GIVAT OLGA NEIGHBORHOOD – BACKGROUND
Givat Olga is a
neighborhood in the city of
Givat Olga was
founded in the fifties by new immigrants from
Today there are
approximately 11,000 residents in Givat Olga, 30% of whom are new immigrants,
30% children under the age 17, and 17% senior citizens - most of whom need
economic and social aid and support.
In the center of
the neighborhood at the heart of a residential and commercial area is a
neglected and poorly developed site of approximately
THE CHALLENGE
Renewing this
neglected neighborhood center fits with MIU's objectives: strengthening city
centers and neighborhoods with public participation in the planning process.
The challenge of
this project is to give the residents knowledge and responsibility by means of a
mutual planning process to revitalize the center of their neighborhood.
The idea is to
rebuild this neglected site, make it the center of the community life, and,
through a mutual work process bring about a change in the attitude of the
residents to their space and the environment in which they live and to take
responsibility in other areas of their lives.
THE CHANGE WE WANT TO BRING ABOUT
We suggest a
different way of planning built urban sites - with public participation. A way
in which all participants have equal influence and the resulting plan is
feasible, benefits everyone and has them take urban and social responsibility
for the outcome.
In the
conventional planning process in Israel, especially the neighborhoods in which
weak and poor populations live, the local authority plans and builds without
resident participation and sometimes with other interests in mind. The
probability of a project to succeed, when the local authority makes the
decisions and imposes a plan on the residents, is very low. In the existing
planning process, the "beneficiaries" – the residents –
do not participate in the planning process do not care what happens and have no
interest in maintaining their neighborhood and caring for it. This system is
one sided, one-dimensional, does not reflect the desires of all sides and does
not take into account additional parameters such as the habits of the
residents, culture, religion and other real day to day needs. The planners and
executers do not ask for or take interest in the residents' opinions and needs.
Experience accumulated in
We believe that
urban planning with public participation is the way to achieve a lively and
active neighborhood center. The way the residents will feel responsible for
their environment and lives
is by
participating in their spare time with a feeling of responsibility and purpose.
Through this process, it is possible to change the attitude of the residents
and interested parties towards their living space. The process is not only a
physical planning process but has an educative element
in giving and
taking responsibility.
The immediate and
direct result of the project suggested by us - revitalizing the neighborhood
center in Givat Olga - is as important as the long-term results.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
General
At the center of
the neighborhood of Givat Olga is a neglected and poorly developed area of
approximately
Vision
and Purpose
·
Turn
this neglected site into a lively multi-purpose neighborhood center combining
commercial, residential and public buildings and a neighborhood park. This will
improve the image and environment of the neighborhood and make it a pleasant
place to live, work and play.
·
By
means of a planning process with public participation, we strive to raise the
participant's awareness to quality of life, environment and urban
responsibility.
·
Strengthen
the relationship and trust between the municipality and neighborhood residents.
Project
Stages
A dynamic planning
process, with public (residents and stakeholders) participation:
·
Prepare
the community, establishment and public representatives to work with the
residents of the neighborhood on the project.
·
Identify
and map the different interested parties relevant to the project and enlist
them to participate.
·
Research
the problems and potential according to the residents' way of thinking and
understanding what they want and need in a neighborhood center.
·
Define
a common shared vision.
·
Hold
planning workshops with the participation of the public and establishment to
develop several alternative plans for the neighborhood center and choosing the
best plan in an intensive 4-day charrette.
·
Implementation
of the chosen plan (by a planning team) for submission
to the authorities for approval before execution.
Participants
Planning
team:
An architect/urban
planner (head of the team), landscape architect, social worker specialist in mediation
and forging consensus, traffic advisor, infrastructure consultant and an
economist.
Residents
and stakeholders:
Representatives
of: businesses in the area, residents of the neighborhood, land owners and the
general public.
Local
Authority:
Social
workers from the municipality, the municipal engineer, a representative of the
city council.
CHANGES WE SEEK TO GAIN
1.
The
influence of the project on the neighborhood and it's residents:
·
A
neighborhood center that is active and lively for the benefit of all the
residents and businesses in the center.
·
The
change in the center will revitalize the neighborhood and the community and
give a positive image to the neighborhood.
2.
The
influence of the project on other neighborhoods in the city:
·
The
success of the project will spur other neighborhoods to revitalize their own
neighborhoods in the same way (with public participation).
3.
Change
in outlook and acceptance of responsibility
·
Participants
of the project will learn to take responsibility for their environment (natural
and built).
·
Creating
a process which builds trust between residents of the neighborhood and the
local authorities and understanding that in a process of participation and
cooperation you get results that could not be reached in current decision
making and planning processes.
4.
Change
at a National Level:
·
We
expect this project, along with other activities, to help change the existing
system and procedures for urban planning in
CRITERIA TO EVALUATE ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS
·
The
extent of public and stakeholders participation in the process.
·
The
regularity with which the representatives of the different sectors came to the
work group meetings.
·
The
willingness of the municipality to continue the project to implementation of
the plan.
·
The
consent of the different interested groups to a feasible plan.
·
Approval
of the plan
·
Execution
of the plan and beginning of actual building.
