Some of the criticism also concerned the creation of any development. This is due to a lack of awareness that this area in its current form has a very negative impact on the functioning of the city.
There have also been voices that this project contradicts the visions of the Wejcherts, who planned to have a wide artery through the center. These voices are based on outdated knowledge of how cities should be shaped. Unfortunately, such demands also come from the architectural and urban planning community. These voices represent last century's thinking, suggesting that this concept does not fit with modernist Tychy. Many of the solutions from that period have become obsolete, and it is necessary to build on current, most sustainable solutions, with future generations in mind.
I must emphasize, however, that it is the positive voices that dominate the discussion with residents, external experts, as well as investors. In addition to positive voices from residents themselves, we received praise from other quarters. One representative of the ministry said that Tychy could be a forerunner of new Polish urban planning. This may sound immodest, but if we don't emphasize these positive voices, unfortunately only the negative ones will resound.
The new center is to be a democratized space, accessible to everyone
© Michal Lorbiecki
Wiktor: Is an area the size of fifteen hectares enough to introduce all these functions ?
Michal: It's relatively difficult to answer that. When we say fifteen hectares, we mean an area that requires direct intervention. It will not be an island out of the context of the city, but a full-fledged space connected to its surroundings. It will certainly also resonate to new changes in the neighborhood, and the center will not end only in this undeveloped area today. The city is an organism that evolves, changes and can surprise us from different sides. Certain solutions from this master plan may change, adapting to new circumstances. Therefore, I believe that this is enough space to talk about the city center, especially that more than half will be public spaces.
aerial visualization
© Michal Lorbiecki
Wiktor: Currently in Krakow, when discussing the New Town in Rybitwy, the actors of the space who are on the site disagree with the actions seeking to move them out of the area. Do such external conflicts arise in this place?
Michal: There have been such conflicts, which resounded most loudly five years ago, when the city was developing an MPZP for the area. It is important to remember that such an area is not a blank slate. It is not a space that we can freely arrange for ourselves.
The solutions proposed in the master plan are not the result of my "whim," but are a consequence of a number of conditions - first of all, those that are not physically visible, i.e. the current land use and the resulting value of the property, as well as the ownership situation. We need to come to an agreement with the owners of some of the land. The solutions that will appear in the master plan take this into account.
Often conflicts arise from the lack of discussions and clarification of certain issues. This is the purpose of consultations with both residents and investors, to identify at what level there is awareness of processes and current knowledge of urban development, what to talk about more, and what is obvious. Not everyone is necessarily aware of what the various solutions entail, so it makes sense to conduct such processes in a transparent manner. Of course, the role of consultation is also to tailor the project to the needs of residents. We asked them not only about the new project, but also about how the city is evaluated now - what is negative, what is missing, and what is positive, and what has already been accomplished. We dedicated different consultation tools to different social groups. To reach children and young people, we have to organize meetings differently than for adults. Working with seniors is also unique. We have to remember that if we tailor our activities to the city's most sensitive users, they will be suitable for everyone. This is the best way to deal with social conflicts.
Michal Lorbiecki - urban planner and mayor's representative for the New Center
© Author's Archive
Wiktor: Who should be the investors in this space? While the public functions will be financed by the local government or state institutions, the residential and commercial part will be realized by the private market. How would Tychy like to attract investors?
Michal: Nowadays, the construction market related to residential and service spaces is mainly, but not exclusively, realized by the private market. As a city, we have implementation tools, such as the construction of municipal buildings, TBS, or even non-residential buildings with various functions, such as social. Ultimately, the introduction of municipally-implemented buildings will create conditions for diversity, including in terms of different social groups.
By focusing on the private market, we are trying to emphasize the fact that Tychy is part of a metropolis with more than two million residents. If we wanted to advertise ourselves abroad at investment fairs as Tychy, no one would remember our city. We need to emphasize in these efforts that we are part of the metropolis, because this is a key investment value.
A perfect example is Greater Paris. When we hear about investments in the metropolis, they are actually investments located outside of Paris. The city itself is relatively small. All the smaller cities around Paris make up this metropolis, and when investors invest in them, they identify them with Paris.
Our potential is also increased by improving communications with Katowice, as well as Krakow. Many people live in Katowice and work in Krakow and vice versa. The distances are blurring, so we need to emphasize that we are part of a large metropolis.
The project involves the introduction of green and blue infrastructure
© Michal Lorbiecki
Wiktor: It's been some time since the public presentation of the project. How do you see the possibilities for its implementation? After all, we are in a difficult economic situation related to the energy crisis.
Michal: From the beginning of the launch of the project, we have emphasized that this will not be an investment for several years. This endeavor will take a dozen, maybe even several decades. What we are doing today is preparing a certain idea for when we will emerge from this crisis. We are committed to ensuring that these preparations do not begin when the opportunity arises, but that we are ready for these better times.
It is important to emphasize that these legal preparations related to changes in the Local Development Plan, the adjustment of infrastructure, these are elements in the space that are not visible. Although it's been a while since the project was shown, at the same time a lot of arrangements have been made. We are looking for various sources of implementation, we are regulating the ownership situation. These preparatory issues are important and take a lot of time.
The overriding function of the master plan is to coordinate such projects. When funds from the European Union appear, for example, we want to be ready to reach for them. Everything that is happening today is to help coordinate activities in the coming years, regardless of when the first implementations come.
Victor: Thank you for the interview.
The scale of the project is to be adapted to the needs of the population
© Michal Lorbiecki
