From Crisis to Choice: Re-Imagining the Future in Shrinking Cities

Background

Urban shrinkage is rising to the top of the political agenda in Europe. Shrinking cities typically face declining revenues, rising unemployment, outward migration of economically active populations, surplus buildings and land together with a physical infrastructure which is oversized for the population it serves.

Drawing on a wide range of case studies and building on the most up-to-date debates, the URBACT workstream "Shrinking cities: challenges and opportunities" launched at the beginning of 2012 focused on the development of sustainable strategy options for shrinking cities. This URBACT worktream has brought together evidence from URBACT projects but also from a wide range of stakeholders from all around Europe. The end result of this collective reflection was the production of this thematic report.

"We examine the generic aspects of developing realistic perspectives on strategic choices for shrinking cities and identify actions, process requirements and good practice in re-imaging a sustainable future", explain the authors of this report.
 

Developing new strategic options in the context of shrinkage

This paper begins with an outline of the dynamics  and extent to which problems of urban shrinkage permeate contemporary urban regeneration  practice.

Dr Hans Schlappa and Professor William J V Neill  explain that "as a point of departure we call for a ‘new realism’ with regard to urban regeneration in areas affected by socio-economic decline and the need for a paradigm shift with regard to our approaches towards regenerating cities affected by shrinkage. We then put forward a model of strategy development which recognises  that decision-makers need to move out of a constrained situation with very limited choice  and foster an emergent strategy process which engages the local population and creates realistic development options."

The authors argue that cities must learn to conceive of sustainable urban development as an ongoing cyclical process of change, rather than pretend that socio-economic development is a linear and predictable progression from the status quo to a better future.
 

The cases of Detroit and Altena

Two contrasting case studies are elaborated – one to provide a warning and the other to illustrate good practice. Detroit is presented as an example of how not to handle shrinkage, and highlights the potential dangers even large and powerful cities might face. This worst case scenario is included for its dramatic illustration of the consequences which can result from an over-emphasis on economic development and ineffective regional integration of urban development and regeneration strategies.

Detroit is then contrasted with an example from the URBACT OP-ACT project which developed ideas on how to tackle shrinkage in a holistic and integrated way. And the authors to explain "as most shrinking cities in Europe are small and medium sized towns, we have purposely chosen Altena to illustrate a successful process of working through the constraints created by shrinkage and towards choices for sustainable development with very few additional resources."
 

Re-envisioning a future in the  context of shrinkage

Continuing to be illustrated with case studies, the report then examines the generic aspects of developing realistic perspectives on strategic development options for shrinking cities. This includes general process requirements as well as checklists on the content of re-imagining the purpose and future of a shrinking city. Shrinking cities, it is stressed, have to develop a new perspective on a purposeful future. The authors warn against ‘rehashing’ concepts of development which generated prosperity and growth in the past, and show how cities can create fresh perspectives which are built on citizen commitment, not just economic considerations.
 

Dealing with the physical environment and adapting services

The report proceeds to discuss the challenges associated with the physical environment, in  particular encouraging interim uses of land and  buildings which can make a significant difference  to the socio-economic situation and also to the quality of life in a shrinking city.

In the penultimate chapter, the authors address the adaptation of services. "Here we focus on problems arising from an ageing  population, because shrinking cities tend to have a  high proportion of older people living in them, but  we also deal with more generic issues of service  reform, the social economy, social innovationand the coproduction of welfare services. We also try to show that ideas about child- and age-friendly cities advocate a high-quality urban environment in which residents can enjoy a safe, healthy, socially and economically rewarding life."

The authors conclude "Despite the profound challenges encountered  by the people who live in and work for shrinking  cities, this paper illustrates that urban shrinkage  and demographic change are driving forces of modernisation and innovation. Shrinking cities  are cities in transition. Those who lead and live in such cities must challenge old explanations for the  status quo, and build a new positive vision of the  future of their city – which may be smaller than  in the past but could also be better in many ways".


Read more :

• Download URBACT II Capitalisation: Cities of Tomorrow, Action Today - Re-imagining the future in shrinking cities (1.52 MB)  Full paper - PDF
• Series of URBACT thematic reports "Cities of Tomorrow: Action Today" - URBACT Website

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