Potentials and planning strategies for a positive development

Potentials and planning
strategies for a positive
development
A comparative study of postmilitary
housing areas in Marciena,
Liepa and Valga
Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B programme project: Sustainable
reintegration of post-Soviet military residential territories as a challenge
and opportunity for regional development (ReMiDo)
Dorota Wlodarczyk, Inga-Britt Werner & Rolf Johansson, The Royal
Institute of Technology in Stockholm
Mats Sundin, Institute for Housing- and Urban Research, Uppsala
University
1 June 2007

Contents
The outlines ........................................................................................................ 5
Problem overview.......................................................................................... 5
Aim ................................................................................................................. 6
Selection of cases........................................................................................... 7
Methods.......................................................................................................... 8
Disposition ..................................................................................................... 9
Marciena in Latvia ........................................................................................... 10
Case description........................................................................................... 10
Location................................................................................................... 10
Government and administration............................................................. 13
The housing area..................................................................................... 14
Population ............................................................................................... 17
Problems and planning situation................................................................. 20
Ruptures in history, economy and social networks .............................. 20
Resources and exploitations................................................................... 20
Finance, investors and subsidies............................................................ 21
Ownerships and housing market............................................................ 21
Planning and control............................................................................... 23
Housing standards and households........................................................ 24
Should I stay or should I go? ................................................................. 26
Landmarks and status ............................................................................. 27
Concluding remarks .................................................................................... 27
Liepa in Latvia.................................................................................................. 30
Case description........................................................................................... 30
Location................................................................................................... 30
Government and administration............................................................. 35
The housing area..................................................................................... 36
Population ............................................................................................... 38
Ethnicity .................................................................................................. 38
Demography............................................................................................ 39
Households.............................................................................................. 40
Employment ............................................................................................ 40
Workplaces.............................................................................................. 41
Income, education and rent .................................................................... 42
2

Problems and planning situation................................................................. 42
Sarkani, a mirror of society problems ................................................... 43
Location and transport to workplaces.................................................... 43
Obstacles and potentials for new workplaces ....................................... 44
Housing standards................................................................................... 44
Place attraction........................................................................................ 45
Problem management ............................................................................. 45
Perspectives on social development ...................................................... 48
Concluding remarks .................................................................................... 50
Valga in Estonia ............................................................................................... 52
Case description........................................................................................... 52
Location................................................................................................... 52
Government and Administration ........................................................... 54
The meeting, site visit and workshop.................................................... 55
Housing ................................................................................................... 57
Infrastructure........................................................................................... 60
The population ........................................................................................ 61
Problems and planning situation................................................................. 61
Detailed plan ........................................................................................... 62
Energy plan and incitements for renewal.............................................. 63
Workshop’s discussion........................................................................... 64
Concluding remarks .................................................................................... 66
Conclusions and discussion ............................................................................. 68
The comparative analysis............................................................................ 68
References......................................................................................................... 77
Literature...................................................................................................... 77
Protocols, documents and papers................................................................ 77
Detailed plans, reports and investigations.................................................. 77
World-wide-web.......................................................................................... 78
Field-notes and photos ................................................................................ 78
Lectures, correspondence and informal contacts....................................... 78
3

The outlines
Problem overview
Sustainable development of former military sites is the main concern within
ReMiDo project. Downsizing of military forces in the world between 1989
and 1995 perceived as a positive sign connected with the end of Cold War
had unforeseen impacts on regions, from which soldiers withdrew. Thousands
of closed military bases, which cover more then one million hectares,
show the scale of the problem. Costly planning and management activities,
difficult reuse of the infrastructure are among negative impacts. 1 The use of
post military areas is complicated and it often requires expensive cleaning up
of pollutants and hazardous substances. Often, urban military sites have their
own independent infrastructure disconnected from municipal, their own systems
for electricity, sewage and water supply. However, despite difficulties
reuse of abandoned post military areas gives new opportunities and is valuable
for development of sustainable cities. It saves undeveloped natural land
and in consequence allows combating urban sprawl. Jauhiainen (1997) 2 develops
four categories to deal with the post-military areas: abandonment
with or without clean-up, use for similar military land-uses (remilitarisation)
or for similar civilian land-uses (reuse) or use for completely other activities
(conversion).
In Western and Eastern Europe, despite many similarities post military
areas have different characteristics and might require different approaches to
redevelopment.
1
Myrttinen, Henri (2003). Base conversion in Central and Eastern Europe. BICC paper 30.
Bonn: BICC.
2
Jauhiainen, Jussi S. (1997). Reuse of military areas in local and regional development: the
case of Estonia. In Owsinski, Jan W. and Andrzej Stepniak (Eds.) The Nordic-Baltic Europe:
integration risks, barriers & opportunities, pp. 315-328. Warsaw: Interface Institute.
5

Table 1. Characteristics of post-military sites in Western and Eastern Europe 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Western Europe Eastern Europe
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Economic in/direct job losses poor conversion viability
abundance of sites poor infrastructure quality
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Political decision-making unclear land ownership
regarding base closure lack of political capacity
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Social loss of long traditions vandalism in sites
local / non-local staff closed military towns
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Cultural preservation of gender perspectives
military heritage memories of occupation
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Environmental economic viability serious pollution
of clean up endangers the re-use
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Thus reuse of post-soviet areas, which were originally built for residential
purposes is the task of ReMiDo Project. All the examined cases are located
in Eastern Europe.
Aim
The aim with this comparative case study is to map out the current planning
situation and discuss planning strategies for post-military residential areas
with different potentials for a positive development.
This study is based on the Report for the ReMiDo project titled “Participatory
Processes for Sustainable Development of Former Military Sites in
the Baltic Countries” 4 , which emphases the importance of stakeholder par-
3 Jauhiainen, Jussi (2005) in Vestbro (ed) Managing the built environment and remediation of
brownfields, BUUF, Uppsala University,
4 Elfors, Susanna (2007) Participatory Processes for Sustainable Development of Former
Military Sites in the Baltic Countries, Report for the ReMiDo project, KTH, Stockholm
6

ticipation for sustainable development of former military sites. One of the
proposed approaches Participatory Action Research was an inspiration to
carry out stakeholders’ workshop and groups interviews and to map out the
current planning situation and discuss planning strategies for the future. In
order to analyze the data, the researchers compared data from different
sources.
Selection of cases
The Swedish partners have done a comparative case study based on three
cases: Marciena, Liepa and Valga, all located in Eastern Europe. Selection
criterion was to find contrasting cases. Selected cases differ in size, location
(peripheral or central) and the potential for positive development. In addition
they have been rationally selected on basis of previous ReMiDo-research,
explicit:
• A typology (categories and indicators for categorizing) of cases
of post-Soviet residential military areas in Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania, outlined by Uwe Sassenberg (figure 1) 5
• The three objects represent two different categories of cases:
Valga has middle potential for positive development, Marciena
and Liepa has low potential
Figure 1. Cases of post-Soviet military areas in Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania (cities, trend and potential)
Historical
Nonhistorical
The trend-variable presumes historical and non-historical cases: historical
cases as old-fashioned buildings and environment with attractive water-
5 Uwe Sassenberg, typology presented at ReMiDo Steering Committee Meeting in Riga 17
January 2007.
Trend
Kaunas
Vilnius
Liepaja
Paldiski
Valga
Gorzow
High Middle Low
Marciena
Liepa
Potential
7

courses; and non-historical cases with non-attractive environment and outof-date-houses.
A remark is that there is a strong relation between the size of
the town and the potential for development. 6 One reservation to this remark
is that the size of the town – and so the potentials – can increase because of
an increased population, extension of the administrative boundaries and
(mentally) region enlargements.
Methods
The study is divided in three phases:
• A desktop study (March 1 – April 24). Available facts about the
cases is collected and case descriptions written
• A field visit to Marciena, Liepa and Valga (April 25 – 28). Group
interviews and workshop are conducted with key persons as
chairman’s, planners, inhabitants and social workers. Field observations
are made and planning documents collected
• Writing the case study report (April 30 – June 1) with a preliminary
report (May 21). Deadline 1 June 2007.
Our aim with the group interviews (and the fieldwork) is to collect information
about the cases from different stakeholders. Before the interviews
and workshops we will present ourselves and declare the aim with the study.
We will also make clear that there are several cases – approximately 80 – in
the Baltic States that are in the same situation as the three cases in our
study. 7 Finally, we will inform that we were asking questions and therefore
are the participant’s opinion of importance for the study. Briefly, the investigation
put attention to following questions:
• So far, what results have been achieved and accomplished since
1991 (after the downfall of Soviet union), even the smallest result?
• What could be done better?
• Are there any obstacles for positive development, i.e. location,
planning, economy, ownership, social or ethnic/culture?
The workshop was organized in order to generate opinions and ideas for
future development of the area, after getting familiar with progress in a detailed
plan preparation. The intention is that this process will continue by
further meetings for discussion of policies and how to initiate actions. Par-
6 Ibidem.
7 Lars Rydén, ”The Baltic university programme”, Uppsala University, informal discussion,
22 December 2006.
8

ticipants of the workshop (ca 16 persons) were recruited among inhabitants,
planners, member of church society, bankers etc. They were divided into 2
groups. The group leaders asked the participants to mention their ideas in
“rounds” so that everyone had the possibility to participate. The researchers
documented the discussion with pictures and protocols, presented at the end
of the meeting. The main focus here is on social sustainability and the physical
environment. The process, on which the workshop was based, is a topdown
process with the ambition that the stakeholders on the top will use the
participatory process in order to involve the residents of the area. 8 The workshop
was conducted in Valga, while during meetings in Marciena and Liepa
focus group interviews with stakeholders were organized.
Quantitative data have been collected by Zane Jurane, Housing Agency,
Riga. Jurane has also contributed with qualitative data about the cases, and
worked as a coordinator and an irreplaceable interpreter (together with interpreters
from the authorities) between key-persons, inhabitants and the
authors. The authors have – with reservation for misinterpretation – gathered
and analyzed data in a common process of knowledge-production about the
three cases.
Disposition
The report is arranged in four chapters: one for each case concerning case
description, problems and planning situation. The fourth chapter concentrates
on conclusions and discussion.
8 Elfors, (2007).
9

Marciena in Latvia
The report about Marciena is structured in three parts: The first part is a case
description with attention to location, government and administration, housing
area and population. The second part is giving account to problems and
planning situation examining ruptures in history, economy and social networks;
resources and exploitations; finance, investors and subsidies; ownerships
and housing market; planning and control; housing standards and
households; education and moving; and finally landmarks and status. At last,
the third part draws some concluding remarks.
Location
Case description
Marciena parish is located in Madona district in Vidzeme province (in east
Latvia), and borders to Kalsnava, Laudona, Prauliena, Arona and Beraune
parishes (figure 1). Marciena parish area is 8974 hectares. 9
The study case in Marciena is situated in the wooded area south west of
the railway-station (figure 2). Consequently, the case is located in the margin
of the parish.
Transportations
Marciena is related to Madona in several aspects. For example, there go busses
daily between Marciena and Madona (12 kilometres). More over – on the
subject of personal travelling/commuting – the trains between Riga and Gulbene
stops at station Marciena. However, there are no public transportations
within Marciena parish, and therefore are the inhabitants dependent of private
means of transportations.
9 Jurane, Zane (2007), marciena_study.doc, Riga: Housing Agency.
10

Figure 1. Marciena in Latvia 10
10 http://www.google.com, 5 May 2007.
11

Figure 2. Map of Marciena and the study case 11
11 Latvijas karte, http://www.viss.lv/latvija.php?ek=1&lang=lat, 4 May 2007
12

