Dicussion with the sociologists Andrej Holm, Berlin and Isabel Burtscher, Graz

Thursday, May 7 2009, 7 p.m.

Photos of the discussion

< rotor >
Volksgartenstraße 6a
8020 Graz

"Gentrification" is the systematic upgrading of urban districts or neighbourhoods that have become unprofitable for investors. Rising rental rates are followed by financially strong new tenants and thus we accept that the existing residents of the neighbourhood are displaced to cheap(er) housing developments on the outskirts. For the most part it is older people and migrants who are most severely affected by the reorganization measures.
Along the Graz Lend- and Grieskai – and probably soon in the Annenstraße too – a similar development is already underway – new buildings in cheap neighbourhoods, reorganization and standardization of the streets. But upgrading urban districts and making them more attractive for businesses, investors and tourists always has a downside: eviction.

Based on a research study a group of Graz-based sociologists shows how “Gentrification light” has been carried out so far in the so called Mariahilferviertel and discusses which consequences this might have for the further development of the Graz districts of Lend and Gries. Andrej Holm, researcher at the Humbold University Berlin and activist, explains what gentrification means for us and tells us of his experiences during the campaign "Wir bleiben alle!" (We all stay!) in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin.

Organized by Projekt A-Z – Initiative für ein autonomes soziales Zentrum in cooperation with < rotor >.

Part of the < rotor > series “The Art of Urban Intervention“, which deals with the situation and the developments in the Graz Annenviertel.

NOTE:
Andrej Holm also takes part in the symposium LOKAL HEROES - WOHNEN in the frame of the independent district festival Lendwirbel.
Fri, May 8th, 2009, 15:00 – 20:30
www.lendwirbel.at

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