Abstract
"A sustainable city requires the highest quality space in its central part, one based on historical identity and multifunctional structure ..." – this is the thesis derived from the so-called Lodz Charter, adopted at the 5th Urban Planning Congress, which was held in Lodz in 2015. It was the starting point for revolutionary thinking about transforming the second-largest Polish city, the post-industrial city of Lodz, which after the period of the communist stagnation is currently implementing extensive changes in its spatial structure. An example of the changes taking place in the historical part of the city is the area of a certain district with a 19th-century pedigree, located in the heart of Lodz, in the direct neighborhood of the main axis of the city - Piotrkowska Street. The Old Polesie District, sometimes called -- as a result of the ongoing transformations -- "Green Polesie", is now a field of activity of municipal authorities, inspired by the ideas of urban planners and community workers. The area where the transformation program is implemented is currently characterized by the processes of depopulation and spatial degradation. This area has a unique, compact urban layout but its historic buildings require immediate intervention and investment. The urban program "Zielone Polesie" balances the preservation of the historical urban layout with the need to adapt it to the contemporary needs of its inhabitants. The goal is to transform the compact, historical structure of the city into a place characterized by high quality of living and a high degree of greening. The program assumes an increase in green areas by 628%. This is in line with the slogan "return to the city", which indicates the direction of necessary urban transformations in Lodz. The implementation of the investments included in the program is based on the adopted local law, i.e. local spatial development plans. They constitute the executive tool of the program for the implementation of street-gardens and small but numerous parks called "pocket parks". Plans are also the basis for transforming unused plots into public green areas, for clearing up urban quarters and introducing a new communication network for pedestrians. The program and development plans assume the balancing of investments carried out by private developers with public investments and the improvement of the quality of space. These activities are also part of the reserve rationalization process, i.e. the development of municipal investments intended for residents. The implementation of the tasks resulting from the "Green Polesie" program is already visible in the structure of the district and is very positively evaluated by the residents. New mini-parks, woonerfs and pedestrian routes within downtown quarters have already been completed. This part of the city is consistently changing to a place where space is better used and where the quality of life improves. This affects investment interest, increases the number of buildings under construction and draws the attention of the potential new residents. Lodz implements the slogans of "returning to the center" and "eco-city" by changing the quality of living in its historical downtown.