Government and administration
As mentioned before, Marciena is robustly linked to Madona in several
ways. Concerning government and administration, Madona district consists
of four towns and twenty parishes, of which Marciena is one.
Marciena has no planners because the parish is too small. 12 For that reason
is the Department of development – with specialists in area planning – situated
in Madona. However, Marciena parish council – as a sub division to
Madona city council – have responsibilities for the land. The term “land”
implicates an organisation that is planning how to develop the territory or
how to keep all in order and inhabitants don’t vandalize. The term “chairman”
means the person who is responsible about all what go on in the parish.
S/he takes decisions about business activities, human resources, education
institutions and social guarantee. 13
Workshop participants
Who took part of the workshop and group interview in Marciena city hall?
Chairman Inara Malniece from Marciena parish council conducted the meeting,
supported by chief specialist planner Augusts Apinis from Madona city
council and Department of development (figures 3-4). Further key persons
from Marciena parish council was Liga Ozola, Visvaldis Ozolina, Ziedite
Grisule and Nikolajs Pilipenko. Zinta Gulbe interpreted the meeting to English;
the authors asked questions and makes notes, and Zane Jurane from
Housing Agency took also notes and made comments.
Figure 3-4. Chairman Inara Malniece and participants
12 Sundin, Mats (2007), Marciena in Latvia: notes from the study tour and the planery session
in Marciena parish council 26 April 2007, Uppsala University.
13 Sundin, Mats, correspondence with Zane Jurane, Housing Agency Riga, 21 May 2007.
13

The housing area
There are different forms of past military areas in Marciena: a former military
base and a former military residential housing area. The case of
Marciena is the village, given from the army to municipality after the downfall
of Soviet Union (1991). The case consisted of ten residential buildings, a
school, a shop and a culture/recreation centre (figure 5-15). Today, one of
the residential buildings has been demolished, six are not in use and has only
the carrying structures left, and three are inhabited. 14
The school in the area is the elementary school for Marciena parish with
1-9 grades. The school has 108 pupils coming from the whole parish. This
means that Marciena society at large has a relation to the school and the culture
centre, and – for this reason – also an extension to the case. So, the case
is a case to come back to, and – as a result – it is not so secluded as expected.
In the past they’re two schools in Marciena: one for the Russians and one
for the Latvians. The school in the study case was for the Russians, and the
school for the Latvians were situated outside parish in the recent Hotel
Marciena Estate (see figure 21 and discussions about status and landmarks).
14 Johansson, Rolf (2007), Marciena in Latvia: notes from the study tour 26 April 2007, The
Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
14

Figure 5-6. Residential buildings in Marciena, inhabitants and researchers
Figure 7-8. Empty building, emptied on metal as window frames, balconies and
pipes
Figure 9-10. Empty house in front and ruins in the background, and daily life in
Marciena post-military residential housing area
15

Figure 11. The earlier Russian school, today Marciena nine-year elementary school
Figure 12-13. Marciena Culture Centre
Figure 14-15. The shop and the manager
16

Population
In year 2006 Marciena registered 1164 inhabitants (table 1). Compare this
with the situation just before Soviet-union’s downfall: in year 1990 there
lived approximately 2600 inhabitants in Marciena.
Table 1. Population in Marciena, year 1990 and 2006 (persons) 15
1990 2006
Marciena 2600 1164
The loss of inhabitants was severe, a halving with 1436 persons or 55
percent since the Soviet army left Marciena.
After 1991 the site was giving back to Latvia state. People, who had relatives
back in Russia, moved “next day”. 16 Moreover, high administrative
personnel have to leave Latvia, voluntary or by order: because Latvia government
evacuated Russians saying that the have to leave the state (and
move to Russia).
Is the population still decreasing? No, said a key person during the interviews:
The population in Marciena is not decreasing. 17 It’s pretty stable, but
some goes to Ireland. Especially the youths leaves Marciena when applying
for education in other cities. This problem will be discussed later in the text.
15 Jurane (2007),
16 Sundin (2007).
17 Ibid.
17

Ethnicity
In Marciena parish (year 2006) lives mostly Latvians (73 percent) (table 2). 18
Table 2. Ethnical structure of Marciena, year 2006 (nationality,
amount and percent)
Nationality Amount of inhabitants Percent
Latvians 855 73
Russians 179 15
Belarusian’s 31 3
Gipsy 25 2
Poles 21 2
Ukrainians 20 2
Others 17 1
Lithuanians 16 1
Total 1164 100
The second nationality in Marciena is Russians (15 percent). There live
also a lot of so-called non-citizens, just because the Russian army (Soviet)
was previous populated Marciena. These “non-citizens” are not Latvians
because of the strict demands for language-skills concerning changes of nationality.
How many percent of the population in the study case are Russians,
is a question that has not been answered – yet.
Demography
Last year (2006) the amount of inhabitants went down in Marciena, and this
affected the social structure with disadvantage. 19 The gender structure in
Marciena was equal year 2006: women 50,3 percent and men 49,7 percent.
On the contrary, there are differences between sexes when it comes to socalled
labour age. An age classification of population throughout under, of
and above labour capable age is shown below (table 3).
18 Jurane (2007).
19 Ibid.
18

Table 3. Age classification of population in Marciena year 2006
(amount and percent) 20
Age group Amount of inhabitants Percent
Under labour capable age
(0-14 years)
Of labour capable age
(15-64 years)
Above labour capable age
(65- years)
191 16 of this Boys: 53
Girls: 47
734 63 of this Men: 53
Women: 47
239 21 of this Men: 36
Total 1164 100
Women: 64
Observe, the relation between sexes changes dramatically when it comes
to the elderly group: there are particular more elderly women than elderly
men in Marciena. This means that there are – most likely – more widows
than widowers surviving on widow’s-pension in the parish.
Employment and income
The inhabitants in Marciena are mostly employed in local authority institutions,
forest exploitation, wood processing and in tourism. 21 There are several
workplaces and business activities going on in Marciena:
• The biggest wood working enterprises is SIA Damaksnis and SIA
Friko.
• The agriculture activities are occupied by a small part of the
population, mainly doing cultivation of plants.
• The biggest farm is Aronmurnieki
• Milk and animal production is carried out by z/s Usmani
• The tourism in Marciena is well developed, represented by SPA
health resort Marciena Estate, Lejas Patmalniekos, guest house
SIA Smeceres Krogs and the resort complex Puduli
In year 2005 the average level of income was 77,8 Ls per month (102
Euro at the moment). 22
20 Ibid.
21 Ibid.
22 Ibid.
19

Problems and planning situation
Ruptures in history, economy and social networks
There are two circumstances that effected Marciena a lot. 23 First the downfall
of Soviet Union (1991) with loss of inhabitants and empty apartments as
results. People couldn’t afford to pay for rent, water and electricity. Then
they left the parish and the unpaid bills behind. But people, who live here
today, pay their bills. 24
Second, this rupture in history and governance occurred simultaneous as
the economic crises in the late 1980 th and early 1990 th . At that time – when
people lost their jobs and consequently their apartments – people also moved
to Marciena: there were free and empty apartments in the area. This affected
of course the social networks, as brought up to rear. But other people than
the Soviet militaries moved from Marciena: the problem was that people with
education moved, and people without job or education stayed in the parish.
Some of them – who earlier worked in the army – found new jobs or retired.
On the whole, people in the study case are not compatible on the labour
market.
Resources and exploitations
Madona district is growing. First due to the regional reform in Latvia, and
since then is Madona centre for a larger region. 25 Madona became centre for
institutions, and have also built better roads between Madona and Marciena.
On top of this, the prices of apartments in Madona are twice as high as in
Marciena. Also the rent is higher in Madona than in Marciena. There is also
a need of houses in Madona region.
The future is good for investments in Marciena because apartments become
more and more expensive (or less cheap) in the parish. There is also a
foresight about an economical and social development in Marciena: to sell
apartments to private and well-educated people.
Second – apart from lower apartment prices and rents in Marciena – the
nature is a resource for Marciena countryside parish. However, is there a
change in preferences and taste in Latvia, from living in cities to living at
countryside? No, “even grandmothers are moving to cities”. 26 Hence, the
urbanisation is in progress in Latvia and workplaces are lacking in the countryside.
23 Sundin (2007).
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
20

Finally, how about the tourists sector? In reply to the question there was a
vision of recreation: “come to Madona and just enjoy the nature. 27 There is
also a natural reserve in the area, which is part of the E U-project Natura
2000. 28
Finance, investors and subsidies
Marciena is problematic and needs private or public capital. 29 How to get
financial resources and support? There are projects going on, and planners
make efforts to stimulate both E U (funds) and private investors. Interreg III
B/ReMiDo is one of these projects. However, there is a crux: E U subsidies
go only to education and ecological projects, not to production. 30 “We must
have jobs”, declared one of the key persons straight. This is a large problem:
since “we” became a member of European Union, “we” are pressed to cut
down our sugar industry and pork production: “we have E U subsidies to
destroy, not to produce”, said an unhappy person during the meeting.
Latvia Agency have projects, but not for Marciena. Marciena have help
writing project fund applications to take part of Latvian funds.
Madona is looking for investors and new workplaces, as well in Madona
as in Marciena. They seek to show Marciena for investors. Can I – as a foreigner
investor in Marciena real estate – get loans in a Latvian bank? 31 No,
there are some important conditions to be fulfilled: I have to be Latvian;
present a business plan; show guaranties from other people; leave security
and – finally – it depends on the bank since there are variances of banks in
Latvia. Therefore is foreign capital necessary for the development.
Ownerships and housing market
Marciena is in a complex situation between resources, economy, planning
and housing ownerships. First, there is a distinction between municipal housing
and social housing: social housing deals with social problems, and municipal
housing are making rental apartments available. 32 Occasionally, the
municipal housing is responsible for the social housing.
Second, the houses are belonging to the municipality but people can own
the apartments (with reference to Latvia laws). If a house contains of more
than 50 percent of rental households, it’s a municipality issue. 33 On the other
side, if there are 51 percent private owners in the house it’s an object for
27 Ibid.
28 Johansson (2007).
29 Sundin (2007).
30 Ibid.
31 Ibid.
32 Ibid.
33 Ibid.
21

private or tenant ownerships (cooperative). Then can the owners establish a
cooperative: for instance making budgets for repairing roofs etc. However,
in Marciena, there are no such cooperatives. There are only nine houses in
the parish.
Therefore, responsibilities and questions about physical, social and economical
management depend on the majority of ownerships in each house:
public or private owning.
If making a cooperative, do they take care of – or collecting the rent –
from the rental households? No, the rental households are still property of
the municipality.
Madona city council and Marciena parish council want to sell the houses
where people with a lot of unpaid bills lives. 34 This statement doesn’t correspond
to what has been told: that people in the study case pay their bills. But,
perhaps the dept is related to each house: because – as has been said – every
house has a register book. 35 Anyway, here is a paradox: municipality want to
sell houses with unpaid bills (i.e. deprived people), but investors are seeking
for the best houses.
There are two scenarios: First, more than 51 percent of the inhabitants in
a house buy their apartment. Meantime, the municipality is waiting for E U
project funds. Second, investors invest in the empty houses. Still, one question
has to be answered: are investors interested if there are private owned
apartments in the house?
As said before, the prices of owning and renting are lower in Marciena
than in Madona. Despite this, private owners don’t by houses in Marciena. 36
One option is that municipality renovate and the sell/give it to private owners.
Undesirable estate
As mentioned earlier, Soviet Union gave the village to Marciena. Even former
military bases – today polluted – were given back to the people who
owned it before 1940. 37 The military base – or old garages – situated in
Marciena forest is almost certainly as private estate (figure 16). Nevertheless
is nothing done in the area – yet. What opportunities of development and
advancement are here? This question will be discussed later, in the concluding
remarks.
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
36 Ibid.
37 Ibid.
22

