An Evaluation of Stadtumbau Ost Program (Dismantling Prefabricated Housing Measure)

A Case Study of Sachsendor Madlow, Cottbus

Abstract

German Federal Government had enacted "Stadtumbau Ost Program" from 2002 to 2016 to combat issues that were associated with population shrinking in former East German cities. The program had several measures in its menu. This study focuses on one of these measures, dismantling of prefabricated housing, to understand how local government prepared the plan for shrinking, which was required to get the program's fund, and how the plan was actually implemented. The study surveyed all the dismantling building inventories in Sachesndorf-Madlow in Cottbus. The study found that there were some disparities between the plan and its implication. The disparities were mainly due to the difference of behavior of housing companies regarding obediency to the plan. The result of the study implies that the shrinking plan of Cottbus was lucid, however, actual shrinking plan needs more detailed planning with collaboration with stakeholders, i.e. housing companies.