DURRËS, KËNETA (SWAMP) FIELD TRIP

Now-days called as "New Durrës" is located between the historic city and the coast side of the city.

DICTIONARY ON INFORMAL AREAS IN ALBANIA

INFORMAL AREAS are homogenous legal statement of settlements and neighborhoods defined as 'informal areas'. In 2016 are reported by law to be 277 informal for a total of 7411 ha spread around the big cities such as Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër etc, including more than 300.000 families.

For more details on 'infomal areas' and their legal status see law. 9482 (03.4.2006). article nr.13.

A.L.U.I.Z.N.I is the acronym of Agjensia e Legalizimeve, Urbanizimit, Integrimit të Zonave Informale.

A national program aiming the public capacity to the tax collection from informal areas in order to reward the old landowners before the and after the dictatorship. (for more information see albanian history after WWII).

SELF DECLARATIONS are statements that the householders makes in authorized public institutions by sending pictures of the building and a declaration about the neighboring settlements or landmarks, such as streets, open water canals etc).

COUNCIL OF MINISTRIESit is made by members of ministries and the prime minister, which by proposal of lower public institutions approves the 'Informal Areas'. From 2006 to 2014 it was on the decision of the local municipality council.

V.K.M acronym of a Decision taken by the Council of Ministries, usually it is related to the each specific 'informal areas', it defines the perimeter and the number of settlements included, by law more than 5 ha.

NATIONAL TERRITORY COUNCIL or K.K.T is made representative of five ministries: Environment, Transport, Urban Planning, Energy and Finance.

POLICY STAGES

EARLY PHASE (2006)

Although the first Urban Agenda on Legalization was published on 2004 it really took place in the public administration 2 years after with many changes on it but maintaining the interconnection with the other planning instruments and regulations, such is the first phase for the legalization urbanization and integration agenda.

According to law 9482 (03.4.2006). article nr.13. it was designed to be developed in different phases;

1. stop further informal settlements (Ligji 8378, 22.07.1998).

2. Start tax collection by the municipalities.

3. Invest on Urbanization.

4. Invest on facilities and services.

This last process has never begun, if not on indirect way.

One of the hypothesis on 'why the informal practices in housing sector continues' is the loss of effectiveness of the Urban Agenda to direct the last two phases. Instead phase number two has started immediately with partial objectives increasing the densification and total housing stock.

NOWDAYS - (from 2014)

Planning model and approach has passed from an incremental approach to synoptic rational planning.

A.L.U.I.Z.N.I knows 'how', 'where' for 'what' and all of them are applied at the same time for all the informal settlements. This invariable approach has cancelled the ability to address local priorities in order to legalize and consequently urbanize (infrastructure etc.) and integrate.

A.L.U.Z.N.I agency is not only a gatekeeper in this process but also a filter - that means the key role in information and direct-consulting with the inhabitants.

This dualistic process, filter-gatekeeper, has generated a general distrust or encouragement for further informal settlements.

Among multiple roles that this regional agency has is also the director - to guarantee the continuing process of permissions from lower public administration to the national level. This long process of confirmations doesn't make this agency the last 'station' for the legalization process, but the first. Municipal taxes and the registration to the cadastral office are the next public authorities that inhabitants should face. An inverted process is need, in order to facilitate the process.

It remains an open question, on the political resources that the public actors have, on 'who's responsibility?'.

Some hindering factors on the Legalization process stand on:

  • Property and Land Conflicts
  • Hazardous and Under Transformation Areas.
  • Building out of standards.
  • No economic resources.

All factors related strictly to the long process that holds a series of processes to legalization, urbanization and integration on the hole informal area.

UTILITY OF THE URBAN AGENDA ON LEGALIZATION, URBANIZATION AND INTEGRATION

Some of the questions that rises from the utility are related to the 'general problem' and to the outcomes and incomes - so to the ability of the program to solve the designed problem from the promoter of the program.

The land consumption defined as outputs has created not only problems related to the territorial planning but also to

(1) the financial or physical recompense of the old land owners expropriated during the 50 years of communist regime in Albania, from WWII to the '90.

An another critical issue rises from the building and housing sector and it's real estate market 'harmed' inside the city. Informal practices in housing are usual and are part also of the city, increasing the densification.

(2) In same neighborhood we can find find legalized and informal settlements as well - seeing that the 'informal area' has withdraw from the existing as un exclusive tool to manage informal practices where the local municipalities in charge with.

(3) Increase the public expenditure on public transport and waste management for the New born municipalities.

On this consideration I can conclude that there's a stronger need to see the legalization process as a comprehensive approach, by considering it's opportunities to solve others, rather than e continue bureaucratic process on public administration, and integration not as a residual process from the tax incomes - that might come from the legalization fee or other forms.

TIRANA ENHR2017 CONFERENCE | FIELD TRIPS - LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

PhD. Artan Kacani - Urban Planner and Policy Design.

Lecturer at POLIS University in Urban Geography and Regional Planning