Changing public space

However, the involvement of the public did not explicitly delay the redevelopment of the PPP
squares. Referendums were not held in the redevelopment projects, in which the residents’
participation was mostly limited to discussions during walking tours and information meetings.
As concluded in Section 8.2.3, this can be explained by the fact that the decision-making
processes took place in the 1990s, during which residents’ participation was still rather limited:
It [the redevelopment of the Beursplein] was still part of the Rotterdam reconstruction
tradition, in the sense that: “we are going to develop something whether you like it or
not.” In that period nobody protested, while now you can go to the Supreme Court with
almost every project. (Public-sector representative VI)
When comparing the duration of publicly realised squares with the PPP squares it becomes clear
that they also have lengthy processes. The redevelopment of the Schouwburgplein, Grote Markt,
Markt, and Oude Markt took on average 6.5 years: respectively 5 (1993-1997), 2 (2004-2005),
8 (1997-2004), and 11 years (1993-2008) calculated from the final decision to redevelop to the
actual realisation. The relatively long duration of the Oude Markt and Markt can be explained
by the large involvement of local stakeholders in the decision-making process. Both squares are
perceived as the historic square of the city and therefore induced more involvement than the less
controversial Van Heekplein and Loeffplein. In sum, the assumption that the involvement of
the private sector delays redevelopment processes can be refuted based on the four PPP squares.
Although the duration is relatively lengthy with six to ten years, this should be ascribed to
regulation and society’s increasing complexity rather than the involvement of the private sector.
Figure 8.3 Compromise at the Statenplein
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