Mexico? It's a part of Gdynia. A forgotten, devoid of infrastructure, low-rise residential neighborhood. It's where city authorities have been promising change for more than four years. In one of the best-developing cities in Poland, environmentally-friendly and resident-friendly, there is still a neighborhood where rainwater sewers, paved roads, connecting houses to the district heating network, or at least one playground are still unrealized dreams.
four years after the revitalization plan was developed
More than four years ago, Gdynia authorities promised residents of the neglected Mexico City neighborhood new roads, a recreational area and a parking lot. The work, awaited by residents, started on Monday morning. And we could rejoice - "after all, it's going to be better after all...", but perhaps it's also worth wondering - why did residents have to wait several years for such basic changes, needed by the so-called Mexico City community?
It was 2017, when Gdynia drew up aMunicipal Revitalization Program worth as much asPLN 100 million, which, in addition to the forgotten Mexico City, included the so-called Pekin, parts of the districts of Oksywie, Chylonia, Witomino and Babie Doły. What did the Program assume? First and foremost, it was a response to the basic needs of the residents, which were reported in social consultations conducted by the city. The consultations took place in 2016. And the needs were not unrealistic dreams, but completely real and the most urgent interests of the estate, such as a paved road (of which there are only a few in the estate), rainwater drainage, or even connecting the houses to the heating network. The lack of even one recreation area was also reported at the time.
promise after promise
Plans to revitalize the Mexico City neighborhood are seriously approaching the start of major renovation and construction work that will transform the space and living conditions of residents. A conceptual design for the investment has already been developed, which was made by Nevora Projekt from Gdansk.
- reported Gdynia City Hall in 2017.
When urban activists, residents and the media asked about the future of Mexico City - one of the most neglected neighborhoods in Poland, the City Hall hid behind and explained just this project from 2017. Only a few days ago, the project entered the first phase of implementation, and there is a real chance that the neighborhood's situation will change.
no roads, there is a garden
After public consultations, following the implementation of the so-called concept design, instead of roads, sewers, playgrounds, or connecting houses to the district heating network, a so-called rain garden was created on Plum Street, in the middle of Mexico City. About 300 square meters were planted with grasses, shrubs and trees. A garden is something that definitely belongs to every neighborhood, and greenery is an indisputable value of urban space, but isn't this order of meeting the needs of residents a kind of mockery of the city's relationship with the local community?
In addition to the Plum Street garden, the revitalization of Mexico City was to include pedestrian crossings, a bicycle path, intersections with traffic signals, drainage of the road system, pedestrian infrastructure with small architecture and greenery, lighting, and paved streets. The district is also to be integrated into the city's transportation system. The cost of the entire investment (including the necessary expropriation of land) was calculated by the city at nearly PLN 23 million. To date, nothing outside the garden has been built.
changes? only in plans
Another year has passed. In 2019. Gdynia City Council decided to proceed with the preparation of amendments to the local zoning plan for the Mexico estate. Toward the development of Gdynia, the estate was to be filled with new residential development. The new zoning plan assumed changes in the road system, a new interchange of the Tri-City Bypass. That is, in short - more residents and better access to the housing estate from the outside, further no changes for the local community. Why has construction work still not started?
In 2018, the investment project for the Mexico City estate received an administrative decision to authorize the implementation of a road investment. Within the statutory 14-day period from the issuance of the decision, one of the co-owners of the property necessary to be purchased as part of the investment filed an appeal with the Pomeranian governor. By order of the governor, the decision was withdrawn for reconsideration by the Architectural and Construction Department of the City Hall of Gdynia.
- explained Deputy Mayor Michał Guć. However, is something changing? When will Mexico City be resident-friendly?
Revitalization works have already begun. They have included the construction of a rain garden on Plum Street, the paving of Palm Street, the arrangement of address numbers, the organization of open-air cinemas, theater performances, consultation meetings on, among other things, planned changes in traffic organization, and the Neighborhood Fund.
Yet the above-mentioned so-called revitalization works are not a response to the real needs of residents. They have warmed up the city's image, but have had little to do with the expectations of the Mexican community. How does an outdoor cinema relate to a paved road? For those, residents still had to wait....
2021 is a real change
Finally, in 2020, a notice appeared on the Social Innovation Lab website:
We are waiting for the resolution of the appeal that one of the co-owners of the property, whose buyout is necessary to carry out the investment, has filed with the Pomeranian voivode against the administrative decision to authorize the implementation of a road investment, the so-called ZRID. We hope that the settlement will take place soon and will be successful for us. We are very anxious to start the investment so eagerly awaited by residents.
- says Michał Guć, Vice Mayor of Gdynia for Innovation.
Over the years, Gdynia's Mexico City has lived to see the patch of the saddest neighborhood in the Tri-City, and even one of the most neglected in Poland. Did it have to be that way? After more than four years of waiting, on Monday morning construction equipment entered Mexico City and work began.
a new better Mexico City
There is a happy ending. What does the work plan call for? The City Council announces that public roads will be reconstructed, a new street will be built, another new road will surround a brand new bus terminal, which will communicate Mexico City with the city center. Parking spaces and bicycle paths will also be created. Sections of main streets will also undergo renovation, and construction of sidewalks and intersections is planned.
