Local Stakeholder Meeting #2 – City of Ghent
On 19 February 2025, the City of Ghent organised its second stakeholder group meeting at the ‘Balenmagazijn’ in the Bloemekenswijk neighbourhood. This old textile production building is located in the city's 19th-century belt and was transformed in the urban renewal project ‘Het Getouw’. Twenty-one people participated in the meeting. These came from various (social and spatially oriented) city departments as well as the local social housing company, local non-profit organisations (Natuurpunt Gent, Gents Milieufront, Breekijzer) and various research institutions (Ugent, Hogent - ECOCITY, INBO).
In the morning, participants brainstormed on various issues regarding ‘socially just’ greening and in the afternoon, there was a walk though the Rabot-Blaisantvest neighbourhood, better known as ‘het Rabot’. Het Rabot is Ghent's second smallest but most densely populated and diverse neighbourhood with mostly lower income households. The first urban renewal project in Ghent started in this neighbourhood in 2005 and it has undergone a thorough metamorphosis over the past 20 years containing many greening projects some of which are still in development. The attendees visited 7 different places in the neighbourhood and looked at different aspects of ‘socially just’ greening.
Vulnerable target groups
The meeting focused on several elements. First of all, the conversation focused on which target groups are considered vulnerable. The elderly, children and young people (under 18), people with lower incomes and people with a migrant background were considered key target groups for the city of Ghent. Also people with impaired physical or mental health were explicitly mentioned. Greenery in the neighbourhood can have a major positive effect on health for these groups. Furthermore single people in need of more social contact and tenants without the mandate to start greening themselves.
Participants pointed out that besides vulnerable groups, also groups who (in various ways) have more capacity to contribute to the greening of our city and students need to be targeted. Students specifically are a group of about 80,000 people in Ghent that lives scattered across the city. Although a group that is often associated with nuisance, it'd also a group prone to stress and mental problems. Finally, the issue of ‘green gentrification’ was raised. The process that makes living in the city more expensive, in part because of the greening of the city. Afforable housing becomes more and more scarce forcing the vulnerable target groups to move away , changing the population composition of the neighbourhood.
Engagement and participation
Although it's not easy to involve vulnerable target groups in greening projects, a lot of city services and non-profit organisations are already in direct contact with citizens. When conducting participation processes, it's relevant to better map the information that is already available, and then look for missing information in a targeted way. We want to involve everyone in participation processes, not only the people that we easily connect with. Reflecting on the current participation process is necessary. All target groups should be given an equal voice. Another important focus is about the usage of public areas and how to incorporate that into the design process. This can be a very valuable addition to active interaction with citizens.
Short-term needs and wants vs generational justice
Greening with a long-term focus that takes the predicted effects of climate change into account may lead to conflicts with existing short-term wants and needs. This might obstruct a sustainable climate-robust and future-oriented green design, with a potentially large impact on vulnerable target groups. During the stakeholder meeting it was agreed upon that distinguishing between the real needs of vulnerable target groups (need-to-haves) and the wishes (nice-to-haves) of the more advantaged and empowered population groups in participation processes is very important. For example, low-income people living in small houses without garden or terrace and who can't afford the luxury of going on a holiday in summer are more dependend on the park nearby. Creating a big importance of the parc during hot days. More consideration of the needs of these vulnerable people is necessary in the of these parks.
Opportunities for cooperation
Many valuable experiences and knowledge were exchanged during this stakeholder meeting. The group collectively concluded that increased cooperation among attendees is already an improved approach to social-justice greening. The barrier effect of departmental and organisational silos seemed to fade completely at this consultation.