In December 2009, the Aachen-Nord district was included in the “Social City” funding program. The program was originally scheduled to run for ten years, divided into two funding phases: 2010–2014/5 and 2014/5–2019. With the 9th funding phase, an application was submitted to extend the second funding phase until the end of 2021. The implementation period for projects not yet completed ended in December 2024. In total, a total of approximately 23 million euros was invested in numerous initiatives and projects by the end of 2024.
In December 2009, the Aachen-Nord district was included in the “Social City” funding program. The program was originally scheduled to run for ten years, divided into two funding phases: 2010–2014/5 and 2014/5–2019. With the 9th funding phase, an application was submitted to extend the second funding phase until the end of 2021. The implementation period for projects not yet completed ended in December 2024. In total, a total of approximately 23 million euros was invested in numerous initiatives and projects by the end of 2024.
After twelve years of the “Social City Aachen-Nord” initiative, it was therefore time to take stock. The basis for this is the evaluation of the overall project, which was conducted both as a participatory and cooperative process accompanying the project’s implementation and as an ex post evaluation of projects that were either ongoing or already completed. The overall evaluation, including the sustainability plan, was awarded to Stadt- und Regionalplanung Dr. Jansen GmbH in Cologne at the end of April 2020. The firm had already collaborated on the update of the Integrated Urban Development Concept for Aachen-Nord, so it was familiar with the structures and the neighborhood from previous work. The steering committee, key stakeholders, and political representatives from the various parliamentary groups were involved in the process from an early stage.
City of Aachen
The overall evaluation is divided into three parts. First, it looks back at the project’s beginnings. It reviews what has been achieved and summarizes the diverse projects and measures implemented in Aachen-Nord. Finally, the sustainability concept presents the future action plan, which includes recommendations on how to sustainably secure and effectively continue the achievements to date and how to permanently embed the structures that have been established. To gather as broad a range of opinions as possible on the funding program, the evaluation office conducted various participatory formats during the evaluation period. The process began with the involvement of the steering group in July 2020. This was followed by standardized surveys of residents and passersby, in-depth interviews with stakeholders from Aachen-Nord, and a policy workshop in February 2021. The result is a dynamic documentation of the process.
On September 4, 2021, the conclusion of the grant program was celebrated with all participants, neighborhood residents, and invited guests through a colorful program centered around DEPOT and in LuFo Park under the motto “The Sun Rises in the North.” As a highlight of the big celebration, all visitors were able to ride a nostalgic tourist train back and forth between the two venues—LuFo Park and DEPOT—and enjoy the many attractions in bright sunshine.