETER positive factorsnegative factors Opportunities/OThreats/T Graz is growing Graz is a driving force of the regional economy Regional development strategies (Regionext; traffic concept RVK G-GU; Urban+) Historic Conservation Act of Graz Change of economic structures Amount of daily commuters Topography and its consequences on local climate Traditional conflicts between Graz and the surrounding areas Distance between the historical centre and the surrounding areas (hardly reachable by foot or by bike)

Local SWOT analysis STASSGANG ARGE Straßgang

Local SWOT analysis: Internal factors - STRASSGANG positive factorsnegative factors Strengths/SWeaknesses/W Active actors and good social infrastructure (associations, local politicians, schools, church, etc.) Balance between resident population and economic activity Transport connection (bus, train) Green and leisure space in the surrounding area Straßgang as future regional centre (Concept of Urban Development) (Big shopping centre nearby) Traffic and commuters Big shopping centre nearby Lack of (attractiveness of) public spaces No public property in the historical centre Currently no funds, follow-up projects and traffic solution

: Local SWOT analysis: External factors - STRASSGANG positive factorsnegative factors Opportunities/OThreats/T Graz is growing Graz is a driving force of the regional economy Regional development strategies (Regionext; traffic concept RVK G-GU; Urban+) Historic Conservation Act of Graz Surrounding (residential) areas within walking/cycling distance Change of economic structures Amount of daily commuters Topography and its consequences on local climate A lot of fog, lack of wind, air pollution Traditional conflicts between Graz and the surrounding areas

Progress in regional cooperation Field of cooperationInitiator Stakeholders involved Framework for cooperation

Site inspection Interviews with key personalities to raise awareness and mobilize Specific target groups: –Cross-sectoral: Political, economic, civil society –Geographic context – core area –Sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, socioeconomic status and education) Forum – open council – conversation cafes Workshops and action groups Process of Participation of Stakeholders

THANK YOU! Contact person Nina Marinics-Bertovic +43 (316)

Appendix:

Local SWOT analysis: Internal factors - ST. PETER positive factorsnegative factors Strengths/SWeaknesses/W * A lot of new buildings in the last years * A former rural settlement – lasting identification * Commercial center reachable by foot or bicycle * Public green space right in the middle of the historical center * Small stream near to the historical center, stream is flanked by a path (by feet or bicycle) * Nursery school in the historical center * Church, local administrative service, post * Immigrants home * City of Graz owns at least one building in this historical center * Concept of Urban Development of the City of Graz (it defines the historical center of St. Peter also as a functional center) * Church as existing landmark * General support of the idea of revitalization of historical former suburban centre by the city council * Inhabitants are highly interested in working on new public green spaces and in improving existing public space * Interest of economical stakeholders in the project * No big economic player in this centre * Active local politicians * Large commercial center in the near surrounding * A high amount of daily commuters * A high amount of traffic * Center is divided by a main entry road of Graz (a lot of daily commuters) * No cafés or restaurant in the center * Local administrative service probably will close in the near future * At the moment there are no visitors (only passers-by) * Lack of identification of the inhabitants with “their” historical center * No big economic player in this centre * No offers for immigrants to spend time in the historical center * No offers for youth to spend time in the historical center * Playground for small children right in the middle of the center * At the moment no funds for follow up projects in this area as far as community work is concerned

: Local SWOT analysis: External factors - ST. PETER positive factorsnegative factors Opportunities/OThreats/T * Graz is growing * Graz as driving force of the regional economy * Historical center of St. Peter under protection by the Historic Conservation Act of Graz * Regionext (project of the Styrian government to improve the cooperation within one region) * Regional traffic concept by the Styrian government (RVK G – GU) * Environmental traffic regulation by the Styrian government (would probably reduce the amount of commuters per car and should reduce the air pollution) * Urban+ - EU Program for regional development of the south of Graz and its surrounding – possibility to finance further projects in this area. * Change of economic structures * Amount of daily commuters * Topography and its consequences on local climate * A lot of fog, lack of wind, air pollution (less difficult situation than in Straßgang) * Traditional conflicts between Graz and the surrounding areas * Distance between the historical center an the surrounding areas (hardly reachable by foot or bicycle)

Local SWOT analysis: Internal factors - STRASSGANG positive factorsnegative factors Strengths/SWeaknesses/W * Lot of new building in the last years * A train station nearby the historical suburban center * High frequency and usage of public transportations * A former rural settlement – lasting identification * Historical center near to the surrounding green and leisure space (Buchkogel, Plabutsch) * Good social infrastructure (schools, youth center, old people´s home, church) * A lot of cafés and restaurants in and near to the center * Project area visitors: employees and commuters, visitors of the public swimming pool * Public swimming pool, camping area * Concept of Urban Development of the City of Graz (it defines the historical center of Straßgang also as regional center and as functional center) * Existing concept of development of the district (STE Webling) * Existing identification of the inhabitants with the center * Existing landmarks such as the church or the castle * General support of the idea of revitalization of historical former suburban centers by the city council * No big economic player in this centre * Active local politics * Inhabitants are aware of their historical heritage * Large commercial center in the near surrounding * A high amount of daily commuters * A high amount of traffic * Lack of attractiveness of public spaces * Low density in the surrounding of the historical center * Center is divided by a main entry road of Graz (a lot of daily commuters) * Lack of communication between administration and inhabitants * Lack of confidence between administration and politics at the one hand and the inhabitants on the other hand * No public property within this historical center * No big economic player in this centre * Inhabitants of Straßgang do not have a close connection to the city council, rather low price area, less influence on politics * At the moment no funds for follow up projects in this area as far as community work is concerned * Important historical buildings were destroyed within the last years * A “big” traffic solution will not be possible within ViTo (local project focuses on other aspects such as social networks and identification) – will be hard to justify

: Local SWOT analysis: External factors - STRASSGANG positive factorsnegative factors Opportunities/OThreats/T * Graz is growing * Graz is a driving force of the regional economy * Historical center of Straßgang under protection by the Historic Conservation Act of Graz * Regionext (project of the Styrian government to improve the cooperation within one region) * Regional traffic concept by the Styrian government (RVK G – GU) * Environmental traffic regulation by the Styrian government (would probably reduce the amount of commuters per car and should reduce the air pollution) * Historical center of Straßgang is situated quite near to the surrounding settlements outside of Graz, it can be easily reached by foot or bicycle. * Urban+ - EU Program for regional development concerning the south of Graz and its surrounding – possibility to finance further projects in this area.+ * Change of economic structures * Amount of daily commuters * Topography and its consequences on local climate * A lot of fog, lack of wind, air pollution * Traditional conflicts between Graz and the surrounding settlements