Who defines urban regeneration? Comparative analysis of medium-sized cities in Poland and Russia

Przemysław Ciesiółka,Galina Pivovar,Maria Gunko

doi:10.7163/gpol.0172

Przemysław Ciesiółka, Galina Pivovar + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.7163/gpol.0172

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Abstract

The aim of the current study was to identify the main actors (leaders) involved in transformations of mediumsized cities in Poland and Russia that share similar legacies but took different development paths after the collapse of state socialism. These transformations are discussed using the framework of urban regeneration and are based on empirical data from two cities – Kolomna (Russia) and Kalisz (Poland). The data were obtained through expert interviews, as well as nonparticipant observation in the two cities. Though the process of urban regeneration shows similarities, the process leaders are different.

Highlights

Narratives of urban change such as renewal, revitalization, recovery, and regeneration have attracted growing attention in urban studies over the recent years (e.g. Couch, Sykes, & Börstinghaus, 2011; Dalla Longa, 2011; Ryan, 2012; Watcher & Zeuli, 2014; Carter, 2016; Van Agtmael & Bakker, 2016; Doucet, 2017; Roberts, Sykes, & Granger, 2017; Kaczmarek, 2019)
First we discussed urban change using the framework of regeneration at the national level, and analyzed the experiences of two medium-sized cities – Kolomna (Russia) and Kalisz (Poland)
After the collapse of the system did the need for enhanced livability in cities in general and in their most degraded parts in particular enter the agenda in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries (Scott & Kuhn, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Narratives of urban change such as renewal, revitalization, recovery, and regeneration have attracted growing attention in urban studies over the recent years (e.g. Couch, Sykes, & Börstinghaus, 2011; Dalla Longa, 2011; Ryan, 2012; Watcher & Zeuli, 2014; Carter, 2016; Van Agtmael & Bakker, 2016; Doucet, 2017; Roberts, Sykes, & Granger, 2017; Kaczmarek, 2019). Re-narratives refer to the changes taking place in degraded urban areas, rather than to the changing development path of a city as a whole (Roberts, 2016: 19-20). Small and medium-sized cities (SMSC) as well as non-core regions are discussed to a lesser extent (Stryjakiewicz et al 2018). The reasons behind such selective analysis of urban experiences include, on the one hand, a ‘fascination’ with large cities, which showcase global processes, and, on the other hand, the ontological complexity of SMSC, which are more sensitive to differences in cultural and institutional contexts, and the simple lack of comparable data (Atkinson, Servillo, & Hamdouch, 2016)

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