SHORT DESCRIPTION

Background

The two localities “Volkert- und Alliiertenviertel” and “Viertel um den Wallensteinplatz”, which had been identified as lacking in infrastructure in the context of EU Objective 2 grants, have a high proportion of unemployed persons and persons on low incomes. In comparison with other parts of Vienna purchasing power is low and retail outlets frequently close down. Around 40 % of residents in this area are not Austrian citizens.

Objective

By activating potential available on the spot, the locality management scheme (Grätzelmanagement) is intended to develop projects together with local residents and firms in both localities (“Volkert- und Aliiertenviertel”, parts of the Second District and “Viertel um den Wallensteinplatz”), in order to improve the situation in each locality as regards accomodation, community life, the local economy and the environment.

Sequence of events

The locality management scheme uses empowerment to “help people onto their feet”. People are approached on the spot – personal contact should motivate them to join in. A mixture of different methods is designed to make it possible for widely differing segments of the population (including disadvantaged groups) to take part. The following procedure was adopted:

 

• Initial activating opinion survey of 400 households by polyglot interviewers (so as to reach people not fluent in German, too)

• Brainstorming session to determine priority issues for study groups to develop appropriate projects

• Issue-centred study groups meeting roughly once a month to develop projects to improve the situation in the locality

• Locality meetings to discuss the projects from the study groups in an open forum

The integrative approach employed makes the scheme specially challenging. For the first time the city departments concerned with business development and urban renewal are collaborating on a joint project.