Figure 16. The former military base outside Marciena
Planning and control
Private owners – when they buy – decide what to do with the area. Comparing
with other countries (i.e. Sweden) there is a planning instrument, namely
detailed planning. This territorial planning plan takes also the inhabitants
perspectives in consideration.
Marciena has improved since 1991: before there was no official general-
or detailed plans available: “the directions came from higher instances”.
Today – on the subject of non-imperialist planning – is every municipality
responsible for economy and planning.
Progress in the area
Water cleaning and ground work
Since the army left Marciena, a water cleaning machinery have been built in
the area. Also groundwork has been made with a canal and a tube that
bridges the residential area with the empty houses.
Working teams
Could unemployed people work for the municipality doing tasks in the area,
for instance cleaning and taking away garbage? 38 Yes, since 2005 there is a
project going on: 13 persons have doing the just mentioned groundwork with
the canal.
Linguistic integration, green education and folklore
Pupils in Marciena elementary school are well integrated these days: all of
them are speaking Lettish, comparing with the past when Marciena was a
two-language parish (with two separate schools). Further, the elementary
38 Ibid.
23

school is teaching “green education”. Finally, the school has also a wellknow
folkloristic dance ensemble. But, as a contrary picture, there are needs
for special education in Marciena. 39
Culture activities and common interests
Twice a month there are cultural activities in the Culture Centre (figure 12-
13). 40 There is also a well-known street dance group, but the artists are not so
good in school. Twice a week there is also a computer class, but few people
are being there. Voices said that “people are lazy, and some are not social:
they can’t go across the street”.
Some of the Russians in the area consume Russian media: “they are different,
not integrated”, whispered an authority during the meeting.
Housing standards and households
Short after the downfall the houses where in good conditions. 41 But the situation
changed: a number of people – some of them having mental problems –
sold out the home furnishings and equipments, and then left the apartments
unoccupied.
Transaction and tearing
The demolished house in the background in figure 9 where sold by the municipality
to a private owner: after that he/she sold the valuable objects –
probably the metal – and pulled down the house.
39 Ibid.
40 Ibid.
41 Ibid.
24

Poor households: an example
Next to the demolished house, in one of the so-called unoccupied houses,
there is surprisingly a household with a man and his mother (figure 17-18). 42
Figure 17-18. A household at third floor far left and the tenant far right
Seasonally he works as a woodsman. The work consists of both technical
and manual labour (sawing and lifting). He also uses alcohol in periods. The
parish gives money to renovation, but they don’t use them. He sometimes
goes to church to get some money, but that’s not enough for the livelihood.
Lack of conveniences for elderly and disabled persons
The amount of elderly people is growing in Marciena. Problems are arising
because there is a lack convenience in the area: the houses have no elevators
and are not modified for use by elderly or disabled persons.
42 Ibid.
25

Numerous of teenagers
The two girls in figure 6 live in the house with balconies, and one or two of
the teenagers in figure 19 came out from the house in the background. “I
have never seen so many teenagers at the same time and place, as in this
case”, witnessed the interpreter. 43 Also, there lives – as observed – a teenage
mother in the area.
Figure 19. Teenagers in Marciena
Should I stay or should I go?
A question was put forward to kids in Marciena: what do you want to work
with as an adult? 44 One of the girls answered: “in a shop” (figure 20).
Figure 20. Kids in Marciena looking ahead
Marciena is in a catch-22 situation: people without education and jobs
stays in the area, and peoples seeking education leaves the parish. 45 This
43 Ibid.
44 Ibid.
45 Ibid.
26

describes an antagonism between stay and go, although people are supposed
to see something more than the environment in which they grow up. 46 However,
there are planning strategies to prevent brain drain on the subject of
education in bigger cities: some parishes pay for university-studies – if you
move back to the parish. 47 Therefore writes some parishes – not Marciena –
contracts with the students for theirs future plans in place of residence.
Landmarks and status
The high-risk project and newly built Hotel Marciena Estate gives the parish
a good reputation (figure 21). Rich guests from Riga come to Marciena to
celebrate (weddings), escape from attention and to seek anonymity: “they
can do what they want without any others knowledge”. 48 This hotel has also
a library, keeping book from the former Latvian school that was located in
the building. 49
Figure 21. Former Latvian school and today prestigious Hotel Madona Estate
In addition to the hotel there is also another landmark in Marciena, namely
the Orthodox Church. This church – located between the hotel and the study
case – is under renovation. Summing up, the church and the hotel are cases
of preserved historical milieus.
Concluding remarks
The case is located in the margin of the Marciena parish in several aspects:
physically as a kind of suburb in relation to the central parts of the parish,
46 Ibid.
47 Ibid.
48 Zane Jurane, 25-26 April 2007.
49 Mats Sundin, notes from “The study tour of Marciena”, 25-26 April 2007.
27

socially with unemployment in the area and mentally located in the wooded
area at the back the railway and the closed railway-station.
There is – from the authorities perspectives – awareness and convictions
that problems are to be handled or solved/unravelled. Regarding the theoretical
typology (figure 1 in “the outlines”) has Marciena low potential to positive
development. This territory is needed for Madona district. Today a lot of
peoples from Madona want to buy apartments, but Madona have not enough
apartments for all consumers. The potential is as follows: if Madona district
council would maintain, preserve and keep up this military territory – or sell
it to private consumers – than they have possibilities to develop Marciena.
For that reason, Marciena and Madona are taken the case seriously: they
are – since 1991 – responsible for economy and planning, there are planning
strategies for the future and testimonies on positive development. For example:
projects as better roads between Marciena and Madona, new water
cleaning machinery and ground work at the canal that solves infrastructure
problem in the study case; network of key persons and organisations; teamwork
at place as a process handling social problems; folklore tradition; culture
centre; hotel; church; school; shop and – families. If families leave the
area, the area is in trouble.
There is culture capital to manage in the area. With reference to the
school – as a place to return to and their folklore-traditions – there is a capacity
in the culture centre for artists to establish their day-to-day-work. Not
a few artists are enthusiastic to set up their studios in odd places were rents
are cheap.
Latvia Agency has projects, and Marciena have help writing project fund
applications to take part of Latvian funds. Therefore, Madona and Marciena
needs well formulated fund applications and the city council is probably also
in quest of research fellows.
The typology in figure 1 (in “the outlines”) was based on variables trend
and potential. The trend-variable presumed historical and non-historical
cases: historical cases as old-fashioned buildings and environment with attractive
watercourses; and non-historical cases with non-attractive environment
and out-of-date-houses.
But history is at hand. Although memoirs of occupation an imperialist
planning takes physical expressions in post-Soviet military residential areas
and bases, there are reasons to preserve and give form to the history: don’t
wipe out the history, save a small number of houses from the soviet-era as
memorial and expression of “before” and “after” 1991.
Regarding the old military base and the empty industry in the forest behind
the hotel – as cases of undesirable estates – there are potential for development:
make them available as training-camps for police and fire brigade.
And the hotel is a place to reside in.
Anyway, there are things to be done: for instance – with a cautious hand –
demolish, renovation and preserving of the housing area; using (non-
28

imperialist) planning as a tool for constraining marginalisation and
empowerment; writing contracts with the students; and develop skills for
fund applications. And finally – as an improvement – not accept as true that
help always comes from the outside.
29

Liepa in Latvia
Liepa parish is classified – on basis of the typology in the first chapter – as a
non-historical case with low potential for development. The case of Liepa
includes Sarkani village, the primary research- and problem-area in our focus.
Following text brings together data from the desktop study and the field
visit in Liepa and Sarkani. The text consists of three parts: case description,
problems and concluding remarks concerning planning strategies.
Case description
This part is gathering data and describing the case in terms of location, government
and administration, the housing area, population, ethnicity, demography,
households, employment, workplaces, income and rent.
Location
Liepa (figure 1) is located in northeast Latvia in the district of Cesis (including
Marseni, Rauna, Priekuli, Raiskums and Liepa). 50 Liepa lies in a geographically
strategic good position together with three comparatively large
towns: Cesis (14 kilometres), Valmiera (24 km) and Smiltene (29 km). The
location is also favourable as the highway Cesis-Valmiera and the railway
line Riga-Valka passes through Liepa. Sarkani – on the other hand – is located
4 kilometres outside Liepa parish with (as been told) no public transport
system between the two places (figure 2-3).
A regional territorial reform is coming up, which will reduce the number
of municipalities and – subsequently – enlarges some of them. 51 Today is the
size of Liepa about 24 square kilometres and consists up to 60 percent forest.
52 However, about 70 percent is national park, which limits the land use.
The density people are 46 inhabitants per square kilometres, concentrated
into two categories of living: agricultural lifestyle and living in dwellings.
50 Jurane, Zane (2007), Study-tour.doc, Riga: Housing Agency.
51 Johansson, Rolf (2007), Liepa and Sarkani: notes from the study tour and the plenary
session in Liepa municipal council 26 April 2007, The Royal Institute of Technology in
Stockholm.
52 Sundin, Mats (2007), Liepa and Sarkani: notes from the study tour and the plenary session
in Liepa municipal council 26 April 2007, Uppsala University.
30

Liepa is described as an air base (2006) in the dictionary. 53 Earlier, it was
an attack deployment base during the Cold War. The air base is situated in
Skangalu – a Baronial Estate – a few kilometres east of Sarkani. 54 These two
places – Sarkani and Skangalu – are interweaved, especially on the topic of
statistics.
53 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liepas, 7 May 2007.
54 Ruksane, Guna (ed.) (2001), Learn about Cesis district: a guide to tourism in Cesis district,
Cesis district council, p. 140-141. When Latvia regained its independence, the Olof Palmefamily
reclaimed the Skangalu estate, and in 1994 they donated the facility to the Salvation
Army. The Salvation Army, in turn, renovated the old buildings, which were run down after
fifty years of use by Soviet military, and then installed as school for needy children year 1997.
31

Figure 1. Liepa in Latvia 55
55 http://www.google.com/maps, 7 May 2007.
32

Figure 2. Liepa and Sarkani 56
56 Latvijas karte, http://www.viss.lv, 7 May 2007.
33

Figure 3. Sarkani, the housing area
34

Government and administration
At first, the study has to do some clarifications about the terms “municipally”,
“parish” and “village”. The study understands “municipally” as related
to township or the administrative and governing body; the term “parish”
as a small administrative district typically having its own church; and
finally “village” as a group of houses in a rural area.
Second, this terminology implies also an organization of government with
calls of self-government and a chain of command (to some extent): Cesis
district consists of towns as Cesis city, parishes as Liepa and villages as Sarkani.
57 How the ReMiDo-organization in Liepa/Sarkani is organized, is partially
reflected in the group-interview.
Group-interview and excursion
The group-interview took place in Liepa civil parish 26 April 2007. Present
at the meeting was Andris Rancans, chairman and municipal commissioner /
finances; Elita Rancane, social administration and an unnamed interpreter
from Liepa parish; and Tatjana Kofiloca from Sarkani: all these in concert
with the three authors and Zane Jurane (figure 4-5).
Figure 4-5. The meeting in Liepa parish
The author’s spelled the questions and the meeting turned out to be a
structured, informative-loaded – simultaneous interpreted – lecture about the
situation in Sarkani and the means that Liepa have for disposals. After the
meeting there was an excursion to eyewitness the milieu in Sarkani (figure
6-11).
57 http://www.cesurajons.lv/en?id=228&x=217, 8 May 2007.
35

