Urban Regeneration Program, Budapest District #8, Hungary

MAGDOLNA

NEIGHBOURHOOD PROGRAM 2005-2015 BUDAPEST-JÓZSEFVÁROS

Strategic context The Magdolna neighbourhood is located close to the city centre, in the heart of 8th district of Budapest – called Józsefváros.

The concentration of disadvantaged people was constantly increasing during last few decades.

The area’s main difficulties are the high unemployment rate, the low educational level, dilapidated housing and high criminality, including drug abuse and trafficking. There is high proportion of Roma people. Out of the 5500 housing units in the neighbourhood, 37% were of substandard quality and 42% were municipally-owned property in 2001.

The MNP is Hungary’s first truly integrated socially sensitive regeneration programme of Magdolna neighbourhood was introduced by local urban development public company called Rev8 in the District Development Strategy in 2004. Three phases of MNP have been implemented until 2015.

The first phase of local integrated urban regeneration programme was elaborated on neighbourhood level funded by the Municipality of Józsefváros and City of Budapest as a pilot project with a budget of 2,8 million € including 2,3 million € subsidy between 2005 and 2008.

The second phase was completed between 2008 and 2011 as well as the third which was realised between 2013 and 2015 supported by the ERDF. However these three phases are only the first period of a long-term development strategy for the neighbourhood, which is likely to take 15 years.

The local public company plays a key role in the realization of MNP on behalf of Municipality of Józsefváros between 2005 and 2015.

The second and also the third phase of MNP was implemented as part of the Central Hungarian Operational Programme with a budget of 19.3 million € including 18.5 million € EU-subsidy.

Objectives The area-based integrated approach as well as instruments for public participation was put in practice in the framework of MNP. The programme addresses not only the traditional renovation of old housing stock but also the crucial social difficulties as well.

It combines a number of physical and social interventions in order to tackle the complex problems of the quarter.

MNP includes several sub-programmes focusing on refurbishment of municipal owned housing stock and semi-private condominiums, renewal of public spaces, implementation of crime prevention actions, set up social as well as employment programmes, realization of community building and cultural programmes.

The overall objective of the MNP is to make the quarter socially, economically, environmentally liveable as well as to build up an inclusive, diverse local society. The most important midterm social goals are to slow the segregation

process and foster social relations.

The economical goals are to decrease unemployment and to enhance economic activity. The environmental goals are to improve the living conditions.

Challenges to be addressed: the substandard rental flats are dominated inside municipal-owned housing stock (built up at the turn of 19th-20th century); the local population is highly infected with crime (e.g. drugs, prostitution, anti-social behaviour); the high rate of socially disadvantaged people – living below the poverty line; the extreme high rate of municipalowned social dwellings considered national context; the high proportion of unemployed and low-educated people; the low standard public areas shortage of community functions.

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Housing program The 30 per cent (28 buildings) of municipally owned housing stock is involved in refurbishment activities in the quarter.

The proportion of substandard social rental flats has been reduced from 50% to lower than 10%. The maintenance costs – included the rent as well as public utilities – of housing units did not increase after the renovation. The living conditions were improved considered 750 families (e.g. toilettes inside, green courtyards, CCTV,

insulation). One hundred families have participated in the reconstruction work directly. The rental buildings are occupied by the same families as before. The residents pay more attention for operation of renovated buildings. It can be highlighted that new NGOs were established in order to represent the interest of tenants.

Additionally 20 semi-private condominiums including 570 apartments were renovated at the same time in the neighbourhood.

Public space revitalization All of public spaces were reconstructed during the three phases of MNP. Several new functions (e.g. sport, social, cultural and leisure facilities) were elaborated in public spaces consequently the using of these open areas would be changed significantly. Most of the streets become humanised and safer open spaces. The proportion of green surfaces has also increased.

The public involvement process has included more than 10 local

meetings as well as community actions (e.g. community planting, making public furniture, painting buildings, establishing open-air stage). The locals pay more attention for operation of new green spaces (e.g. maintenance, using, public safety). A non-governmental organisation was established by locals called Association for Teleki Square in order to participate in the square’s management and future improvements after the reconstruction.

Social programmes and community building The Glove Factory Community Centre has become the most important community place in the Middle-Józsefváros, not only in the neighbourhood. The comprehensive services of institute contains several open lessons in every week free of charge, e.g.: arts and crafts, internet courses, sport and women’s gymnastics, literary club as well as individual mentoring courses.

During the last 12 months 17 types of regular programmes were realised in the Community Centre included 737 lessons.

The number of participants was 1554 in regular events which means 6722 visits.

21 people participated in the street social work and casual work initiative targeted homeless people. Half of the participants has durable job out of MNP. A local support group, a civil neighbourhood council as well as NGO’s was founded in last few years involved representatives of different groups of inhabitants.

The Intensive Family Preservation Services are available for families living in crises in the quarter. The project provides non-stop social services in the home of clients with eight-week duration per family. 56 families participate in the Intensive Family Care and Development Services. Additional services (called e.g. housing improvements) motivation packages are involved in the social work contained The application of restorative tools in conflict management and community building was realised in 4 schools included 900 lessons. The project contained trainings and consultation for teachers, group therapy with children, individual mentoring of children as well as case management. The so called Magdolna After-School project has been focusing on the most problematic children in order to get and care the talents.

Crime prevention & Employment program 105 special events as well 156 lessons has been organised in elementary schools involved external experts in the framework of awareness-raising lessons about addiction and crime. The neighbourhood policing project has been being accomplished between 2008 and 2014. The district policemen participate in a 10-hour shift per day in their free time. The progress and experience of neighbourhood policing project as well as the status of public safety is evaluated with locals at open discussions in every half a year. The number of priority crimes stagnates in the period of realisation of initiative. The subjective sense of security has been improved significantly according to the surveys.

Career fairs are organised in the Community Centre in the framework of Assistance for unemployed people in every half a year between 2008 and

2014. At least 100 job seekers get a job per event. Job search club has been organising twice a week provided by the Community Centre and Social Service and Child Welfare Centre. The number of participants is between 30 and 50 people occasionally. More than 50 low educated people were involved in the vocational trainings. The Magdolna programme offers job directly for at least 50 people (e.g. social work, reconstruction work).

[Source of photos: Municipality of Józsefváros, Rév8 Plc, Gyula Nyáry, Ujirany Group – Office for Landscape Architecture, Layout, text: Rév8 Plc]

www.jozsefvaros.hu, www.rev8.hu, www.jcsgyk.hu, www.kisfalu.hu, www.jvkh.hu