Chemnitz as guest at the URBACT City Festival in Talinn
Chemnitz is the only eastern German city to be selected and awarded the "URBACT Good Practice" label
Chemnitz will be presented as one of the "URBACT Good Practice" cities at the URBACT City Festival in Tallinn from tomorrow until next Friday. This is an opportunity for Chemnitz to showcase its management of old buildings and raise its profile at European level. More than 450 experts from all over Europe are expected to attend. In addition, Chemnitz can participate as a development actor in URBACT events and publications and make an active contribution to the urban agenda of the European Union.
Background:
The StadtWohnen Chemnitz agency, a project of the City of Chemnitz in cooperation with the Westsächsische Gesellschaft für Stadterneuerung mbH, was awarded the European "URBACT Good Practice" label for its work in the field of old building management. The award was presented following an international tender and an intensive selection process.
The StadtWohnen Chemnitz agency is responsible for the numerous Wilhelminian-style buildings that characterise the cityscape and have stood empty for many years on the Sonnenberg, in Schlosschemnitz and other parts of the city. The agency works actively with the building owners and with people and companies interested in innovative and sustainable reutilisation of the buildings as users or investors in order to bring them back into discussion and redevelopment. It sees itself as a coordination centre by advising the various parties involved and bringing them into contact. Since 2012, more than 15 of around 100 buildings under management have been revitalised thanks to this old building management. The majority of the remaining buildings are currently being renovated or are in the planning stage.
Last year, URBACT launched a call to cities across Europe with the aim of collecting sustainable and integrated solutions for the current challenges facing European cities. Successful practical examples are to be publicised beyond city boundaries throughout Europe. 219 European cities took part in the call with contributions on topics relating to sustainable urban development: from inclusion to administrative and environmental issues to digitalisation and the economy. Of the 270 entries submitted, 97 "good practices" from the cities were selected. Chemnitz is one of these cities and the only one from eastern Germany.
URBACT defines "good practice" as a practical tool that has proven itself through its results and can serve as a model for other cities. It is important that it is broadly based and involves various local stakeholders. The good practice examples were reviewed, evaluated and deserve to be passed on so that other cities can also benefit from them. All of the good practices initiated by URBACT have provided sufficient evidence that their objectives are being achieved and have demonstrated the most important criteria for successful transfer to other cities. Information on all selected good practices can be found on the dedicated website: www.urbactgoodpractices.eu
Further information on "URBACT Good Practice" can be found on the URBACT website: www.urbactgoodpractices.euhttp://www.urbactgoodpractices.euand on the website of the StadtWohnen Chemnitz agency: www.stadtwohnen-chemnitz.de