The housing renovation in the metropolitan cities of Lithuania

Abstract

The paper analyzes the spatial differentiation of housing renovation processes in Lithuania and in its metropolitan cities – Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda in particular. Based on scientific, legal, and other literature related to the topic, the study identifies the general features of the Lithuanian housing renovation policy and distinguishes the main factors influencing the spatial differences of housing modernization processes. The analysis carried on secondary statistical data allowed to reveal huge differences of housing renovation at the level of Lithuanian municipalities. The spatial differentiation of renovation does not correspond to existing differences of economic development and incomes of population in municipalities. The territorial differentiation of renovation processes inside Lithuanian metropolitan cities is analyzed in the second part or the paper. The results of the analysis revealed the tendencies of spatial processes of housing policy in the three largest cities of the country. The renovation processes are highly differentiated in urban space and the socially least successful areas have the lowest share of renovated housing stock. The renovation policy has essentially no territorial priorities, therefore it’s impact on urban segregation and urbanized landscape is accidental and potentially negative.