ABC Seminar in Gdynia
On April 20-24th 2005 city planners
from 27 cities in 8 countries met in Gdynia, Poland for
the 5th seminar in the ABC project (Alliance
of Baltic Cities). That's a three-year INTERREG IIIB supported
project, run by the UBC Commission on Urban Planning. The
seminar theme was "Cities as regional engines -Improving
the city core".
After welcome greetings from the Mayor of
Gdynia, Wojciech Szczurek, and from the UBC Secretariat
by the Secretary General, Pawel Zaboklicki the first day
of the seminar focused on presenting as much information
as possible about Gdynia and the Tri-city region Gdynia-Sopot-Gdansk.
Deputy Mayor, Marek Stêpa, informed about the Gdynia
city development and its main strategies and the role of
Gdynia in the Pomaranian region. Following these there were
lecture giving a historical view of Gdynia architecture
and an overview of the polish planning system, from national
to local level. There was also a lecture on analysis of
measures of architectural building-elements given by consultant
architect. The head of Gdynia city planning department,
then took the seminar group to a very interesting excursion
through the city and its surroundings.
The second day focused on three different
workshops. One group studied how to redevelope a harbour
area close to the city center, the Dalmor company fishery
pier, and a waterfront area between the pier and the city
centre. The proposals aimed for multi purpose use, increasing
contact with the city area and some small scale investments
to increase the attractiveness and access to the area. Another
group worked with how to improve and revitalise a number
of inner city housing quarters. The inner parts of the quarters
needs to be more efficient and attractive outlined. The
third group worked with how to make best use of a green
corridor near the City Hall and how to combine needs of
more office space and parking with qualities of the green
area.
The results from the workshops were presented
to representatives from Gdynia city. The results will also
be described in a printed seminar report, to be delivered
at the 6th ABC seminar in Malmö, to be held
on 6-9 October 2005.
The seminar also held an excursion to Hel,
a spectacular long and narrow peninsula outside of Gdynia,
as well as short visits to Sopot and Gdansk.
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