Las Palmas hosted the 2nd thematic seminar of Impetus
The 2nd Interregional Thematic Seminar of the Impetus project took place in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands on 9 and 10 April 2024. The meeting was coordinated by the project partner Sagulpa - Municipal Parking Society of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and saw the presence of all project partners alongside stakeholders representing regional entities actively engaged during the current semester.
The meeting was opened by Mr. José Eduardo Ramírez Hermoso, Councillor for Mobility, Employment, and the Central District of the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, who emphasised the importance of 'developing innovative and smart urban management practices to let citizens use the spaces the municipality provides them creatively and productively'.
Afterwards, partners showcased their selected good practices centred on the theme of "Contract Models and User Agreements for Public Spaces and Buildings", currently driving the exchange of knowledge. This topic represents a challenge for many administrations at various levels and could address the way temporary uses policies may be oriented. The experiences presented in the seminar, introduced by the lead partner ANCI and led by LAMA, represent good practices to be considered on the subject.
- Huecos Urbanos, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
A specific solution for temporarily repurposing abandoned or unused marginal land for local ecological transition, recreation, and social cohesion.
- Sporta pils dārzi (Gardens of “Sports Palace”), Riga City Council.
A grassroots initiative in Riga that promotes self-organisation, resident participation in neighbourhood improvement, and the creation of a healthy, educational, and contemporary space for leisure activities.
- The regulation for the temporary uses at the Municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo, Tuscany Region.
The Municipal Decision allows temporary use of private and public unused spaces by profit and non-profit entities. It's based on citizen input from the local Operational Plan's participatory process, offering guidelines for Public Calls for projects, with a standard agreement template.
- Housing in exchange for renovation, Mazovia Region.
The programme tackles the affordable housing shortage by revitalising existing homes and encouraging resident involvement. Its goals include offering affordable housing, revitalising housing stock, empowering residents, and fostering community engagement.
- The regulation for the temporary uses related to public and private events, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
In the Canary Islands, public and private event spaces are regulated by Law 7/2001 and Decree 86/13. The City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria follows a specific manual based on this law to grant event permissions to prevent accidents, particularly in large gatherings.
- Heritage mandate: an original contract to regenerate a historic building during a temporary occupation, Métropole Européenne de Lille.
A convent abandoned by nuns in 2008 was purchased by the local authority to create a 'zero waste' hub. In 2019, a coalition won a tender for its reuse, signing an occupation contract with the city.
- Procedural requirements for establishing temporary use contracts of public spaces in Romania (Slatina Municipality), Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Development Agency.
The Local Council of Slatina has established procedures for regulating the temporary use of public spaces, outlining the process for granting usage through contracts and specifying associated taxes and costs.
Beyond the insightful presentations, project partners had the opportunity to participate in inspiring study visits where they were able to deepen their experiences at the Environmental Centre “El Pambaso”, Urban Gardens “El Lasso” and “Pino Apolinario”, Parque Litoral del Rincón (Rincón Coastal Park) and Alcaravaneras beach.