The “Equitable City” plan focuses on the development of cities in the periphery on a number of levels: reducing social gaps, increasing residential demand, and encouraging urban growth, together with the creation of a platform for realizing the image of a prosperous future. All these will be a magnet that will attract new and diverse populations and will strengthen existing populations.
The “Equitable City” plan – acceleration of equality processes and growth of the cities in the periphery
The “development towns” in the Negev and Galilee represent a meeting place for most of the inequality issues in Israel. They are perceived as less attractive, lacking in urban diversity, and are in many aspects far from realizing their potential.
Demographic forecasts for the next 30 years indicate the expected growth of the Israeli population to approximately 17 million residents in 2048. The expected growth of the population will dictate necessary changes in the perception and behavior patterns of the development in Israel and its transformation from a country with a distinct center and periphery to a country with three population centers –the Negev, the Galilee and the center of the country. In this view, there is tremendous importance to the growth of the development towns in the current periphery and their ability to provide a holistic and attractive response to the existing residents, and to those who will be added over the next few years.
Components of the “Equitable City” Program
- Local mapping and drafting of an urban growth plan – based on the study and analysis of the city’s unique assets and the surrounding area, and in cooperation with all relevant bodies, an urban growth plan will be formulated which include a map of future urban development, an urban business plan, a perception program for renewal, and a growth target plan.
- Developing existing neighborhoods – creating value in the existing neighborhoods to reduce the social gap of future neighborhoods, social and communal empowerment, and establishing a multi-systemic platform for community activities.
- Local identity and pride – Strengthening the feeling of partnership and responsibility of existing and new residents by including the public and active bodies in the city in the urban growth processes (“collective impact”).
- “Impact Groups” – promoting local entrepreneurship and development of the employment of the future through Impact Groups which will relocate in the city and will lead to initiatives with considerable impact in the business or social sphere in the city. The process will include locating and recruiting the impact groups, accompaniment, help in finding housing solutions, and support in establishing the initiative.
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