Timisoara the Garden City (video) Course: Introduction to Sustainability, by Jonathan Tomkin, Ph.D.

. University of Illinois (project draft by Laura Marcu)

Introduction It was just the other days, when I was walking around the city that Ive observed the alternation between the green and the old, untidy and abandoned areas. That was the moment when I first asked myself: how would be if Timisoara were a garden city? This Western region from Romania was just a swampland in the past. Two centuries ago, it has been transformed in a city-fortress, creating by drainage the Bega channel, which currently crosses Timisoara. Once the entire town with its precise and efficient structure, the city-fortress is now only a spot around which the city grows rapidly decade after decade. Stages of urban transformation Placed close to residential and public spaces, industry will now be ever closer to the center. Directions imposed by the communist regime flagrantly ignored rules and principles of sustainable development. For years central policies canceled civic sense. The early 90 was decisive for Romania's situation of today. Political and social changes of the time made us face a desolating reality. Public and private space Timisoara perfectly illustrates the phenomena that took place throughout the country and throughout the former communist space. Decisions led to unsustainable social and economic fractures and unprofitable industries. Widespread corruption and fraudulent privatizations favored land reform. Years in a row, lands have changed owners and destinations, fragmenting and limiting public dominion. Policies of the past two decades have proposed daring goals, mobilizing unprecedented amounts. A boundless wealth promised unlimited properties, dozens of shopping malls, new neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. Housing boom ignored the community center, old and degraded, suggesting great luxury in limitrophe areas.

Isolated from the community in their own home, residents of the new neighborhoods are confortable with the idea that they have found nature, and chose a healthier environment to live in. In fact, nature is found hundreds of meters away from their concrete fences and over highways. The city center is empty! A theater dcor left without spectators! The year 2009 marks the first year of crisis for Timisoara. Segregated in crowded quarters the residents witness a dark horizon emerging. Irrational development demands its price. The city's infrastructure is overloaded, public spaces ignored completely, demolished or relocated industries expect new investors, and construction sites are shut down indefinitely. Green spaces also face regress. Around the former construction sites high fences appear, heavy odors, piles of waste and equipment lay abandoned. Nature is further every day and industrial heritage more visible than ever. There are no solutions, We dont know, We cannot are the favorite lines of the public servants. Faulty legislation and non-involvement raise barriers between the city and his former gardens. Q: How would you describe the collaboration with local authorities? A: Overall, the collaboration was difficult due to lack of interest from the authorities. Even if our projects solved or at least improved some local issues, they were met with reluctance and fear that they would generate extra work for the city Hall representatives. However, when it came to small tasks that did not require approval (like a small logistical support for an event already approved), the cooperation was better. Raul Pop - Program Manager, ECOTECA Association http://www.ecoteca.ro/

Communion After 4 years, a society in transition should understand that efficient management of resources can ensure sustainable development. We need changes, positive examples to provide community increasingly important role in local decisions. Modest but encouraging results open the way for major action. Community can now discover that the well drawn common direction, ensure continuity across political, economical and social boundaries. Permaculture @ Waldorf Preschool (http://timisoara.intranzitie.org/2012/10/22/permacultura-la-gradinitawaldorf/)

Q: Please tell me how you got the idea for this project and what were the steps you followed? A: The idea of creating a layer of vegetables in the garden using permaculture techniques in Waldorf preschool was not mine, but a friends of us, because she wanted that her daughter and other children would learn about growing crops and collect them right from the garden. Waldorf Preschool has a generous back yard where gardening activities have already been performed. In addition they have a curriculum that encourages such activities. Because it was autumn and the parks were prepared for the fall cleanup, the park caregivers gave us for free, leaves and wood chips. Used carton packages were obtained from a nearby supermarket. The design of the garden has been adapted in the process and the job was easy, because all those involved were very active, the weather was good and everybody wanted to know about the technique used (sheetmulching, a no dig planting technique). Fortunately, the school is equipped with gardening tools, so everybody participated and at the end all left energized and excited about the event in which they took part. Irina Tomici Member of the informal group: Timisoara in Transition http://timisoara.intranzitie.org/

With common goals, by rebuildig the spirit of belonging, we can (re)activate social responsibility. In the past Timisoara was nicknamed as the city of flowers. Even though the percentage of the city parks is reasonable these spaces are still isolated by high traffic streets, most are unkempt or surrounded by heavily damaged areas. Behind secular trees we can see concrete fences and abandoned buildings. We need continuity and identity. Timisoara the city of gardens would then mean more than a slogan, more than a legacy; it would be a testament for future generations. Sustainable Development The garden city is not a new concept: The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom.

Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" (parks), containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and agriculture. (Wikipedia). Today we can find worldwide projects that use various interpretations of this concept and are ment to ensure efficiency and sustainability. Conclusions and Forecasts With the project Timisoara the Garden City, urban space becomes the common that is used sustainably in an innovative way. The abandoned former industrial areas and the barren parks can now become gardens. Here, the city residents can develop joint projects that could take full advantage of the available space, also contributing to social integration and in educating people about environment and sustainability. Financing For almost any good that is purchased a green tax is perceived. Such goods are for example electronic equipment and the reason for this tax is to charge the negative externality they produce, for example carbon dioxide emissions. The city management could then agree to finance on the account of these taxes a pilot project for a community garden that would be created on a public domain. Rethinking and rearranging an existing park, volunteers, green groups, NGOs or schools can involve in activities that eventually would lead to the formation of a community garden. Goods obtained by use of ecological resources implying renewable energy practices could be used by those who took part in the activity, or could be sold and the revenues partly reinvested in the future projects, partly distributed to the participants. Construction sites that are abandoned could also be eligible for these activities: city management could reduce or cut taxes paid by the owners on the condition that for a determined period the land would be adapted to a community garden. This may be the reverse of Pigovian tax, perceived to reduce negative externalities, only now the intention is to encourrage positive externalities. Careful planning and policies have to be developed in any of the cases so that the project could be rewarding. Perhaps the city management gives up for the moment a small amount of value, but on the long run, the project will eventually trigger economic growth in the areas that are involved in the project, as well as rise in the well-being of the society. This will stimulate the residents to discover the nature within the city, instead of searching for it in the extremities. As demand rises, land value also will rise. More green areas used sustainably will have a positive impact on preserving the intrinsic value of the environment, by reducing carbon footprint. Last, but not least, will awaken the sense of belonging to the community.

By successfully implementing such projects, Timisoara would be closer to become eligible for the title of European Cultural Capital as this is one of the goals expressed by the community and the mayor himself. Things apparently are already moving in the right direction Q1: Estate speculation and economic interests have left cities with demolished areas and gray spaces on the maps. How do citizens deal with the eternaly abandoned construction sites from within the cities? A: As you pass daily by those areas, you tend to ignore them. Eventually they became part of the landscape. The times of the real estate boom, when construction sites opened one after another has passed and now the stray dogs are the only ones who seem to enjoy the residential project, because that is where they found shelter. Q2: The low quality of public spaces (parks, gardens, and recreational areas) leads some citizens to disregard these places. The fact of rethinking them could determine the residents to reconsider the value of common assets? A: Certainly yes. Because setting examples leads to feedback. If people see that authorities give their best and that there is interest for these green spaces and recreational areas, the involvment would be considerable. Once, it was the city of flowers, precisely because of the large number of well maintained parks, but now Timisoara is breathing a dusty air. Green spaces have become gray and everyone misses them. So, if the responsible agencies should take measures, certainly the citizens would appreciate the benefits. Q3: In recent years, there has been an exodus to outlying areas of the cities, were they developed the so-called neighborhoods of villas and residential areas. Do you think people found the nature and harmony they were seeking? A: Probably not the nature they were searching for. After all, we are considering the peripheral areas of the cities, perhaps near a European road, and not a home built on the outskirts of a forest, for example. Q4: Our desire is that by managing these urban gardens, people living in the surrounding areas and not only would actively participate in building projects. What advantages could such actions bring from a social point of view? A: I will give you an example: the residents of a nearby village Gottlob. Following the German model, they take care of their gardens

almost as if they were a family member. They planted tens of geraniums and petunias and they settled among them colorful garden figurines brought from abroad. Local authorities encourage everybody in this action and once a year reward the most beautiful garden. After each prize award households are ready to take over again and plant facts taken as good example by those who are too busy caring more about what happens outside their own yards. Perhaps, this recipe might be applied in big cities too, and some of the main benefits would be empowerment and involvement of citizens. Iulia Pop TV Presenter and editor at Digi24 Timisoara http://www.digi24.ro/