The housing area
Sarkani (figure 3) are divided into three parts: houses for daily living in the
centre of the area (figure 6), barracks or so called summerhouses and a production
are with old military buildings and empty garages (figure 10).
There are 8 two-storey buildings with 2 room flats in the area. 58 The 14
barracks are now summerhouses, and some people lives there permanently.
Largely, all dwellings are occupied in the area. 59
80 percent of the area has been sold out. 60 One house is private owned, or
more precisely: each household own its apartment. This house has recently
been renovated with a new roof (figure 7). Another house has no water (figure
9). This problem will be discussed later in the text.
58 Johansson (2007).
59 Ibid.
60 Ibid.
36

Figure 6-7. Sarkani, the housing area and the private renovated house
Figure 8-9. The water tap, and a house without water where the woman and her child
live (second and third from right)
Figure 10-11. The summerhouses/barracks and laundries
37

Population
The population in Liepa parish year 2001 was 3386 persons and in Liepa
parish 2562 persons (table 1). In year 2006 Liepa has declared 3400 inhabitants.
61 So, there is a population growth in Liepa. But the situation in Sarkani
is the opposite: just before the ending of the soviet-era there where 1200
inhabitants in Sarkani. In 1992-93 the buildings were turned over to the local
authority, and in 1993-94 people moved in. 62 Today (2007) there are 131
inhabitants in the village, i.e. dramatic a loss with more than 1000 persons
(or almost 90 percent) since beginning of 1990 th . 63 But since 2001 the number
is fairly stable. One remark: the statistics about Sarkani also includes
about 30 persons living in Skangalu.
Table 1. Population in Liepa parish and Sarkani, year 1990-2007
(number) 64
! 1990 1997 2001 2006 2007
Liepa 3181 3386/2562 3400
Sarkani 1200 137 131
Precise information on the number of population Liepa parish is not
available, but since approximately 70-75 percent of the total population of
Liepa municipality reside in the parish, it can be assumed that the number of
population of the municipality can be attributed to the whole parish. 65 As
results, the total population of Liepa parish was assumed to be 2562 persons.
Therefore, the following information about Liepa parish is based on estimated
data.
Ethnicity
Liepa parish is one of the most multinational parishes in the district of Cesis.
66 The variety is described in words as: “there are 28 nationalities in Liepa
municipality”. 67 This ethnical structure of Liepa – based on data from year
2001 – is exposed in table 2:
61
Sundin, Mats, notes from correspondence with Zane Jurane, 19 April 2007.
62
Johansson (2007).
63
Sundin (2007).
64
I) Firma L4 (-), Feasibility study for Liepa water management project: final report. II)
Jurane, Zane (2007), Study-tour.doc, Riga: Housing Agency.
65
Firma L4 (-).
66 Jurane (2007).
67 Sundin (2007).
38

Table 2. Ethnical structure of Liepa (2001) and Sarkani (1990th) (nationality
and percent) 68
Nationality Liepa Sarkani
Latvians 57
Russians 29 ! 2
Belarusian’s 5
Ukrainians 3
Poles 3
Others 3
Total 100
There are no available data of Sarkanis ethnical structure today. But when
the Russians moved out only 2 or 3 remained in the area. 69 For this reason, it
could be assumed that the ethnical structure in Sarkani differs from the structure
in Liepa parish.
Demography
The socio-economic situation in Liepa and Sarkani can be understood in
terms of age and participation in production and consumption. An age classification
of the population has been done throughout labour capable age as a
variable (table 3). Take to mean, the labour capable inhabitants are the producers
and the other two groups are mainly consumers.
Table 3. Age classification of population in Liepa parish and Sarkani,
year 2001 (percent) 70
Age group Liepa
Under labour capable age 24
Of labour capable age 57
Above labour capable age 19
68 Jurane (2007).
69 Johansson (2007).
70 I) Firma L4 (-) and II) Jurane (2007).
39

The outcome is that the number of working load for the middle-age group
is relatively small, related to their children and parents. Since demographic
processes are basically social processes, both the shares and the numbers of
the population of labour capable age have increased between 1997 and
2001. 71 So, the number producers are growing in Liepa. How the situation is
in Sarkani, is a question for further studies. But the hypothesis is that the
population is composed mostly of people of and above labour capable age.
Households
During the Soviet-time there were not so many families as these days in
Sarkani: today live 45 families in the village. 72 There are 16 households with
children (figure 12), 16 with only adults and 13 households with retired
and/or disabled persons. In one house live also several generations of one
family. 73
On topics of necessities, there are no grocery shops in the area: for that
reason is Sarkani visited four times a week by a shop-on-wheels.
Figure 12. Children in Sarkani – and a dog
Employment
In terms of employment the population can – consequently – be divided into
two parts: economically active and non-active people. The unemployment
rate in Liepa (2001) and Sarkani (2007) is as follows (table 4):
71 Firma L4 (-).
72 Sundin, (2007).
73 Ibid.
40

Table 4. Unemployment in Liepa parish and Sarkani village, year
2001 respectively 2007 (percent, rounded off) 74
Liepa (2001) Sarkani (2007)
Unemployment 5 3 (78)
At first sight is the average unemployment rate for Sarkani (3 percent)
lower than Liepa (5 percent) and the district of Cesis (7 percent, 2001). On
the other hand, the degree of unemployment can only be measured through
registered unemployment. 75 But the situation in Sarkani is brutal if estimation
is done: today (2007) are 5 registered as unemployed in Sarkani, but it
could be more than 5 of 131 inhabitants. For this reason, estimation is that
there are 102 unemployed persons in the village (78 percent). 76 Consequently,
if a statistical rewriting of the situation in Liepa is done in the similar
way as in case Sarkani, the unemployment rate can be much higher in
Liepa parish at large. Nevertheless, since the labour market is integrated with
the economic situation, it can be assumed that the situation is critical by the
inhabitants in Sarkani.
Workplaces
There are no workplaces in Sarkani. In contrast, there are workplaces in
Liepa where also investments are made today. 77 The past shows that the
(more or less) mechanical brick factory was built 1963. 78 People were
brought from Soviet, and year 1989 1011 people worked in the factory (including
the municipal commissioner) producing 12 million bricks per year. 79
The factory still works, but its automatically (producing 9 million bricks per
year) and operated with fewer workers (270) than before.
Today (2006) an agriculture company is the largest workplace in Liepa
region. 80 There are also 5 farms with 3-4 persons each. Only one farm produces
grains. In addition there is a fish company in Liepa, doing salting and
marinating. Jobs are also found in neighbouring towns Cesis and Valmiera.
Unfortunately, a sawmill with 200 employees closed down last year. 81
74
I) Firma L4 (-) and II) Jurane (2007).
75
Sundin (2007).
76
Ibid.
77
Johansson (2007).
78
Sundin (2007).
79
Johansson (2007).
80
Sundin (2007).
81
Johansson (2007).
41

Income, education and rent
As mentioned the employment-rate in Sarkani is very low. Also the education
level is low, and so are the salaries. 82 45 families lives in Sarkani, and 17
of them are in needs of social services and 9 are of poorer conditions. 83 The
income varies between 20 to 800 LVL/month (today 26 respectively 1053
EUR).
In 2001 the average monthly pension in Latvia was LVL 58 (today 84
EUR) per retired person (table 5). But in Liepa the corresponding figure was
LVL 44 (today 64 EUR).
Table 5. Monthly pension per retired person in Latvia and Liepa, year
2001 84
Latvia Liepa
58 LVL (84 EUR) 44 LVL (64 EUR)
The situation in Sarkani is – as told – more severe than in Liepa, at least
by the Russians with small or none pension from the state.
Sarkani is the cheapest place in Liepa. 85 The rent is also related to the size
of the household. Today is the rent 8 LVL/person/month, and bigger families
pay 10 LVL/family/month (10 respectively 13 EUR). Today have 27 families
in Sarkani not paid their rents. 86
Finally, a hypothesis is backed up by statistics: the population in Sarkani
are socio-economic secluded people, of and above labour capable age with
high unemployment rate and low or irregular income.
Problems and planning situation
This part discusses Sarkani in terms of a place where society problems are
easy-to-read, the location and transport to workplaces, obstacles and potentials
for new workplaces, housing standards, place attraction, problem management
and finally perspectives on social development.
82 Ibid.
83 Sundin (2007).
84 Firma L4 (-).
85 Sundin (2007).
86 Johansson (2007)
42

Sarkani, a mirror of society problems
From the perspective of Liepa municipality the situation in the military village
Sarkani is very complex. In 1990-1992 – relating to Soviet-unions
downfall – about 1400 people moved back to Russia. 87 When the Soviet
army left Latvia the problems in Sarkani was consequently inherited: the
case is an enclave isolated and secluded from daily life in parish Liepa, and
burdened with vandalism, alcoholism, criminality, low education, low income,
unemployment, moving in and out, and empty flats as results. 88 In
some cases, people from Liepa have moved to Sarkani because of the privatization
of apartments and high rents in Liepa parish centre. In other cases
people were “throwned” to Sarkani where apartments were free and with a
low rent. 89 This method – as it comes into sight in the rear mirror – was not a
good solution. 90
Additional to post-Soviet problems – concerning changes in governance
and social structures – Liepa was also hit by global crises. The financial crises
between 1993-94 and 1997 stroke Liepa-region (and Latvia in general). 91
The unemployment-rate went high, and people couldn’t pay their rents and
bills i.e. for services as water and electricity. The municipality took money
from the social funds to solve the problem, but the resources didn’t last long.
Truly, Sarkani – as a site with bad location and reputation – is a place where
crises appear clearly.
Location and transport to workplaces
As earlier told, Liepa parish lies in a geographically good position on the
topic of transport and communication. This is not the situation in Sarkani
village, because there is a lack of public transports between the village and
the parish. The public bus-route is not profitable, and it’s the same route
since 1990. 92
People who live far away have to manage their transports by themselves.
One inhabitant – working in a factory between 8 and 15.30 – said she go
back and forth by bus, and are back in Sarkani at 18.00 (due to infrequent
public transports). Her child is taking tennis classes in Liepa, so families
without a car is affected by the transport-problems. So are the schoolchildren:
they have to wait for hours in Liepa Center of Family Support. 93 But,
87 Sundin (2007).
88 Sundin, Mats, the problems where put into words in correspondence with Zane Jurane,
Project manager, Housing agency, Liepa parish municipality, 20 February 2007.
89 Sundin, (2007).
90 Ibid.
91 Ibid.
92 Ibid.
93 Wlodarczyk (2007).
43

why don’t people use bicycle, it’s only four kilometres to the parish? The
answer came at once: there are no places to keep the cycles. 94
Yet – as the case was presented during the meeting – there is a problem
when travelling to workplaces in Valmiera. 95 Subsequently, public transportations
are for travelling between home and work, and Valmiera (24 kilometres)
is the place where jobs are found.
Obstacles and potentials for new workplaces
The new territorial plan was accepted in August 2005. 96 The territory is master-planned
for living and industrial areas and have therefore potential for
infrastructure development. 97 There is electricity enough to start production,
and there are also pipelines for natural gas nearby. For that reason, there are
resources for communication and transportation at hand.
Up till now, the economical situation in Sarkani is affected by the infrastructural
problem with the road between Liepa and Valmiera. 98 The road
belongs to the state, and Liepa has no resources to repair the road – not even
the road to Sarkani. Consequently, the bad road is an obstacle for development
of Sarkani. But, from the bright side, it’s relatively close to the other
cities within 16-18 kilometres. Sarkani is yet interesting: it’s not placed in
the worst situation; most horrible is the situation for Valmiera and Smiltene.
There is also another area with none or less possibility to develop new
jobs: the tourism is hindered because of national regulations of the infrastructure,
and the fact that the national park is not opened for tourists. 99
Housing standards
Development work is going on, says chairman of Liepa. 100 But there are
housing problems in Sarkani: the housing standard in Sarkani is poor (in
some houses) because they have no central heating. Instead the heating is
individual with wood. 101 There are also 5 houses with water – for the other 3
there is a tap outside. 102 The drink water quality is acceptable, but it contains
too much iron. 103 A new system of drink water pipes is planned, and the sew-
94 Sundin, (2007).
95 Ibid.
96 Johansson (2007).
97 Sundin, Mats, correspondence with Zane Jurane 20 February 2007.
98 Sundin (2007).
99 Ibid.
100 Jurane, Zane (2007), Protocol.doc, Riga: Housing Agency.
101 Johansson (2007).
102 Sundin, (2007).
103 Wlodarczyk, Dorota (2007), Liepa and Sarkani: notes from the study tour and the plenary
session in Liepa municipal council 26 April 2007, The Royal Institute of Technology in
Stockholm.
44

