Housing policy vs. spatial policy
Active housing policy is one of the essential elements of the fifteen-minute city concept being implemented in the city. We are the first city in Poland to consciously pursue a city development policy according to the principles of the compact city.
Construction of nine apartments for rent on the site of an old demolished building
Photo: R.K. Urbaniak © UMiG Pleszew
Surveys conducted by the City and Municipality of Pleszew among residents and at Pleszew's largest companies (where a large percentage of those working are from outside Pleszew) have shown that the availability of housing determines the choice of Pleszew as a place to live. The nationwide trend today is also to choose small or medium-sized cities to live in. Hence the active housing policy to keep people in Pleszew and give a place to live to those working here or those considering returning from larger cities.
Construction of a residential and commercial rental building on the site of an old demolished building in the city center (to be completed June/July)
Photo: R.K. Urbaniak © UMiG Pleszew
Work is currently nearing completion on four housing projects, the investor of which is either directly the City and Municipality of Pleszew or a municipal company. What all these investments have in common is that they are located on land owned by the local government, they are fully developed, and their financing comes in large part from external funds (including the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego). Buildings are being constructed on the sites of previously demolished properties or undeveloped properties. Modernization of an existing historic building in the center of Pleszew is also being undertaken. Such measures prevent urban sprawl, which is an important element of the idea of a fifteen-minute city.
Construction of two blocks of flats with rent credit (commissioning June/July)
Photo: R.K. Urbaniak © UMiG Pleszew
A total of more than 130 apartments are being built in the small urban-rural municipality of 20,000 people. The largest development is two five-story buildings, with partially underground parking, for 92 families. Among other things, the apartments are aimed at people who are under 40 years old, have not owned their own apartment and are willing to contribute to the construction costs of the building. Seven indicators were determined, based on which future tenants were selected. In addition, 20 percent of these apartments were intended for people from outside the Pleszew municipality who already work in the city. All tenants in the rent repay the loan. After five years, they can repay it in full and become owners of the apartment. A total of about 270 people will live in these buildings. The completion date is June of this year. The value of the task is about 29 million zlotys.
A renovated old tenement with apartments for rent of a higher standard
Photo: R.K. Urbaniak © UMiG Pleszew
On the other hand, a historic tenement in the center of the city, which was thoroughly rebuilt, created nine units: from studios to spacious three-room apartments for rent. These are not communal apartments, here the criterion for recruiting residents is higher income.
Terraced houses built and sold by PTBS company
photo: UMiG Pleszew
We are building communal housing in two locations, the total will be 34 units. Both investments are being built on the sites of old, non-functional and demolished buildings. One includes underground parking and a service and retail area for rent. In the other, a novelty is a ground-floor apartment entirely adapted to the needs of a wheelchair user.
Pleszew also has a pro-housing policy of selling communal land. When a developer buys land from a municipality, he undertakes to build a certain number of apartments (such a provision is included in the terms of sale). The land is thus not just a capital investment, but a place for the creation of new apartments. 50 apartments have already been built in this way. Developer investments are carried out in Pleszew in parallel with public ones. These include multi-family and single-family buildings, including terraced houses. It is worth mentioning that the construction of commercial terraced houses has also been undertaken by the municipal company PTBS. Eight buildings for sale have been built and have already found owners. More are planned.
Blocks built by a private developer on land sold by the municipality
Photo: UMiG Pleszew
Arkadiusz Ptak
Mayor of Pleszew Town and Municipality
