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Штефан Хайніг

Рекомендації директора Департаменту міського розвитку та планування мерії Лейпцига Штефана Хайніга — як зробити українські міста сталими!

What you consider to be the most topical problems of Kyiv?

I visited Kyiv a several times in the last 4 years, but usually the inner city neighbourhoods. From this point of view the most important challenges of Kyiv urban development are sustainable mobility and the quality of public space for all people, but also the building density of some areas connected with a random city skyline. Last but not least the local contribution to the global climate protection is also a huge challenge for the upcoming decade.

Do you consider the introduction of urban development and planning methods, typical for European cities, to Ukrainian cities to be the good thing? If the difference in cultural and historical backgrounds can obstruct the success of these methods in Ukraine?

I experienced the transformation process from a socialist planning system to modern European urban planning in East Germany during the last 30 years. A fundamental change in the planning system is necessary in order to be able to steer urban development and public interest in a market economy and the time of globalization. Therefore the rigid Ukrainian system of the today‘s general plan needs a reformation. Of course, cultural and historical identity is a topic in the planning process. But in my mind this is a requirement for the content of the planning, not for the structure of the process and the products.
Looking further, I think there is also a need for modified integrated education for city planners in Ukraine. There are interesting initiatives in this direction for instance by CANaction or the Kharkiv School of Architecture.

As far as I know, you consulted our planners during development of new masterplan of Kyiv. Lots of people of Kyiv consider new masterplan to be too much private car-tolerant which is contrary to principles of sustainable mobility. Can you comment this situation? Do you agree with their position?

We had three consulting meetings with the colleagues of the Kyiv city administration and the Institute for the General Plan in the last two years and discussed the basic settings of the general plan. But we couldn‘t examine the general plan in detail. On this background we gave eight recommendations on the General Plan, the following two are related to mobility and public space:

Link urban development and mobility closely
The growth of Kiev is connected with an enormous increase in traffic. These can only be mastered if the public transport as well as the bicycle and foot traffic grows much faster than motorized individual transport. The general plan should set clear goals for the modal split, but also to dampen the assumed increase in car ownership. This is the chance to avoid the unintended effects of many European cities.
The planned expansion of the metro lines is important for a sustainable mobility in the growing city. In addition, a wide range of transport options for connecting the metro stations to the neighborhoods must be expanded. These include, in particular, an attractive tram system as well as diverse and safe connections for bicycles, pedelecs, e-scooters, etc.

Development of attractive public space
With the expansion of footpaths and green connections in the historic city and on the slopes of the Dnipro, Kiev is focusing on quality of life for the residents. This path should be continued consistently. It is important to create links between the different parks, as well for pedestrians and bicycles as for the biotope network. In order to create space for pedestrians, cyclists and attractive public space in the city, parking spaces for cars in the streets have to be reduced. Opportunities for underground parking garages and Park & Ride should be checked. Last but not least the development of the Waterfront of the Dnipro to a continous and attractive public space for pedestrians and cyclists as well as easy connections in the neighbouring districts would highlight the quality of life.

Kyiv is a historical city. Saving historical and architectural monuments is our duty. Privatization is the only chance to save them — because government have no financial resources for renovation. But the legal framework designed to preserve monuments, on the contrary, deprives them of the chance of salvation because the requirements for privatization are so tight that privatization becomes unprofitable. Did such a problem arise in Leipzig and how was it solved?

The careful development of architectural monuments is a balancing act between the necessary use of private capital and the safeguarding of public interest. In Leipzig, many protected residential and commercial buildings were renovated by private investors. Tax reduces and public investments in the public space on the one hand and a strong protection law on the other helped us. In addition, the city of Leipzig advised the owners specifically on careful urban renovation and sold buildings also on small cooperatives.

Good experiences we had with so-called “Guarded Houses”. Unrenovated buildings were leased to non-profit associations with the objective of use for several years. They took care of securing the building and cost-effective letting to cultural and social initiatives.

What steps Ukrainian cities should take to get closer to sustainability?

A city of short distances, mixed neighbourhoods, strengthening the sustainable mobility and participative processes are important planning principles on the way to a sustainable city. In addition, it is important that strategic decisions are fundamentally checked for resource efficiency and weighed in terms of integrated urban development with regard to ecological, economic and social effects.

Due to the dense high-rise residential development on the left bank, particularly in the Poznyaky district, pendulum migration causes traffic jams, which means a decrease in mobility for residents and an increase in harmful emissions. How can this situation be improved?

I know the challenges of monofunctional city districts from the large block neighbourhoods of the former GDR. But I can see no „recepies“ for the challenges of the left bank districts in Kyiv.
From my point of view, there are two basic approaches that should be addressed. On the one hand, there must be achieved a better mix of uses and the location of attractive and modern companies on the left bank to avoid more and more traffic on the Dnipro bridges. The new city center on the left bank – like in the general plan shown – could be a step in the right direction. On the other hand, the expansion of the metro network and a connected cycle path network as well as the reduction of free parking in the public space of Kyiv City Center are necessary to change mobility behaviour.

A few words about integrated urban development. Why is it so important for cities?

In my experience, two methods are important requirements for a sustainable urban development: interdisciplinary working in the administration and participation of stakeholders and civil society. A real integration of all interests ensures the balance between ecological, economic and social interest and leads to more transparent reasons of decisions. Good participation processes help to improve solutions with the local knowledge of the local stakeholders, create transparency and balance different interest groups. Both approaches are part of an integrated urban development. They are constituted in the Leipzig Charter signed by the EU member states 2007.

Photo: Pavel Botanov

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