About the Book

This incisive book examines how citizens are increasingly taking it upon themselves to change their neighbourhoods and communities, becoming co-producers, makers and pioneers who actively participate in the design of urban spaces and spatial processes. Analysing the potentials and limitations of civic engagement, it discusses how such participation has led to greater cohesion of communities against changing environments.

The book explores a diverse range of examples and case studies related to local practices in urban neighbourhoods and communities, reflecting the variability of civic initiatives in European cities and regions. Investigating critical topics such as cultural heritage, social or third places and tactical urbanism, chapters examine the relations between (temporary) civic engagement, social cohesion and resilience, urban change, urban planning and governance. As citizens’ actions and initiatives are becoming increasingly influential in cities and regions, it presents bottom-up and top-down approaches to better understand the spatial impacts and dimensions of civic engagement.

Social Cohesion and Resilience through Citizen Engagement will prove an indispensable resource for postgraduate students of urban policy, strategic spatial planning, town and country planning, urban and regional development and territorial governance. Its timely analysis of developments and planning strategies will also benefit policy makers interested in civic engagement and urban change.

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface xvii PART I THEORETICAL-CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND 1 Citizens activities and initiatives: civic engagement for urban development 2 Falco Knaps, Jessica Baier and Stefan Lazarevski 2 Community resilience: transformative capacity as driver for social cohesion and sustainable development 19 Frank Othengrafen, Michael Ziehl and Sylvia Herrmann 3 Civic engagement in the protection of historical heritage and city landscape 34 Ledio Allkja and Doriana Musaj PART II CULTURAL HERITAGE AS SOURCE AND TARGET OF CITIZENS INITIATIVES Introduction to part II: Cultural heritage as source and target of citizens initiatives 52 Sylvia Herrmann 4 Uncertainty of urban landscapes on the threshold of urban transformation and the positionality of citizens: the case of Eskişehir Porsuk riverfront 55 Sıla Ceren Varış Husar, Merve Buldaç and Gizem Hediye Eren 5 Participation on a half-way basis? Evolution of public participation in Slovakia. Case study: Trenčín si Ty [Trenčín is You] initiative 75 Milan Husar, Vladimir Ondrejicka and Renata Kascakova 6 Public participation in planning: experiences from Athens, Greece 90 Miltiadis Lazoglou, Eleni Linaki, Evangelos Asprogerakas, Konstantinos Serraos and Antonia Koutsopoulou PART III CO-PRODUCING URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS Introduction to part III: Co-producing urban neighbourhoods 101 Frank Othengrafen 7 An organizational approach to citizen engagement for social cohesion: the gardening experience in an Italian public housing neighborhood 104 Laura Saija, Giulia Li Destri Nicosia and Carla Barbanti 8 Co-producing urban neighborhoods: (non-)interaction between citizens initiatives and municipalities in Germany 123 Jessica Baier, Falco Knaps and Sylvia Herrmann 9 Community engagement in urban regeneration: highlights from the ‘Sê Bairrista’ project in Marvila (Lisbon) 139 Roberto Falanga, Mafalda Corrêa Nunes and Henrique Chaves 10 Citizens as urban pioneers: setting impulses for community development in medium-sized towns in Germany 162 Eva Reinecke, Nicole Reiswich, David O’Neill and Frank Othengrafen PART IV THE UTILIZATION OF PUBLIC SPACES AS INTERPLAY OF CITIZENS INITIATIVES AND URBAN PLANNING Introduction to part IV: The utilization of public spaces as interplay of citizens initiatives and urban planning 191 Stefan Lazarevski 11 Citizen engagement in urban green spaces: A role-based analysis of supportive professional actors 194 Mirjam Kats, Lummina G. Horlings, Christian Lamker and Ward Rauws 12 Tactical urbanism experiences in building public spaces: lessons learned in Italy 211 Alessandro Cariello, Rossella Ferorelli and Francesco Rotondo 13 Our City, Our Scene: activating public spaces in urban neighborhoods through grassroots initiatives in Skopje 229 Stefan Lazarevski and Divna Pencic 14 Examining the inclusive potential of tactical urbanism projects: an analysis of two case studies from Germany and Greece 246 Tabea Drexhage, Lina Ellinghusen, Aikaterini Nycha, Celina Segsa and Evridiki Tsola PART V CONCLUSIONS 15 Civic engagement and community-based initiatives as driving force for social resilience: some comparative conclusions 262 Frank Othengrafen, Sylvia Herrmann and Stefan Lazarevski