Garden Cities Revisted

The historic inner city of Amsterdam is surrounded by the Ring highway that  seperates the city built before World War II from more recent developments such as the Western Garden Cities. These were built as part of  the General Extension Plan designed by Cornelis Van Eesteren, one of the most prominent Dutch urban planners of the 20th century. The Western Garden Cities are home to about 130,000 residents. Most of the 45,000 units of housing –typically walk-up apartment buildings -- were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Over two-thirds of the housing stock is made up of affordable rentals, owned and managed by nonprofit housing corporations. The housing is generally in good condition, but the apartements are small, 646 sq ft or less. The area is governed by the city boroughs of  Bos & Lommer, Geuzenveld-Slotermeer, Osdorp and Slotervaart-Overtoomse Veld.

In 1994 the city of Amsterdam introduced plans for the renewal of the Western Garden Cities. To develop a comprehensive approach suitable for urban renewal on such a large scale, the city designated three case study areas. The subsequent redevelopment of these two neighborhoods, has since served as a model for renewal of postwar neighborhoods throughout the Netherlands.

In 2000 the city approved a comprehensive 15-year plan for the renewal of the Western Garden Cities involving the demolition of 13,000 units of substandard housing and the construction of 24,000 units of new housing. To accomodate the additional units of housing, the plan also calls for intensifying the use of urban space, and the replacment of small rental apartements with a diverse mix of rentals and housing for sale, both affordable and market rate.

ZUIDWEST KWADRANT
Almost all 1,800 apartments in the Zuidwest Kwadrant  (Southwest Quadrant) are owned and managed by eight nonprofit housing corporations. This affordable rental housing was built in the 1960s to accomodate working class families. The neighborhood was designated by the city in 1994 to serve as a model for the renewal of the Western Garden Cities. more >>

BUURT NEGEN
Buurt Negen (Neighborhood Nine) is a grouping of 1,600 units of housing in Geuzenveld in the Western Garden Cities of Amsterdam. The housing is primarily owned and managed by three of the largest nonprofit housing corporations and leading developers of affordable housing in the Amsterdam. In 1995 the neighborhood was designated as an individual case study for the comprehensive renewal of the Western Garden Cities. more >>

LINKS:
www.parkstadamsterdam.nl