age system has to be repaired. But Liepas economy is not good, so hopefully
the pipes will be built with financial support from E U. 104 These state of affairs
collides with rental incomes and Liepas responsibilities: the rents people
pay doesn’t cover the cost, but the municipality have the duty to keep the
buildings in good conditions. 105 On the other hand – paradoxical to the described
situation above – an expert (E U-founded) evaluation of the buildings
has shown that the technical standard is quite good. 106 Consequently,
Liepa and Sarkani are in a dilemma between acceptable housing standards
(due to E U-norms) and needs for assistance for development (from
ReMiDo).
Concerning the hygiene for the women and her family in figure 9, they
have to go to the sauna or take a shower in a friend’s home in another house.
About the laundry she washes the clothes in a machine in her apartment, but
she must carry water from the tap and also dry the laundry outside on a
clothesline.
Place attraction
There are no needs for more houses and people are not queuing up for living
in Sarkani (and Liepa). 107 Due to problems with local communications there
are difficult to attract new inhabitants to move to Sarkani – especially families.
As an example of low place attraction for families: there are no playgrounds
for children in Sarkani. 108 On the other hand, children are creative:
during the study tour children were – perhaps excited due to our visit – playing
on the yards and running back and forth between the houses.
Problem management
Problems in Sarkani are managing through investigations and calculations:
- Liepa parish have prepared to do inventories – here technical surveys
– of seven large-scale houses in Sarkani (figure 3)
- Concerning these houses, Liepa municipality have also done an economical
calculation for the development
About the pluming system there are plans for when we will carry it out.
But for the moment: “I don’t know”, said the chairman. 109 We are doing investigations
for how much it will cost. But we have no resources, and we
need resources.
104 Johansson (2007)
105 Ibid.
106 Ibid.
107 Sundin (2007).
108 Jurane (2007), Protocol.doc.
109 Sundin (2007).
45

Needs of external assistance
Latvia government give subsidies mainly to so-called hard questions, i.e.
infrastructure as buildings and roads. 110 E U on the other side gives funds –
social foundations – to soft questions as investigations and ReMiDoprojects.
Anyway, Latvia gives also subsidies to projects about human resource,
but the needs for qualification is high.
Unfortunately – and opposite to what has been said above – is the work
for Sarkani postponed: “we” are searching money from municipality, but
they don’t give us not any more, said the chairman. 111 “We” can’t take from
the school in our budget. That’s why, he said, “we” joined the ReMiDoproject
to argue for money: ReMiDo’s documentation of the buildings condition
in Sarkani will (expectantly) improve the possibilities to get governmental
funding.
Liepa has financial problems. First they need more capital for planning –
not for production. Second, a solution is external money. But Liepa needs
resources and ideas to attract structural funds for development of the territory.
Liepa has also wished-for external assistance in two other cases:
- To make a suggestion to Royal Institute of Technology to draw up a
social study for the development of a pilot project
- To involve a private entrepreneur, who will involve some work with
inhabitants from Sarkani
Concerning lack of knowledge and problem management, Liepa needs a
method inventory: e.g. analysing methods for development of the territory. 112
At the same theme, Liepa want to find out constructive practices through
comparative studies, e.g. between Vilnius and Kaunas. However, these cities
are larger and dissimilar to Liepa and therefore not appropriate to study
(compare Uwe Sassenbergs typography). For that reason is the comparative
study of Liepa, Marciena and Valga an opportunity to gathering and pass on
knowledge about the cases.
Finally, Liepa is not only lacking knowledge and methods, they are also
lacking visions. One problem is to find out development direction in Sarkani
village. 113 Consequently, there are visionary problems about the development
direction for the Sarkani village.
Outer and inner forces
Is there any pressure from the outside – for instance from government or
other authorities – to develop Sarkani? No, but Liepa municipality understand
that the problems are rising. 114 The development pace is slow in Sarkani
and therefore grows the rift between Sarkani and Liepa. Hence, as more
110
Ibid.
111
Ibid.
112
Jurane (2007), Protocol.doc.
113
Ibid.
114
Sundin (2007).
46

Liepa develops as more resources must be put in Sarkani. Therefore are politicians
and landlords obliged to increase the wealth in Sarkani.
On the other hand, the local authority is pressured from government to
develop and report. “We” need evaluation of the summerhouses/barracks,
stated the chairman of Liepa. 115
Landlords and ownerships
There is a difference between private and private: Private owned house
doesn’t mean that the house has one owner, but instead that the house contains
households that own their flats.
Latvia laws forbid people to by houses, but people can by their flats. 116
The problem in Sarkani is – on one side – that people can’t afford to by their
flats and – on the other side – to raise and adjust the housing standard to
normal E U standards. There are 9 houses in Sarkani: the municipality owns
8 and 1 is private owned. “We” gave the house it to the inhabitants, declared
the chairman. Today, 60 percent of the households in Sarkani own their
flats. 117
The economical situation in Liepa region developed very slowly. About
eight years ago “we” started to talk about the situation in Sarkani, recalled
the chairman. 118 The process started together with a private owner. But he
died, and no other wanted to go further with the project. Further, a property –
the so-called production area in Sarkani – was put for security in a bank.
Since then the bank owns the area.
Localities and organisational network
The religion takes physical forms in Sarkani: not as a church but as a praying
room belonging to the Methodists. They are better received in the area then
the Salvation Army which “talks about not to do”. 119 Anyway, both Salvation
Army and Methodist church have social programmes, i.e. cloths-charity. 120
Are the Methodists – as an actor with interests in the village – participating
in planning and development? No, “because the religion is separated from
the state”, was the ironical answer. 121
A subsidy-paradox
There is an obstacle between private owning and subsidies. If municipality
sell the houses to the inhabitants for renovation, then the municipality can’t
115 Ibid.
116 Ibid.
117 Ibid.
118 Ibid.
119 Ibid.
120 Johansson (2007).
121 Sundin (2007).
47

finish the RemiDo-project. 122 One house has already been giving to people as
private property, but things didn’t get any better. Finally, there is no need to
search for private investors, because people who live here have their rental
contract.
Summing up, it’s clear that there are complicated circumstances between
landlords, ownerships, E U-standards, municipality-efforts and private economy/incitements
to rent or by a flat.
Perspectives on social development
Two perspectives of social development are exposed in the material: one
dark and one bright.
The dark side: low motivation
As said before the socio-economical situation in Sarkani is complicated. The
desktop study gave at hand that the situation – in words of social programmes
– is “not really needed”. 123 There are inhabitants who don’t want to
search for education possibilities and/or participate in community activities.
People in Sarkani don’t want to work and do something for development of
this territory. 124 They can work in the brick factory – if they want. But they
don’t want: they stand for the idea that local government must keep them
with money and regular income. On top off this, the municipality Liepa is
fighting with small resources (economical and ideas) to solve the problems
in Sarkani.
The motivation to change is low in Sarkani. 125 Even the municipality is affected
by low motivation: “We can’t solve the situation”, said the chairman
with depression. 126 This is a complicated case: First have people’s philosophy
and interests change over time. Then – concerning the social motivation
– things are going very slow.
Concerning the theme social motivation, the interview gave at hand that a
low level of motivation among the inhabitant’s correlates with high degree
of social subsidies. 127 Hence, the problem with social motivation has little to
do with employment: “It’s not an unemployment-problem as such”, it’s
rather the mental picture of financial support that’s the problem. 128 In other
words: there is a so-called consumer’s attitude, and people receive subsidies
122 Ibid.
123 Jurane (2007), Protocol.doc.
124 Sundin, Mats, correspondence with Zane Jurane 19 April 2007.
125 Johansson (2007).
126 Sundin (2007).
127 Ibid.
128 Ibid.
48

on the basis of the social status they have. 129 Concise, too much social help
demoralize people. 130
Before – during the Soviet-era – “everything was free”, says people incorrect.
131 Ironically, the salaries were high during the Soviet-time, but “you
couldn’t buy anything then”. 132
In addition to the poor people in Sarkani, there is also another class living
there, namely the thieves working in the area. 133 Alcoholics are often in conflicts
with the law and order. This is degrading the values and reinforces the
attitudes of consumers (not producers). In addition, there are people with
psychological problems: but people with mental disturbances don’t know
they have problems, and consequently not understanding to search for
help. 134 But – as a light in the darkness – there are no narcotics in Sarkani.
The bright side: project self-esteem
Poverty is inherited from generation to generation (explained above with the
consumer’s attitude). 135 Still, people can move out from this circle of problem.
With the aim to solve the problems, a state and E U-founded project
about social motivation has been launched. 136 “We” invited women in Sarkani
to increase their standard of living, said the chairman with pride. 137 The
8-months project started with 30 persons and 8 women become deeply involved.
With the aim to raise the self-esteem and upbringing the children,
“we” picked them up in Sarkani and brought them to Liepa during the sessions,
notified the chairman. The sessions – or rather the schooling – were
about psychology, career planning, individual consultation and basic computer-knowledge.
Of the 30 people from the start, 17 found jobs or education.
Of the 8 women who took a deep and active interest in the project, 4 of
them are working today (for example the inhabitant at the group-interviews).
Summary, even if the education-level is very low in Sarkani, the project
impacted possibilities to get – perhaps not well-paid jobs – but jobs anyway.
138
129
Johansson (2007).
130
Wlodarczyk (2007).
131
Sundin (2007).
132
Ibid.
133
Ibid.
134
Ibid.
135
Ibid.
136
Johansson (2007).
137
Sundin (2007).
138
Ibid.
49

