Abandoned structures: tools for reuse and repurposing of buildings in Slovak municipalities

David A Cole,Jolana Gubalová,Mária Murray Svidroňová

doi:10.2478/cejpp-2021-0005

David A Cole, Jolana Gubalová + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2478/cejpp-2021-0005

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Abstract

Abstract In this article, we aim to analyse the state of abandoned properties in Slovak municipalities and present possible solutions for this issue. In the theoretical part, we define abandonment and the tools for abandonment based on the current literature review. Building on this framework, the paper analyses the towns and villages of selected Slovak region, that being Banská Bystrica self-governing region. To map abandoned properties located in a selected region, as well as to identify emotional value of these building and the instruments needed for their reconstruction or removal, a questionnaire was sent to the mayors of all municipalities of over 1,000 inhabitants in the region of Banská Bystrica – a total of 115 municipalities in 2019. This concentrated research on one region enabled us to have a closer look at the status of abandoned structures in municipalities in a typical area of Central and Eastern Europe. We compare the issue of abandonment in the commuter zone (the two largest cities in the regions and their surrounding) and the hinterlands. Research has shown that the population in the hinterlands is declining more than in the commuter zone, but more abandoned buildings are located in municipalities in the commuter zone. Buildings in need of repair that are important for the inhabitants (e.g. from the point of view of history), are registered in their municipality by 93% of mayors in the commuter zone and 84% in the hinterlands. The most frequent obstacles to repairing these buildings are considered by the mayors in both zones the many number of owners who cannot agree on a plan for saving the objects. The quantitative research is completed with an illustration of an abandoned object in Banská Bystrica.

Highlights

A vacant and abandoned property is increasingly recognized as a significant barrier to the revitalization of municipalities of various sizes
To fulfil the aim of this study, we set up three research questions (RQ): RQ1: What is the situation with abandoned properties in the Banská Bystrica region?
Research has shown that the number of inhabitants in the municipalities of the hinterland is decreasing more than in the commuter zone, which was confirmed by data obtained from the Statistical Office

Summary

Introduction

A vacant and abandoned property is increasingly recognized as a significant barrier to the revitalization of municipalities of various sizes. For Central Europe, cause for decline can more be pinpointed to the change from a command economy to capitalism, which has led to rapid reorganization, de-industrialization followed by suburbanization This has meant the loss of utility for many older structures. One problem with the study of abandonment, is that it is often framed as an “urban issue” and as such, this adjective excludes consideration of opportunities that lie outside of urban centres. For both small and large communities, abandon structures, especially aesthetically significant structures, are in need of tools to end the status quo of neglect

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