Changing public space

Squares redesigned by
public sector
Squares redesigned by
public and private sector (PPP)
1
2
3
1
2
3
Secured public space
1. Surveillance
2. Restraints on loitering
3. Regulation
Themed public space
4. Events
5. Funshopping
6. Sidewalk cafés
6
4
6
4
5
5
Schouwburgplein
Grote Markt
Oude Markt
Markt
Beurstraverse
Statenplein
Van Heekplein
Loeffplein
7092
Figure 7.5 Six-dimensional profiles of all research objects as secured (upper half ) or themed
(lower half ) public space (Loeffplein including the Arena is left out)
was completed without involvement of the private sector. The Markt and Van Heekplein both
function as market place, but differ with respect to the actors involved in the redevelopment;
while the Markt will be redesigned without any private-sector involvement, the Van Heekplein
was upgraded with an abundance of private actors (see Table 5.3). To find out to what extent the
differences and similarities in terms of fear versus fantasy can be linked to variations in terms
of public versus PPP developments, the diagrams of the eight research objects are combined
in Figure 7.5. The projects are grouped on the basis of their main function (non-retail or retail
squares) and actors involved in the redesign process (only public sector or PPP). Because these
groups completely overlap, only the latter is indicated in the heading of the diagrams.
The most striking outcome of Figure 7.5 is that public spaces redesigned by both the public
and the private sector (PPP squares) without exception show high ratings on the dimension
‘funshopping’. This might not be surprising, because the inventory of redeveloped city squares
already revealed that the involvement of the private sector is almost entirely restricted to
retail squares (Section 5.2.3). However, not every retail square necessarily has high ratings on
funshopping. There are neighbourhood squares outside the city centre that have a retail function,
which Klaassen (1994) defines as facility squares (Section 2.6). These squares often consist of
parking space surrounded by shops with a dominant ‘run’ nature such as supermarkets and
convenience stores with low-order assortments. However, within city centres – at least in
our case-study cities – retail squares are prime locations for funshopping. Because of this
homogeneous outcome, it is safe to conclude that retail is an important, if not compulsory
precondition for the private sector to become involved in the redevelopment of public space. This
preference to participate in retail redevelopment projects is also observed in international real
estate literature. Adair et al. (2003), for example, found that retail property performs extremely
well within regeneration areas, which appear to be particularly suited to shopping centres and
retail warehousing investments. Section 8.2.2 describes the role and objectives of the private
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