Concluding remarks
Which planning strategies for development of Sarkani are put into words in
the material? Obvious there is an organisation dealing more with physical
and social problems than image problem. However, economy has to do with
image and place attraction, especially when it comes to the low employment
rate among the inhabitants in the area.
There is potential for infrastructure development since the area is masterplanned
for living and industry. Hence, the road to Liepa is in bad shape as
well as there is a lack of transportations between the parish and the village.
The tactics to solve these problems are – unfortunately – are dejected or
unhappy. Latvia state gives subsidies mainly to infrastructure problems, but
the road to Sarkani is – what has been hinted out – not of high priority. One
suggestion is that a win-win-situation is made between Latvia and Liepa: the
state repairs the road with asphalt and the municipality take responsible for
the maintenance.
Development work is going on in Sarkani, and Liepa is also prepared to
do inventories of seven large-scale houses in the area. However, there is
already knowledge about the housing standards: the highest needs is water
pipes and central heating in some of the houses. Anyhow, it has been done
an economical calculation for the development of the area.
Still, Liepa needs resources. One strategy is to join ReMiDo-project – and
portray the area as underprivileged – because the state’s demands are very
high regarding subsidies to social issues. But, there is a problem concerning
external assistance: if Liepa sells one of the houses to the inhabitants, then
Liepa can’t finish the ReMiDo-project. In this context, Liepa has also a bad
experience from cooperation with a private owner in Sarkani. Presumably,
ReMiDo is interested of facts and knowledge about demolition of the house:
costs, planning and plan-implement etc.
There is a growing rift between poor Sarkani and healthier Liepa. But
there are problems with visions and development direction, call for methods
to produce knowledge, need of finances, bad infrastructure and problematic
inhabitants in Sarkani.
A social programme has been conducted in the area. The project – categorized
as project “self esteem” – seems to have been worked out well. But
what happens then, after the project? There is a risk that the project is
brought to an end, and the result of project has no durability. Therefore – to
achieve social sustainability – the project should carry on to be a process
over time for development.
Culture is business. Even if Sarkanis place attraction – or image – is not
as high as wished, there are potentials for development found in the neighbourhood:
the Skangalu Baronial Estate – as a profitable tourist object – can
first act as a reason to develop Sarkani and the roads. Especially when it
50

comes to Sarkanis location: betwixt and between appealing Skangalu and
Liepa parish.
Finally, the problems that should be solved at first is the road, the transportations,
the drinking water, central heating and labour market measures as
searching jobs and starting companies.
Summary, to make Sarkani attractive to new inhabitants – especially
families – the solutions to improvement are:
- Physical and social renewal
- Better communication and infrastructure to improve the site and location
of the place
- External assistance regarding finances, planning ideas and implementation
of plans
- Clear visions of progress and development direction
- Methods for evaluating
At last, which are the expected results? One answer is stabilisation of the
situation in Sarkani – as a slight progress for the village.
51

Valga in Estonia
The following text consists of three chapters. The first chapter – case description
– introduces the location, uniqueness of Valga/Valka situation and
cooperation of Valga town government with the county to develop the town
in sustainable way. It describes in details the case study area focusing on the
built environment, infrastructure and population. The second chapter – about
problems and planning situation – discovers also visions and potentials for
the case area concerning reduction of costs, the housing market and individual
efforts, supported by ideas and solutions proposed by participants of a
workshop organized on April 27 th 2007. The final chapter contains concluding
remarks.
Location
Case description
Valga is a town in southern Estonia and the capital of Valga County (figure
1). 139
Figure 1. Valga in Estonia
139 Wikipedia (2007), http://sv.wikipedia.org.
52

Figure 1. Location of Valga in Estonia
Figure 2. Plan of Valga and location of case study area. 140
Valga is situated at the junction of roads and railways. The Tallinn-Tartu-
Riga railway is connected via Tapa with the Tallinn-Narva-St Petersburg
main line. Valga is an international railway junction. Since there is no railway
station in Valka, trains coming from Latvia are directed to Luga"i,
which is the terminal of the Latvian railway lines. During the Cold War
Valga was home to Valga air base.
The distance to Tartu is 89 km, Pärnu 144 km, Tallinn 245 km, Riga 175
km and Pskov 170 km. The closest harbours are situated in Pärnu, Riga and
Tallinn. The closest airport is in Tartu, but only airports in Riga and Tallinn
offer daily international flights.
“One city, two nations”
Valga situated in South-Estonia and Valka situated in North-Latvia are twintowns
located on the opposite sides of Estonian-Latvian border. Valga (165
sq km 15 000 inhabitants) is slightly bigger than its southern neighbour
Valka (142 sq km 7 100 inhabitants). Until their separation in 1920, Valga
and the town of Valka in northern Latvia was one town. Despite the fact that
Valga and Valka are so close to each other the cooperation network between
the towns functioned only on operational level and not strategic level. The
town governments of Valga and Valka have independently conducted the
140 Meelis Linnamägi, Head of Development Department, Valga Town Government (2006),
Valga Pilot Area
53

planning of the area, which led to unbalanced spatial development of the
area as a whole and caused duplication in various activities.
In 2005-2006 Estonian-Latvian Interreg project attempted to 'break barriers'
between two towns and employ the full potential of the uniqueness of the
two towns. This objective is achieved by blueprinting mutual city-planning
principles such as healthcare development plan, culture development plan,
education development plan, sports conception, tourism-strategy and working
out unitary logo for the towns tourism signposts and maps promotion
materials (book about Valga and Valka booklets dvd). 141
Valga is developing quickly. Since 1996 the populace's quality of life has
improved due to the renovation of several buildings, including the Central
Library, Valga Stadium, the Museum, Valga Hospital, and the Culture and
Hobby Centre. Step by step the schools and kindergartens are also being
modernized. Since 2003 a new water treatment plant has remarkably improved
the quality of water in the town.
Valga has concluded several cooperation agreements. The nearest is an
agreement (from the year 1995) with the neighbouring town of Valka. There
are also cooperation agreements with Oakland, Maryland (USA) and
Östhammar Municipality (Sweden). There are long-term friendly relations
with Hallsberg Municipality in Sweden and the towns of Lübz in Germany
and Tornio in Finland.
In the private sector there have been extensive investments in trade, light
industry, and forestry.
Government and Administration
Valga Town Government together with Valga County Government, Valga
County Association of Local Authorities, the municipalities of Helme,
Hummuli, Karula, Otepää, Palupera, Puka, Põdrala, Sangaste, Taheva, Tõlliste,
Õru, Tõrva Town and, as well as Valga County Business Information
Centre, Valga County Business Club and Valga County Local Neighbourhood
Association signed Development Strategy Valga County 2010+ (figure
3). 142 Valga Town Government was actively involved and the lead partner in
the project Valga-Valka: 1 city 2 states, described above. Today the government
is a partner in ReMiDo Interreg project represented by Meelis Linnamägi,
Head of Development Department.
141 Valga-Valka: 1city 2 states, http://www.bsrinterreg3a.net/, 18 May 2007
142 http://www.valgamaa.ee/strateegia/, 18 May 2007
54

Figure 3. Development Strategy Valga County 2010+ Long-term objectives 143
The meeting, site visit and workshop
Information about problems and the planning situation concerning Valga
case was obtained during the desktop studies and the meeting on 27 of April
2007 in Valga. Head of Development Department Meelis Linnamägi hosted
the meeting with support of secretary of Forein Relations Liane Rosenblatt.
Representatives of case study inhabitants (a taxi driver, a church leader,
Valga rescue and emergency worker), urban planner Peep Moorast, energy
consultant Viljar Vaher, a representative of a bank, a journalist from local
newspaper were invited to take part in the session (figure 4-8). Some 30
143 vhttp://www.valgamaa.ee/strateegia/, 18 May 2007
55

people were present. 144 This informative event consisted of three parts: presentation
of recently developed projects of the case study area and buildings,
guided site visit and workshop.
Figure 4-8. The meeting in Valga, 27 April 2007
144 The persons are: Aare Kittask, Alar Roop, Arto Lappalainen, Margus Malleus, Viktor
Mägi, Konstantin Chizhov, Tiina Röömus, Robert Sakajev, Janis Eduard, Peep Moorast, Enno
Kase, Benno Johanson, Liane Rosenblatt, Endel Rebane, Jüri Tsarjov, Meelis Linnamägi,
Zane Jurane, Haralds Fausteins, Rolf Johansson, Dorota Wlodarczyk, Mats Sundin, Taimi
Käos, Triinu Vaab, Margit Kukk, Mihhail Umanets, Anatoli Kobzar and Viljar Vaher.
56

Housing
The model case (pilot area) of Valga is centrally located between streets
Kungla, Jakobi, Maleva, Pargi and Allika (figure 9).
Figure 9. Map of study case area 145
The size of the area is 11 ha. It was a former Russian military site from
the 19 th century. Some of historic buildings remain from that period (figure
10-11).
Figure 10-11. Historical housing constructed hundred years ago by Russian Empire
146
145 Valga Town Government (2006), Valga Pilot Area.
57

The area is of cultural importance, because the first sport stadium of the
town, historical military soldiers houses and an older catholic church are
located there. An old central park and the protected nature monument Amuric
cork tree alley are nearby. In close proximity there are also the Central
Gymnasium, kindergarten and Central Hospital.
There are buildings of different functions including 387 flats in the area.
Total surface of housing stock is 13 658 m2. Eight slab buildings, which are
of great concern in, because of poor technical condition were built in the
1960-80 th for Soviet soldiers and soldiers’ families (figure 12-14).
The price of real estate is lower than in the rest of the town, but it has
grown 10 times the last 10 years.
Figure 12-14. Slab buildings constructed in 1960-80 th
146 Ibid.
58

The area has some potential for densification and new residential houses,
new church are being built (figure 15-16).
Figure 15-16. A new residential building and a church under construction
The Catholic Church has been carefully refurbished, partly by foreign investors.
Two other churches representing different religious beliefs located
in the site make the place are named “a religion centre”. There is a lot of
sports-clubs in Valga, and some are in the area. A football stadium and a
basketball court need some renovation (figure 17). There are some commercial
enterprises in the area, for instance a Finnish shoe factory, a car service
workshop and a second hand shop. Although space for new constructions is
limited the municipality of Valga is supportive towards investors, unfortunately
the interest in investments is low.
Figure 17. A football stadium in the studied area
Concerning ownerships and rents, the average rent for flats in Valga town
is 2-4 EUR per sq. m. For example a 2-rooms flat in a 20-40 years old 3-5
floors dwelling house costs today 7700-14000 EUR. In lately constructed
new dwelling house it costs approximately 55000 EUR. Price level depends
on location in the town. Flats with view over the river and lakes are more
expensive.
59

Buildings have been mostly in hands of former Soviet Army (95 percent),
now the flats are privately owned by previous owners: retired officers and
soldiers (table 1).
Table 1. Housing and land ownerships in the model case area 147
Housing ownership (percent) Land ownership (hectare)
Municipal 1 1,3
National 2 4,1
Private 97 5,6
Infrastructure
Concerning infrastructure-standards in the study area, table 2 is presenting
an overview of technical supply and assessments.
Table 2. Technical infrastructure: A SURVEY OF PILOT PROJECT
– Valga 10 148
Technical supply Assessment
Electricity (if no supply, enter distance to
the nearest supply station)
Electricity transformators are on the
following plots: Allika 6, Allika 4c,
Pargi 5a.
Water-supply Existing, needs reconstruction
Sewerage Existing, needs reconstruction
Central heating supply Existing, needs reconstruction
Gas supply Not existing
Telecommunications Existing, needs reconstruction
Street lightning Totally used, needs reconstruction
Rain drainage Totally used or not existing, needs
reconstruction
147 Meelis Linnamägi, Head of Development Department, Valga Town Government (2006)
148 Valga Pilot Area, ReMiDo, A survey of pilot project Valga 10
60

