Lutsk, a city in the west of Ukraine, holds vast potential to become not just a local but a pan-European center of attraction. With its favorable climate, unique geography, rich history, and skilled human capital, Lutsk offers a promising environment for comfortable living, work, and recreation.
However, Lutsk’s potential has yet to be fully realized. The city’s current role is more transitional, thanks to the strategic location of the Volyn region near the EU border. Residents and businesses aspire for more and desire to see Lutsk as a modern and innovative city with cutting-edge urban practices, robust business opportunities, and a safe, welcoming atmosphere.
Today, Lutsk has the resources and human potential to craft a better future. That’s why the Urban Vision Lutsk project was launched to create a strategic vision for the city’s future development. The first phase is complete, and the Algorytm NGO team is now progressing to the second part. Let’s see what the social impact of urban planning in the city of Lutsk, Ukraine, is and how Urban Vision Lutsk is changing the city.
Drivers and Challenges of the Urban Vision Lutsk Project
The impact of urban planning on the city of Lutsk can elevate the residents’ quality of life to a whole new level. But first, it’s necessary to clearly figure out the vector of development and the results to be achieved. Mainly, the study pursued the following objectives:
- Identification of the central potentials for the planning of the urban space of Lutsk to shape a vision;
- Looking for suitable tools to increase the tourist and investment attractiveness of Lutsk;
- Creation of a city connectivity model to integrate districts and create new pedestrian routes;
- Improving the quality of life, accessibility, convenience, and visual attractiveness in the city center, taking into account the opinions of all stakeholders.
Besides, the purpose of the study was to identify the main challenges hindering the urban development in Lutsk. By understanding these obstacles, it’s possible to comprehend the potential required steps. The primary challenges identified include:
- A lack of cultural and leisure activities;
- Insufficient social capital;
- Fragmented social structure;
- A shortage of comfortable open public spaces;
- A lack of events, services, and spaces;
- A lack of initiatives and products promoting a strong city identity.
All this served as a basis for further steps in the development of Lutsk. Let’s take a detailed look at it.
Key Steps in Comprehensive Urban Research
First, the urbanists had to conduct research based on publicly available sources. This included accessing open data about the city, historical documents, city council records, and regulatory acts concerning the preservation and protection of historical heritage.
To understand the genuine needs of Lutsk’s residents, the team conducted interviews and surveys. During the research, more than 2,000 people were surveyed and 20 experts were interviewed. All this created a basis for public participation in identifying the city’s challenges and searching for possible solutions. In addition, the team performed a comprehensive environmental assessment of the city’s districts.
Armed with this wealth of information, the project team managed to create a digital database about the city and thoroughly analyze potential vectors of the spatial development of Lutsk. Knowing what Lutsk residents, businesses, city authorities, and other stakeholders need, the team moved forward to analyze and synthesize their findings.
Eventually, the Urban Vision Lutsk team presented three key documents:
Urban Vision Lutsk
A printed magazine and digital document compiling data from the initial stage of research.
Center Development Concept
A dynamic urban regeneration concept of the city center.
Sociological study
An in-depth document on the needs of the city residents and the results of surveys of all segments of the population.
The team identified the following key priorities for the urban regeneration in Lutsk:
- Connectivity. Developing more cohesive urban structures by fostering collaboration between businesses, the public sector, and municipal institutions on a common platform.
- Multifunctionality. Establishment of multifunctional institutions and spaces in the city, e.g., spaces combining social and commercial functions.
- Communication. Enhancing the information policy and improving the SmartCity application, shaping regular communication, and creating a city-wide public platform, “City Institute,” for cross-sectoral engagement in the city.
- Social and human capital. Development of networking between citizens and involvement of representatives of authorities in this project.
- Economy. Reducing the number of legislative prohibitions and development and rethinking the available areas and spaces, industrial zones, and residential sector.
- Environment. Creation of new green areas in the city, creation of ecosystems for the settlement of other species.
- Infrastructure. The pedestrianization of the center, completion of the ring road from the western part of the city with continuous traffic without traffic lights, and development of new aviation, railway, and automobile terminals.
- Culture. Creation of public spaces with radically new quality, formats, and scenarios of leisure. Building open-air playgrounds, a large soccer field, and basketball courts.
- Security. Reducing the number of police on the streets and integrating digital technologies in transportation security.
- Communications. Quality communication about cultural events in the city. Digitalization of communication with the authorities.
The Impact of Urban Vision Lutsk on the Lives of Lutsk Residents
The Urban Vision Lutsk study is intended to become the basis for the spatial planning of the city of Lutsk. If implemented correctly, it can allow each resident to easily develop their own business, establish an organization, and comfortably spend free time.
This document will become a key to understanding the moods and needs of Lutsk residents. It will also help comprehend the district’s potential and the vectors of their development.
The first stage of the research is designed to present the survey results and analyze the most promising and needed areas of development. In the future, these outcomes will become the basis for working on the Master Plan for the central part of Lutsk.
By modeling development scenarios and creating a concept based on them, it will be possible to ensure the future sustainable growth of the city and the entire Lutsk community. The impact of urban planning in Lutsk includes improved quality of life, enhanced attractiveness of the city center, greater openness, and increased investment opportunities, encouraging new business ventures.
Now, Urban Reform NGO, the ORG, and the misto.reboot teams are conducting stakeholder interviews. By the end of the year, the team will present a detailed Master Plan for rethinking urban space.
Final Thought
The Urban Vision Lutsk project has emerged as a pivotal initiative, uniting activists, businesses, and residents in a collaborative effort to foster the development of the city system of Lutsk. Studies demonstrate the residents’ needs and ways to make them come true.
The Master Plan for the development of Lutsk city center will be presented this year. This plan, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and based on “Urban Talks,” engaging architects, urban planners, civic leaders and local residents, aims to dramatically transform the image of the city.
Ultimately, Urban Vision Lutsk will become a solid foundation and the beginning of the redefinition of Lutsk as one of the key megalopolises in the west of Ukraine.