IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities

Abstract

This paper is a case study of the Norwegian city of Trondheim, where the municipality has a city center strategy aimed at increasing the population of residents and workers in the city center. There has long been a tendency for families with children to move from the city center right before the children start school. Families, through their children, often develop a relation to the local community which also benefits other residents. Semi-structured interviews with families with school children living in the city center indicate that the central neighborhoods have many qualities, but also several challenges. Among them is the extensive number of students compared to more permanent residents, creating a perception of an unstable neighborhood. There is further a tendency of studentification of the central areas, making it difficult for families to find suitable and affordable housing. Developing socially inclusive cities and neighborhoods requires commitment and action from diverse stakeholders over a long period of time. Based on in-depth interviews with planning and building authorities, developers, and architects, we explore different planning tools, approaches and measures that can strengthen the family perspective in the work of developing better residential environments in the city. Our findings suggest that the municipality, through its land use plans, can play a stronger role in ensuring that physical environments in central areas are designed for a varied population. We recommend strengthening and further developing the existing areas in the city center where families with children live today.