Working group "Cities with historic city centers"
The “ Cities with Historic Town Centers ” working group of the State of Brandenburg was founded in 1992 under the patronage of the then Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Transport of the State of Brandenburg. After initially 20 cities submitted to the demanding criteria of the working group, the number of members increased to 31 member cities with the admission of the cities Doberlug-Kirchhain and Lübbenau / Spreewald on January 1, 2007.
Only cities whose historical city plan is clearly legible and whose historical city center is specifically renewed and strengthened can become members of the working group . The development must be predominantly historical and the townscape must be closed. In addition, there must be a willingness in the city to implement the goals of sustainable urban renewal and monument protection and to give priority to interior development. By means of a self-binding decision, the cities have committed themselves to preserving the cultural heritage through careful urban renewal policies. An evaluation committee with representatives from ministries, state offices, associations and the member cities accompanies the urban renewal process in the member cities.
The exchange of experiences on urban renewal and the redevelopment of the listed buildings is the core task of the cooperation between the members of the working group. The cities are supported in this through the federal-state program " Urban protection of monuments ". Twice a year the member cities meet with representatives, e. B. from ministries, state offices, redevelopment agencies , planners and associations on changing specialist topics. In addition, current issues and issues relating to urban renewal are discussed in four regional groups.
In addition to the technical issues of urban renewal, another important component of the cooperation in the working group is joint public relations work and the qualification of tourism marketing in the member cities. High-public campaigns such as the monthly award of a monument, the “Historical Advent Calendar” or the “City Center Showcase” make citizens and guests aware of the uniqueness of the historic city center. Since 2004, the participation of the working group in the theme years of the Kulturland Brandenburg e. V. represents an important building block for the member cities. The high-quality exhibitions and the comprehensive accompanying program show visitors and residents of the cities the architectural and cultural history of their historic city centers. The brochure “Reisen in die Stadtgeschichte”, which presents all member cities with their most important sights, a joint website and a leaflet bring the historical city centers closer to those interested.
But the historic city centers in the state of Brandenburg are not only present in print materials and in the form of events and exhibitions. For a long time, brown signs have been pointing to the historic city centers along the federal highways and on the motorways. When you arrive in the city center, a central stele provides information about the redevelopment area (see photo).
The joint activities in the working group have not only increased awareness and visitor numbers for the member cities. Due to the constant renovation of the valuable building fabric, the residents identify with their city. The urban renewal process was decisively promoted through the networking and cooperation of one with a large number of partners.
