it's time to start revitalizing lower Lazarus
Paradoxically, Poznan's revitalization has withered away at a time when the magistrate got its hands on more precise tools. In 2015, the so-called Revitalization Act came into force. The Municipal Revitalization Committee - an advisory body permitted by the new law - met only twice. True, at the end of 2017 Poznan councilors managed to pass the Municipal Revitalization Program, but it is a document of a very general nature for a very large area. It covers the entire downtown, the adjacent historic districts and the peripheral Main Street.
To date, instead, no - provided by law - local revitalization plans (MPR) or special revitalization zones (SSR) have been created, which would allow more specific actions in selected areas. The place that - as it seems - should become the subject of such actions is the eastern part of Laz arus (the so-called Lower Lazarus), a historic district adjacent to the center.
A project for the redevelopment of Łazarski Market according to the winning 2016 competition entry (design: APA Jacek Bułat).
© Autorska Pracownia Architektoniczna - Jacek Bułat
The reconstruction of the main square - Lazarski Square - in accordance with the winning competition work of 2016 (proj.: APA Jacek Bułat) is currently underway. However, this is again only an improvement in infrastructure. Meanwhile, some Lazarus residents are struggling with social and economic problems. The isolation of the area also does its part. It is cut off from the east and north by railroad tracks and the Central Railway Station, from the south by the through street Hetmańska, and from the west by Glogowska Street. The latter is the backbone of the district, except that it performs mainly traffic functions, also of a through nature. The lack of trees, noise and exhaust fumes effectively deter passersby and business. The commercial and representative character of the street right next to the Fair is a thing of the past. Only this year, after years of pressure from community members, traffic will be reduced to one lane each way on the more than one-kilometer stretch of the street. A parking zone will also be launched in Lazarus in January. The new traffic organization will calm down Lazarus streets.
Glogowska Street - treeless, noisy, subordinated mainly to cars
photo: Jakub Głaz
Comprehensive revitalization efforts in Lazarus need to begin, especially since - in addition to the grassroots initiatives that previously existed here - a new thriving Neighborhood Council has been in place for two years. Thus, there is a strong social partner with whom - in accordance with the principles of revitalization - the neighborhood can be taken care of. The revival is already visible. Recently - in cooperation with the City Hall - workshops and consultations were held to civilize the square named after Eka z Malki ("eka" - in the Poznań dialect "banda", "Małeka" - Malecki street; the square commemorates the "eka" who took part in the Poznan June 1956 uprising). A preliminary concept has already been created for the square by Front Architects, which is now under public consultation.
Public consultation on the Eki z Malki square
photo: Jakub Głaz
Now, these spotty, infrastructural transformations should be joined by social and economic programs. It is also necessary to better connect the district with the rest of the city - by means of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge running over the tracks (the example of Measures shows that the bridge is an important issue). And this without waiting for the development of the railroad land lying behind the tracks (the so-called Free Tracks), which the authorities often like to talk about. Despite the progress, the development of this area is a matter of coming decades. Lower Lazarus cannot wait that long.
