AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.04.2002, Page 32

should take the initiative in several fields to further area
development and follow through on the City Centre
District Development Plan, to coordinate and improve
city departmental services in the area. The City Centre
District Council does not implement development or
activities in the city centre of Reykjavík, but provides a
route for new ideas, change and action in the city cen-
tre, as well as gives support within the administration.
Main tashs
The City Centre District Council and the City Centre
District Manager have addressed the district’s affairs in
various ways. They have assisted city departments in
increasing the number of parking spaces, preparations
for new carparks, the renovation and improvement of
streets, beautificatin and cleaning, floodlighting of
houses, Christmas decorations, landmatk refurbishing
and many other tasks. Regular cooperation and con-
sultation has been had with the Development Society of
the City Centre District, in addition to cooperation with
other groups working in this area. Pamphlets on the city
centre were published both in 2000 and 2001. The City
Centre District Council initiated a study of land use in
the area, including the number of companies and their
employees, number of inhabitants and other relevant
information to monitor the development of the district.
In addition, surveys are regularly done to establish how
often people come to the city centre and for what pur-
pose.
All city departments are are to some extent involved
in work involving the city centre. A recent task list
showed the City Centre District Council had over 40
tasks, carried out by a great number of parties. The list
covers environmental issues, shopping and service,
development and redevelopment, planning and traffic,
and clearly states who is responsible for what task and
when. This task list indicates the comprehensive view
of the City Centre District Council and its role in both
taking the initiative and monitoring issues of the city
centre across municpal departments.
During the last few years, considerable improvement
has taken place in the city centre. Streets have been
rebuilt, buildings rehabilited, the environment of lake
Tjörn has been improved and a special emphasis has
been put on cleaning the city centre. Roads are
cleaned daily through most of the year. Cultural institu-
tions have been moved to the city centre, and it can be
seen from the number of people visiting the City Library
in Grófin that people appreciate what they find there.
Many festivities and art exhibitions are held in the city
centre; most tourists who come to Reykjavík visit this
area, and residents find an enjoyable quality of life in
the district. The previous negative discussion about this
area has now changed for the better.
Response elsewhere
As has already been pointed out, the central areas of
cities have had difficulties as their role has changed. In
Britain, these problems have been addressed in differ-
ent ways. In most cities, similar councils have been
established as a forum for cooperation between city
officials and interested parties. In most instances, coun-
cil advocates have been very active and have con-
tributed substantial capital for the activity.
The British Government has also formulated a policy
concerning their city centres. In a special chapter in this
National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG 8, revised
1998), the importance of city centres is emphasised,
stressing that the interests of central cities and district
centres should be borne in mind with all planning. To
support this, governmental policy planning authorities
are requested to adopt priority ranking supporting cen-
tral areas. If it is shown that additional shopping is nec-
essary in the area, it is first necessary to try to find a
place for this activity in the central area. If this is not
possible, the areas surrounding the central area are to
be looked at. Only if both options are not possible can
shopping development outside the central area then be
permitted. Even though developers can alter this
process show that development outside the central
area is necessary, they have to show that this develop-
ment will not be detrimental for the city centre. Different
modes of communication to the proposed area have
also to be secured and it cannot only be served by pri-
vate transport. Emphasis is placed on easy access for
pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. This empha-
sis of central government is an important support for
city centre districts.
A special fund receiving money from the national lot-
tery is used to give substantial financial support to rede-
velop and improve central areas. This has made it pos-
sible for a number of cities to undertake improvement
that otherwise could not have been possible.
Ncxt steps
A local plan for the City Centre District is now being
completed, opening up considerable opportunities.
Once this plan has been approved, it will be possible to
build and improve such areas as along Reykjavík’s
main shopping street Laugavegur. The proposals, now
in their final stages, make possible the construction of
at least 50-60,000 m2 of new floorspace in the area. To
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