The population
The population in Valga decreased after Soviet troops withdrew (table 3).
Recently due to large investments in public water and sewage networks,
shopping centres and factories the trend changed and in 2006 there were
14400 inhabitants in Valga, of which 55% are women. 149 In the case study
area there are ca 300 inhabitants.
Table 3. Population in Valga, 1997-2001 150
Number of
inhabitants
1997 2003 2004 2005 2006
Valga 17 722 14 120 14 055 13 980 14 400
Ethnicity, demography, employment and salary
Valga is a multinational town, because of its history and location. Mostly
Russians, ca 60-70 percent, live in the model case area. The biggest group in
the area are the retired people. The average age of inhabitants is 45 years,
and the unemployment rate – 4 percent – is higher than average. The income
level in model case area is low to average 151 . The average salary in Valga is
450 EUR per month, that is 64 percent of salary in the capital city.
Problems and planning situation
Valga Town Government initiates preparation of spatial plans with high
ambitions. One of the indications is the arrangement of a citizen meeting,
which underlines importance of citizen participation. As a result some ideas
for future development were proposed by town government and inhabitants:
replacement of existing street lighting; new paving for streets; parking lots
besides the buildings; improvement of water, sewage and storm water networks;
refurbishment of the football and basketball stadium, landscape improvement,
planting of trees; energy saving technology, demolition of amortized
buildings (service buildings, garages, sheds, storages, fences) and
search for solution for homeless cats.
During 2006-2007, Valga town government plans to prepare the following
technical projects for model case area: 152 renovation of old football and
149 Meelis Linnamägi , Head of Development Department , Valga Town Government (2006)
150 Peep Moorast, Valga linnas Kungla, Jakobi, Pargi ja Allika tänavate vahelise ala detailplaneering,
Tinter - Projekt Tallinn 2007
151 Meelis Linnamägi , Head of Development Department , Valga Town Government (2006)
152 Ibid.
61

asketball stadium and service building; street lighting; streets and parking
lots; landscaping; water, sewage and storm water networks.
The detailed plan for the case study area was ordered by Town Government
in March 2006 and included as well as a plan for renovation and insulation
for 8 existing slab buildings. The authors of the plan presented both
projects to some 30 participants on April 27th 2007 in Valga. The presentation
was followed by a site tour and a workshop where groups of participants
– guided by the Swedish ReMiDo-partners from KTH Stockholm and Uppsala
University – discussed problems and visions.
Detailed plan
Urban planner Peep Moorast, Tinter Projekt OÜ, designed the detailed plan
for the case study area in Valga (figure 18). Main aims of the plan were to
redefine public and private spaces, design sufficient number of parking
places and to specify codes regulating colours of facades, types of fences,
information signs etc.
.
Figure 18. Detailed Plan designed by Peep Moorast, Valga linnas Kungla, Jakobi,
Pargi ja Allika tänavate vahelise ala detailplaneering, Tinter - Projekt Tallinn 2007
As a result the whole area contains thirty-three properties and eleven new
buildings are planned, including three new dwelling buildings (one with
underground garage). Green public areas connected by new pedestrian and
62

icycle routes will introduce clear definition of private and public areas and
improve spatial order. In greenery some well-equipped playing grounds are
proposed. Parking lots are designed in huge numbers to fulfil needs of inhabitants
and sport events’ visitors. An old well, which has former been used
for drinking water provision, at present will be preserved and used for watering
and fire fighting. Another ambitious task undertaken by the detailed plan
is to redesign routes of infrastructure systems. Sewage, water pipes were
originally built without respecting land ownership and they will be rerouted
and placed under streets in municipally owned land. Some of the pedestrian
public passages, which are on private properties, will be moved. Some adjacency
agreements are being considered for new access streets
Energy plan and incitements for renewal
Estonia has implemented Estonian National Program for Energy Efficiency
2007-2013. Consequently Valga Town Government, partner in ReMiDo
project ordered renovation, insulation and heat loss expertise for 8 slab
buildings existing in the case area (figure 19).
Figure 19. First repairs - exchange of windows - have started in slab buildings constructed
in 1960-80 th . These buildings are the subjects of the heat loss expertise.
Viljar Vaher from ENERGIAsaastuu buroo, author of the audit prepared
also costs estimation for necessary improvements. The audit shows the energy
consumption for each of the buildings. The energy cost for Alika Street
4 is estimated to 155 EEK (9 EUR)/sq.m. /year. This consumption is much
higher than Alika Street 2 costing 86 EEK (5 EUR) /sq.m. /year.
The situation in Alika Street 4 is extraordinary: Coldest are apartments at
corners and top floor. Bad quality windows in basements and staircases also
confirm the alarming situation in some of the houses at Alika Street. There
63

are differences between the buildings, some are leaking much and some are
leaking less. The building leaking the most is Alika Street 4. It is also the
biggest building and the one in worst condition. Problem of mould in basements
was carefully screened and drainage around buildings, mechanical
ventilation and additional wall isolations were proposed.
Research of Tartu University on passive houses and other innovative
technologies resulted in proposal to introduce in the future solar panels for
heating and cooling, special windows with insulated air between the glasses,
heat pumps and heat exchangers using excess heat. There is also an intention
to renovate the supply system for warm tap water so it could be more energy
efficient. Thus, priority in the renovation has to be given to energy saving,
because this will improve the economy of the buildings.
Workshop’s discussion
Figure 20-23. Participants of the
workshop discuss in groups problems
with urban space arrangement, technical
condition of buildings etc.
64

Reduction of costs, the housing market and individual efforts
Valga municipality presents good prognoses for development work in the
area – due to isolation work prices for apartments is rising. Consequently,
there are economical incitements for redevelopment by isolation work, new
heating system and better ventilation in the buildings. That’s because low
heating-cost per square-meter is a good sells-argument.
Valga’s energy plan includes private energy saving efforts. The first question
is: what do the tenants pay for? The answer is that each individual
household pays for electricity and water usage, and the heating is a collective
cost (as a rental-charge). “A lot of old people live here, and old people are
freezing. So they don’t turn down the temperature – if there is any heat at
all.” Other people – as younger people for instance – can’t stand the situation,
and move to better places. Unfortunately, the costs are high for renovation
of the houses. The more or less poor households can take individual
loans in order to make cooperative solutions. Banks are given loans for
renovating and redevelopment. The loans are also generally spread, because
less square-meter pays less.
But bank interests are rising. Therefore, investigations were discussed
concerning interest-costs. There is a prognosis of profitableness: 30 years at
average and 19 years for the house at Alika Street 4. However, the bank
gives loan for only 15 years. For this reason rent rise should finance the project.
The housing company will additionally install individual meters for
energy and heating usage.
Self-maintenance and social structures
Self-maintenance was discussed during the meeting in Valga. This is already
in practice within the area, when people do some maintenance work by
themselves and helping each other. They have some common indoors rooms
for these purposes and also some meeting-rooms. But they point out to lack
of pleasant outdoor spaces well equipped with benches for meetings and
picnic.
Problems with cleaning the entrances and outside were mentioned. These
conditions are also explained in social terms: “Russians are not willing to do
anything outside their flats – they are only cleaning the inside. But Estonians
cleans both inside and outside”. The situation reveals clearly differences in
the social structure. What has become better in the area – concerning social
development – since the Soviet-union’s downfall? The straight answer was:
in this area – populated with 60-70 percent Russians – live several officers’
widows’. They keep up the position: they don’t communicate with widows
of officers that were of lower rank. Hence, this brief narrative exposes that
social groups in the area are well established.
65

Parking needs, greenery and architectural improvements
Shortage of parking spaces in the area was mentioned as a main problem.
People are parking in front of houses and in green-areas, which stresses the
people who live here. ”Cars are parked everywhere. When there are sport
events – for instance at Valga gymnasium – there is even more demand on
parking spaces.” Consequently, parking problems cause social problems.
The detailed plan has foreseen a big amount of parking lots, but inhabitants
noticed the collision. In some cases old trees will have to be cut down and
inhabitants protest. Author of the detailed plan, who promised to redesign
parking lots and one segment of bicycle route to save trees, accepted the
complaints.
Another problem, brought up was that storm water goes to the sewage
with heavy load on the sewage treatment plant as a consequence. Thus the
idea of open – on ground system for rainwater enriching urban space and
well connected to parks and open spaces was discussed. Children might have
the opportunity to play in rainwater streams floating along pedestrian path
etc.
Swedish experience shows the importance of accessibility to houses for
elderly and disabled. Adding external elevators during renovation process of
houses can solve adaptation to the needs of physically disabled people. Next
suggestion was to enclose balconies with glass and/or enlarge them. Usually
in slab buildings from 60-80 th balconies were under dimensioned. The discussion
in Valga indicated that these architectural improvements were not of
highest priority in this area. An issue that was brought up by inhabitants was
their demand for codes regulating shape and height of fences, colours of
facades, concern with aesthetic quality of information signs.
66
Concluding remarks
Valga Town government is very active and plans the following small scale
investments projects to be implemented in 2007: construction of a pedestrian
way along the eastern side of Allika Street; rehabilitation of the territory
between the houses Allika 2, 4 and 4A (paving, edge blocks, lawns and
rainwater drainage); cutting and refurbishing of old trees around the whole
territory; rehabilitation of the street basketball ground at Kungla Street 24B;
renovation, insulation and heat lost expertise (energy audit) 1 . The funds are
already available for some of these projects. Other renovation tasks will be
financed mostly by credits from commercial banks. Payback could be covered
from energy saving in case the renovation works are completed on high
level. These projects would also be done in cooperation with flats and house
owners, town government, investors and creditors, state and European funds.
1 Ibid.

As mentioned before citizen’s participation is a good and promising practice
for future progress in redevelopment of the area. We argue that Valga
proved to have high potential for successfully reusing post-soviet military
residential area (although in ReMiDo preliminary evaluation Valga’s potential
was scored medium).
Finally, Valga town government has ambitions to train a team. They will
assist others in implementation of similar projects dealing with redevelopment
of post military sites.
67

Conclusions and discussion
The aim of this chapter is to summarize the study, make comparative analysis,
conclusions and conduct a discussion on a general level. This means that
first and foremost similarities between Marciena, Liepa/Sarkani and Valga
are presented (together with supplementary atypical data). Readers, who
appreciate and are paying attention to each particular case, can study prior
chapters with advantage.
68
The comparative analysis
Post-military areas have many common problems, but also many peculiarities.
The areas in Western Europe and Eastern Europe have different characteristics
and potentials (as shown in the introduction chapter) and thus require
modified approaches to their redevelopment. However reuse of all
post-military sites is crucial for sustainability – it saves undeveloped land
and is preventing urban sprawl.
This comparative analysis is dealing with three cases, or sites, located in
Eastern Europe in neighbouring countries: Marciena and Liepa/Sarkani in
Latvia and Valga in Estonia. That makes the compared issues more relevant
and useful for each other.
The study shows that the location – on the whole – is crucial for the development
(table 1).
Table 1. Location of cases in their urban context
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Peripheral Central
Valga X
First, the municipalities’ geographically locations at distance from the superior
city, in addition with an administrative sub-ordination. The location of
post military areas within local urban context promotes different strategies,

then when they are remote. In extreme situation, when areas were located in
“the middle of nowhere” for strategic reason a change of function might be
necessary.
All three examined cases are not totally remote areas, but parts of or in
close proximity to towns. Valga is centrally situated and has public transport
at hand (more or less facing the travel-centre as an internal landmark and a
familiar sight) (table 2).
Table 2. Availability of public transport
On site Within walking distance Further than 1 km
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Sarkani, outside Liepa, is in the worst situation 4 km from rarely operating
buses. Location influences desirability of a residential area: convenient
transportation and well-developed public transport contributes to attractiveness,
and is therefore crucial for successful reuse of area, increasing possibilities
and provides more job opportunities and job choices.
The three cases are a mirror of society problems, suffering from a cultural
rupture due to Soviet-unions ending and the economical crises during the
1990 th : First, Russians (militaries, technicians and white-collar workers with
their families) moved out with loss of population, social network and vacancies
as results. Then, underprivileged people moved in to available and
cheaper apartments in the areas, today populated with a stable amount of
inhabitants, and with people with low education, unemployment and low or
irregular salaries (table 3-5)
Table 3. The number of inhabitants in case study areas, since 1991 has:
Increased Decreased Remained the same
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X 2
Valga X
2 Although the entire population is exchanged see Liepa - case study discription
69

