GRAZ

LUDA selected in the City:

a. URBAN 1 – Gries:

X Areas with environmental Risks
X Degraded historical Structures
X Heterogeneus Areas
X Industrial Brownfiels
X Traditional residential Areas of Blue Collar Workers
X Underused urban Areas

b. URBAN 2 – Graz West

X Areas with environmental Risks
X Heterogeneus Areas
X Industrial Brownfiels
X Traditional residential Areas of Blue Collar Workers
X Underused urban Areas

Size:
The project area in Graz West consists of some 750 hectares, taking in parts of four urban districts. This splintering has led to there being no possibility of forming a common consciousness of general problems affecting the eligible area as a whole.

No. of Inhabitants:
The project area in Graz West comprises approx. 32 000 residents
The project area in Gries comprises cca 10 600 residents

Location and Boundaries:
URBAN 1 – Gries: The URBAN zone lies immediately to the South-west of the inner city of Graz and covers less than half of the ward of Gries.
URBAN 2 – Graz West project area covers the town to the west of the main railway station, touching the town centre.

Urban Organization and Main Functions:
URBAN 1 – Gries: the area still has nearly 1300 firms, employing nearly 12 000 people.
URBAN 2 – Graz West: the historically produced, extensive, unifunctional industrial belt, which is now undergoing profound reorganisation.

Population Structure and Dynamic:
(Pleas give a brief description and quantitative rates, if accessible)
URBAN 1 – Gries: the population of the area is characterised by a high proportion of immigrants, high unemployment, and poor quality housing –stock and public spaces, unemployment rate is 19%, social seccurity recipients above average
Urban 2 – Graz West: the area is inhabitted by 31,930 inhabitants (13,3% of the town of Graz)

Main LUDA’s Problems (social / political / economical / ecological):
URBAN 1 - Gries: The area suffers mainly from the following problems: economically stronger people are leaving the area, concentration of weaker population groups (elderly, people of foreign origin, unemployed and unskilled), declining economic activity and high unemployment, poor quality housing and unattractive environment.
URBAN 2 – Graz West: Problems that can be observed throughout this urban sector, such as high unemployment, a high proportion of foreign population, economic difficulties in local firms, strong environmental pollution through traffic and industry, and the lack of green areas and other urban qualities, are concentrated in the eligible area to a degree that demands rapid, energetic treatment.

Reasons for Neglect:
The policy of farming out production to countries with low pay rates has left in its wake industrial waste sites that are probably industrially polluted. Few new companies are created, and consequently local recycling has become a necessity. The advantages of the project area include its situation close to the centre, along two railway alignments, and the proximity of a relaxation area.