Housing, Heritage & the Evolving “Cultural/Urban Landscape” of an Ex-Soviet, European Capital Terence M. Milstead, Terence M. Milstead, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University, USA U.S. Fulbright Fellow, Lithuania

Vilnius in 16 th Century

Vilnius in 21 st Century

Vilnius’ Old Town

Gediminas Castle Tower

Snipiskes Quarter

Research Questions From what perspectives do residents prioritize home improvements? From what perspectives do residents prioritize home improvements? Are features of built environment seen as cultural symbols, perceived positively or negatively, and influential to perceptions/treatment of dwellings? Are features of built environment seen as cultural symbols, perceived positively or negatively, and influential to perceptions/treatment of dwellings? Do housing type, historic character of a quarter or proximity to the historic center matter? Do housing type, historic character of a quarter or proximity to the historic center matter?

Methods On-site observations of each city quarter; On-site observations of each city quarter; Review of archival materials; Review of archival materials; Interviews with individuals directly involved with housing, city planning and/or heritage issues; and Interviews with individuals directly involved with housing, city planning and/or heritage issues; and Focus group interviews with residents in different city quarters. Focus group interviews with residents in different city quarters.

Focus Group Finding #1: Residents prioritize home improvements: Residents prioritize home improvements: partly from a functional perspective; and partly from a functional perspective; and largely from a financial perspective often associated with home re-sale value largely from a financial perspective often associated with home re-sale value BUT RARELY FROM A HERITAGE PERSPECTIVE

Focus Group Finding #2: Residents do not associate changes in “cultural/urban landscape” with heritage issues Residents do not associate changes in “cultural/urban landscape” with heritage issues They see these changes also from a combination of financial and practical/functional perspectives. They see these changes also from a combination of financial and practical/functional perspectives.

Focus Group Findings #3 and 4: Residents do not associate the historic “center” of Vilnius with cultural heritage issues Residents do not associate the historic “center” of Vilnius with cultural heritage issues New “modern” center of city may be responsible, and is changing how residents in Soviet housing perceive home New “modern” center of city may be responsible, and is changing how residents in Soviet housing perceive home

Focus Group Findings #5 and #6: Class-based perceptions rooted in globalized symbolism influence residents’ feelings Class-based perceptions rooted in globalized symbolism influence residents’ feelings Heritage concerns are more noticeable among individuals as “citizens” than as “home-owners” Heritage concerns are more noticeable among individuals as “citizens” than as “home-owners”

Recommendation #1 Expanded Education w/focus on: Expanded Education w/focus on: Heritage “Cultivation” Heritage “Cultivation” Combining emphasis on individual practical benefits of historic preservation w/ group social benefits Combining emphasis on individual practical benefits of historic preservation w/ group social benefits

Recommendation #2 Feelings of security of tenure should be promoted among residents through: Feelings of security of tenure should be promoted among residents through: Setting planning goals designed to preserve a mix of incomes in certain quarters; Setting planning goals designed to preserve a mix of incomes in certain quarters; Strict enforcement of planning regulations; Strict enforcement of planning regulations; Possibility of establishing historic trust/curatorship program Possibility of establishing historic trust/curatorship program