Table 4. Segment of occupied apartments
70
The entire
stock
Most of the
stock
About
half
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Table 5. The level of income of inhabitants:
Less than
half
All abandoned
Wealthy Well-to-do Average Poor Very poor
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Table 6. Frequent incidents of:
Vandalism Alcoholism Ethnical
problems
Rent
debts
Marciena X X - X X
Liepa/Sarkani - X - X X
Valga - - - X -
Crime
However, first, the criminality in Sarkani (Liepa) is low, because there are
not any vacancies. Then, on the basis of Valga, the statistic is difficult to
compare because the police are modifying the methods and descriptions over
time.
Concerning ethnical problems, the study could not verify such problems.
On the other hand, stereotypical explanations could reproduce differences
between ethnicities. One example of upholding the antagonism is found in
case Valga: that the Russian are cleaning only their apartments but the Estonians
are cleaning both inside and outside the houses. One nonconformist

approach to iron out the differences between social groups is neither to disgrace
or honour.
Generally, the population in the three cases does not consist of a majority
of Russians, because Sarkani is populated with mostly Latvians. This means
that a large ethnical minority – at state level – is not of decisive importance
for the future planning and development of the three cases. It’s rather low
housing standards regarding lack of conveniences for elderly and/or disabled
people and bad water- and sewer pipes; and municipalities’ statutory housing
responsibilities that are of significance for development.
Regarding the condition of housing and the infrastructure, the housing areas
in the examined cases have rather poor reuse viability (table 7-12). Inherited
military infrastructure systems often differ from those in municipalities,
and very often they are laid down with no respect to land ownership. Buildings
durability was usually foreseen for 40-50 years and because of economizing
on materials, probably unskilled labour and poor infrastructure quality
their technical state should be carefully examined and improved. 3
Table 7. Provision of running water:
The entire
area
Most of the
area
About half the
area
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Table 8. Provision of electricity:
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
The entire
area
Most of the
area
About half the
area
Less than
half
Less than
half
No one in
the area
No one in
the area
3 See: Viljar, Vaher (2007) Valga - renovation, insulation and heat loss expertise. Tallin:
ENERGIAsaastu buroo
71

Table 9. Quality of street lighting service is:
72
Very good Good Average Poor Very poor
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Table 10. Provision of sewage system:
The entire
area
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Most of the
area
About half the
area
Less than
half
No one in
the area
Table 11. Provision of rainwater and drainage system (preventing cellars’ humidity)
Yes No
Marciena X
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X
Table 12. Demolition in the area
Marciena X
Yes No
Liepa/Sarkani X
Valga X

As mentioned above, the houses were built to last for 40-50 years. If
renovation is conducted they will last for another 40 years, at least what the
authorities in Valga said about “their” case. In contradiction to this declaration
from Valga, there have been demolishing in Marciena (and more is to
come).
Relating to environmental issues, majority of post military areas are usually
highly polluted due to original activities, which took place there and low
environmental concern in the past (table 13). Hazardous wastes, toxic material,
artillery shells require expensive clean up. None of these pollutants and
contaminations was found in the three case study areas.
Table 13. Environmental pollution sources in case study areas:
Contaminated
soil
Stagnant
water
Individual fossil
fuel heating
Waste dumping
heaps
Marciena - X - X
Liepa/Sarkani - - X -
Valga - - - -
Although the houses in Liepa/Sarkani are still individually heated with
wood, EU requirements concerning environment are widely accepted by new
EU member countries. Municipality in Livani, Latvia supported local initiative
and production of solar screens has already started. 4 Estonia has implemented
Estonian National Program for Energy Efficiency 2007-2013. Consequently
Municipality in Valga ordered renovation, insulation and heat loss
expertise for houses existing in case area. Passive housing technology, solar
screens and batteries are researched by Tartu University.
The pace of renewal is also dependent relative to existing workplaces in
the immediate area (i.e. not renovating houses with thoughts on stimulating
opening of new companies). One subject area to create new jobs is renewable
energy technology, as solar- and wind-power plants. The military air
force base in Liepa can be an example to others to create sustainable energy
systems at unused an unexploited places. This would increase the national
industry competitiveness, contribute to regional and local development and –
of course – create new jobs.
However, the conventional thesis that says it’s easier to integrate persons
that belong to the ethnical majority of the state is confirmed in case Liepa:
Latvian families in Sarkani – read women – have undergone a social programme.
This programme – about social motivation to break negative trends
4 See: http://www.inderscience.com/(2007)
73

– was conducted with desire and good results on topics of career planning,
computer-knowledge and psychology. Also Marciena had some kind of social
project: one was more related to physical groundwork in the area, and
the second was about computer-classes in the area. On the other hand, there
is more to do – in all three cases – on the subjects of starting own companies,
and sign contracts with students for their future plans in place of residence.
Concerning places for recreation and other services in the three cases,
Liepa/Sarkani is diverging from the other cases (table 14). The most important
explanations are the small number of inhabitants in the area, and hence –
as a no-win situation – other people has no reason to go to the area as in
cases of Marciena and Valga.
Table 14. Availability of recreation and other services
74
Sport
field
Children
play-ground
Shops Library School
Church or
room for
prayers
Culture
centre
Marciena X X X X X
Liepa X 5 X
Valga X X X X X
The municipalities are taking the cases seriously. The social programme
in Liepa was a time-limited project performed with European Union-funds.
Generally, the three cases are in need of external resources for development
of the areas: private investors and financial support from state and E U. In
contrast to the plans for development, the municipalities are also ready to
sell the houses – if there were any buyers of these so far non-attractive
houses (with both public and private owned apartments).
Under these circumstances of vulnerability and dependence, a desirable
objective (i.e. planning strategy) for the local municipalities policy is to motivate
local powers and institutions and raise their rights of selfdetermination,
especially in Marciena and Liepa. Valga, on the other hand,
seems to be in a more sovereign situation than the other cases in theirs geographically
and governmental peripheries.
Besides the needs of external financiers, the cases are in need of external
evaluations (i.e. as ReMiDo) to describe, analyse and suggest solutions so
the cases can: 1) receive outer resources (money) to solve the problematic
situation and also 2) serve as a case in progress to show that a situation is not
as hopeless as declared and 3) serve as case for regional development. For
5 Mobile shop, see Liepa/Sarkani case study descriptions

this reason, the bad situation is a resource for the municipalities. Conversely,
prestigious and historical objects in the cases environs – as hotel, baronial
estate, respected sport gymnasium – are milieus that give both credit and
serves as motives for development of the cases.
Finally and to bring this chapter to an end: shortage of housing in neighbouring
district or town is an excellent opportunity for reuse and revitalization
of post-military sites. If number of inhabitants attracted by lower prices
of apartments in central or well served by public transport peripheral location
is likely to increase densification of existing area by introducing new
houses will contribute to better economic situation and spatial improvements.
That takes place is a case in Valga.
Surplus of housing in neighbouring town or remote location causes vacancies
and ”ghost” image of these post-military areas. Dismantling higher
floors or whole buildings, and merging two apartments into one or change of
function could solve this problem. This might be a strategies for half abandoned
Marciena.
The starting point for redevelopment of post-military area is analyses of
environment and existing buildings and design of a detailed plan, which
includes: 1) regulation of land ownership 2) improvement of infrastructure
3) relocation of infra-systems into municipally owned land (ROW), 4) sustainable
rainwater system (open, on the ground) 5) convenient public transport
6) redefinition of common and private spaces 7) provision of biking,
pedestrian routes and 8) landscaped parking lots.
Concluding from site visits at all three areas, the following technical improvements
are necessary for most of building: 1) isolation of walls 2) isolation
of roofs 3) exchange of windows 4) drainage around basements 5) mechanical
ventilation 6) repairs of common spaces (stair cases etc) and 7)
improved access for elderly and disabled by providing lifts.
Other important strategies for a positive development of Marciena,
Liepa/Sarkani and Valga are connected with finding financial resources:
requests for external resources from E U and search for state and private
investors. Municipality assistance in analysing technical conditions of
apartments, improvements’ costs evaluation and help in negotiating bank
loans for individual inhabitants (as in case of Valga) are recommended practices.
Public participation is crucial for redevelopment of areas, which are facing
problems mentioned above. In “Participatory Processes for Sustainable
Development of Former Military Sites in the Baltic Countries” report 6 situations
are described, when lack of participation has negative consequences.
Thus it is promising to observe Valga case stakeholders interest and involvement
in actions initiated by town government. The combination of
6 Elfors, Susanna (2007) Participatory Processes for Sustainable Development of Former
Military Sites in the Baltic Countries Report for the ReMiDo project, KTH, Stockholm
75

esearch, action and participation contributes to mutual learning and it is a
long lasting process. Valga proved to have high potential for successfully
reusing post-soviet military residential area. Valga town government has
ambitions to train a team, which will assist others in implementation of similar
projects. That assistance, based on own experience might be valuable for
Marciena and Liepa cases, where process of public participation is not well
established yet. And finally – on basis of an observed response to a suggestion
given by one of the authors – an important strategy for approaching the
problems in each area is exchange of experience between cities and countries:
for instance exchange of know-how between Marciena, Liepa and
Valga.
76

References
Literature
Jauhiainen, Jussi S. (1997). Reuse of military areas in local and regional development:
the case of Estonia. In Owsinski, Jan W. and Andrzej Stepniak (Eds.) The
Nordic-Baltic Europe: integration risks, barriers & opportunities, pp. 315-328.
Warsaw: Interface Institute.
Jauhiainen, Jussi (2005) in Vestbro (ed) Managing the built environment and remediation
of brownfields, BUUF, Uppsala University,
Ruksane, Guna (ed.) (2001), Learn about Cesis district: a guide to tourism in Cesis
district, Cesis district council
Protocols, documents and papers
Jurane, Zane (2007), marciena_study.doc, Riga: Housing Agency
-, (2007), Protocol.doc, Riga: Housing Agency
-, (2007), Study-tour.doc, Riga: Housing Agency
Myrttinen, Henri (2003). Base conversion in Central and Eastern Europe. BICC
paper 30. Bonn: BICC.
Detailed plans, reports and investigations
Elfors, Susanna (2007) Participatory Processes for Sustainable Development of
Former Military Sites in the Baltic Countries, Report for the ReMiDo project,
KTH, Stockholm
Firma L4 (-), Feasibility study for Liepa water management project: final report.
Meelis Linnamägi, Head of Development Department, Valga Town Government
(2006), Valga Pilot Area
Peep Moorast, Valga linnas Kungla, Jakobi, Pargi ja Allika tänavate vahelise ala
detailplaneering, Tinter - Projekt Tallinn 2007
ReMiDo, A survey of pilot project Valga
Viljar, Vaher (2007) Valga - renovation, insulation and heat loss expertise. Tallin:
ENERGIAsaastu buroo
77

http://www.inderscience.com/, 2007
http://sv.wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liepas, 7 May 2007
http://www.google.com/maps, 7 May 2007
Latvijas karte, http://www.viss.lv, 7 May 2007
http://www.cesurajons.lv/en?id=228&x=217, 8 May 2007
http://www.valgamaa.ee/strateegia/, 18 May 2007
http://www.bsrinterreg3a.net/, 18 May 2007
78
World-wide-web
Field-notes and photos
Johansson, Rolf; Sundin, Mats & Wlodarczyk, Dorota, notes and photos from study
tours and the plenary sessions in Marciena, Liepa and Valga 25-27 April 2007
Lectures, correspondence and informal contacts
Sundin, Mats, correspondence with Zane Jurane, Housing Agency Riga and project
manager, Housing agency, Liepa parish municipality, 20 February, 19 April and
21 May 2007.
Sassenberg, Uwe, typology presented at ReMiDo Steering Committee Meeting in
Riga 17 January 2007.
Rydén, Lars, ”The Baltic university programme”, Uppsala University, informal
discussion, 22 December 2006.