Social Urban Renewal Model Experiment Projects in Budapest Márton Krausz

Why? Most of the bad quality, low comfort grade flats in Budapest will be demolished during the urban renewal process. The new flats with all comfort facilities will be beyond the reach of the ones who lived in the area originally Most of the original inhabitants of the areas where the renewal is taking place are forced to move out to small flats without comfort facilities in the poor parts of the City This process - with others - results in the growing segregation and it is turning these areas into slum faster

Crisis areas in the inner districts of Budapest

What? The task of the social urban renewal is to stop and reverse the process of deterioration in the areas which are socially disadvantaged and drawn back from many aspects, and to improve the quality and the possibilities of the citizen’s life. This needs: The prevention of the social deterioration (school education, public security, social integration) The reduction of the social stigmatization, the partial modification of the unfavorable social composition (social crossing) The enlargement of the potential of the local economy (situation of employment, enterpreneur-activity, education-level of the inhabitants) Mending physical life-conditions (residence-conditions, public domains)

How? The social urban renewal is started by prototype attempts, which in many senses count as experimental field, models This is the first time that Budapest attempts to establish a truly wide, active system of partnership involving many participants, and tries to sustain it for a longer term. The Municipality of Budapest has an initiative, co-operative, supporting, coordinative role, in partnership with many other organizations, and gives the districts financial support, thus enabling them to realize the projects. The renewal and the daily organizational tasks are prepared by the district project companies (RÉV8 Co. and The Property Management Co. Of Kőbánya)

For how much? In February 2005 the Municipality of Budapest decided to support the social urban renewal with 1.8 billion Forints (7,2 million €) from its own budget for three years. But the expenses of the social urban-renewal might demand many 10 billions Forints. That’s why – among other factors – organizing the financial sources is so important. Since the elements of the social renewal are very diverse, supporting sources might come from many directions. Tasks like education, employment, development of human resources will be dominant, and in some cases – like in that of the EU sources - the ‘human’ tasks to be realized can also play a role in reforming the physical environment.

As a result of organizing the sources last year some project elements – those that were preparatory or enhanced human development (and consequently involved a low budget) – started already. From 2006 on – gradually, considering local demands and possibilities - these might be followed by physical interventions. When?

The tender documents for Municipal money were completed in both districts and the competent committee accepted them recently. The first steps (this year) In the Magdolna Quarter (Józsefváros) Setting up an information centre The renewal of the Cultural Hall for community building Starting education/training programmes In the Bihari street Project (Kőbánya) Starting the renewal of a building Starting the training program Starting social work The first steps

As a result of last year’s paradigmatic change in urban development, which is based on the philosophy that ‘Budapest is a Partner’, planning and implementational processes involving many actors play a key role in getting forward. Thus the social renewal projects described are models too: the renewal-projects of the historical parts of the City and the preparation of the renewal of brownfield- areas and housing estates are going to be realized on the basis of the similar principles and procedures. Summary

Thanks for Your Attention! Márton Krausz Project Manager Studio Metropolitana Budapest