Lecture series of the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning “Our Common Ground”
Dr Brigitta Gerber/Klaus Hubmann: “The Rights to Land through participatory instruments”
Tuesday, November 5th, 12:30-14:00h, MSH BlackBox
Basel-Stadt, the geographically small canton of Switzerland, is the economic centre of a booming region with large pharmaceutical companies. Due to its location on the borders with Germany and France as well as the neighbouring district of “Baselland”, the area suitable for construction is limited and almost exhausted. In addition to industrial and commercial space and areas for urban tasks, the city needs more affordable housing. The economic pressure on the land has also risen sharply in recent years due to high level of investor activity (pension funds, investment funds).
How can a region, a canton react in this situation? Based on three current examples, we outline the democratic possibilities:
Stiftung Habitat: A non-profit foundation that secures land through its investments. Available and affordable housing will be developed by focusing on the future residents and their environment;
“Neue Bodeninitiative” (New Soil Initiative): a popular cantonal initiative (successfully adopted in 2016) that stopped the sale of land in the canton’s assets;
“Basel baut Zukunft” (Basel builds the future: A popular cantonal initiative (just launched), which also wants a stipulated proportion of cheap/non-profit living space in investor projects, in the case of re-zoning.
The politician and co-editor of «Boden behalten – Stadt behalten», Dr Brigitta Gerber and the managing director of the Stiftung Habitat, Klaus Hubmann, will explain the situation of the canton of Basel-Stadt in Switzerland and discuss the possibilities and manipulations.