Changing public space

8.2.1 Role and objectives of the local government
The reasons why local authorities of the cases strive for urban redevelopment have already
been discussed in Section 6.6. The overview of urban policies showed that next to their regular
task to provide public services, the municipalities of Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Enschede and
’s-Hertogenbosch also concentrate on public space in order to distinguish themselves from other
cities within the interurban competition for businesses, residents, and tourists. This qualifies
them as entrepreneurial cities. However, the motives of the local government to redevelop public
space are not always to stand out in comparison to other cities; at times it is simply necessary
because public space is in a degenerated state and – financially or physically – depreciated. As
one of the informants summarised:
[Redevelopment of public space occurs] simply because the time is right, because politicians
feel like it, because of an upcoming event, because we would like to have the Tour
de France, because we would like to be European Capital of Culture. Those are all
arguments (…), but also because of the cycle of depreciation: public space is depreciated
and it has to be renewed. (Public-sector representative I)
Table 8.2 shows that despite the growing involvement of the private sector, the role of the
local government is still extensive regarding all redevelopment tasks (i.e., taking the initiative,
selecting the design, directing the redevelopment process, financing the redevelopment and
maintaining public space after the redevelopment is finished). Local authorities have not always
taken the initiative to redevelop the PPP squares, but once the ball started rolling they have
been involved in every part of the project. Similar tables have been set up regarding the role of
the private sector and other stakeholders (Table 8.3 and 8.4). When comparing these to Table
8.2, it appears that the role of the local government is particularly dominant regarding process
Table 8.2 Role of the local government (LG) in the redevelopment of the PPP squares
Beurstraverse Statenplein Van Heekplein Loeffplein
Initiative - LG took initiative
for first plans, which
LG started process by
appointing MAB and
were never executed. later Multi to make
Multi and VendexKBB plans
initiated final plans
Design
Consortium incl. LG
selected architects to
design public space
LG selected MTD to
design public space
Process LG acted as director LG acted as director,
but was assisted by
supervisor Rijnboutt
Finance
Maintenance
Source: Interviews (2006)
LG financed 1/8 of
total costs
Carried out by
Actys on behest of
consortium incl. LG
LG financed total
costs with capital
raised from the sale
of land
LG selected OKRA to
design public space
LG acted as director,
but was assisted by
DHV and supervisor
West 8
LG financed total
costs with capital
raised from the sale
of land
-
LG (and Multi) selected
Beth Galí to design
public space
LG acted as director
LG financed total costs
with capital raised
from the sale of land
Carried out by LG Carried out by LG Carried out by LG
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