4th PEER REVIEW SESSION IN KOMOTINI 16-17 SEPTEMBER 2013

Master Plan of Komotini

The target area is situated at the close vicinity of the city centre. Within the boundaries of this area there is a Roma community (approx. 1500 people) illegally settled partly on privately owned land. The area lacks basic infrastructure. The following issues need to be dealt with in the LAP:

· the land, where the illegal settlement is situated, is the development area for Komotini city centre, therefor it needs to be prepared for interventions due to the potential expansion of the centre in line with the master plan of the city

· the area designated for the social housing of the Roma community has to be developed and the houses for the Roma families have to be constructed

· different social level of issues to be solved with regard to the situation of the Roma community living in the target area, the acceptance of resettling, and collaboration in the process

STRENGTHS

•       Public facilities in the area (municipal sports center, open market, multicultural kinder garden, public schools)
•   Less than 1 km from the city centre and all the important facilities of the city (hospital, public authorities, police, etc
•        Excellent access to the public transportation means which connect the area with the rest of the city
•          Private facilities, such as hotels, private clinic, sport centre, gyms
•    2 active NGO’s working to increase living standards in the area

WEAKNESSES

•       Major ownership problems with public and private lands illegally occupied
•          Tendency of damaging public infrastructure and facilities
•          Lack of sense of security for people living or visiting the area
•          Lack of basic infrastructure in parts of the area
•          Lack strategic planning and urban integration has led to depreciation for some newly established facilities in the area
•          Unclear legislative framework regarding the potential relocation area and the resettling of the Roma population
•          Lack of communication between parts of the local population

Komotini – city centre

Site visit in the target area gave the chance for the participants:

•       to look around in the target area (multicultural kindergarten, market, sports facilities, public park, Roma settlement, designated area for resettling Roma)
•          understand the centralised legislative nature of the building and construction works