Gasborn & Suermondt Quarter (center)

In order to identify the needs of different groups and develop appropriate planning proposals, it was necessary to use intensive and new methods of public participation. A survey campaign with questionnaires, a blog on the City of Aachen's website and district walks were used for initial assessments and orientation. This was followed by a future café, walks with primary school children and a public information event. Due to favorable circumstances, a research project of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development with the association "Jugend-Architektur-Stadt" (JAS e.V.) on the topic of young people in urban districts could be integrated at the same time as the framework planning. The theme of the Aachen part was "Give the city your face". (Information on the survey, information on "Give the city your face")

This reached groups that would hardly attend any of the usual public participation events. The young people in particular gave the planners from the administration and the commissioned offices a sharper view of what makes a good place. However, they also pointed out the places that are "panne" in youth parlance.

The public participation event impressively highlighted two problem areas that are of particular concern to the local population:

1. Fears and concerns about the upcoming changes caused by the "Aquis Plaza" (formerly "Kaiserplatzgalerie"). Uncertainty as to what will take its place if the very large-scale project fails.

2. The burden placed on the neighborhoods around Kaiserplatz by the concentration of drug addicts and the red-light district.

A third issue has now been "settled". This is because the triple gymnasium originally planned in Richardstrasse will not be realized. Instead, the play and green area on Richardstrasse is to be redesigned as the "Suermondtpark" and will therefore be available as a green and open space for residents and visitors in the long term.

The design and possible uses of the public space are at the heart of this urban planning framework. Through public participation, it soon became apparent that a local mobility concept, which integrates the interests of all modes of transport with special consideration of the movement and recreational needs of pedestrians, can identify areas for action.

The integrated action plan "Framework planning Gasborn and Suermondtviertel" is intended to be added to the City of Aachen's list of priorities and funding for urban development at a later date. However, the largest urban development deficits are to be eliminated in a first step with a "short-term program of measures".
The first priority area for action, in which interventions are already to take place in the "immediate measures program", is the "Suermondt-Gasborn Promenade" and its immediate surroundings.

Several measures were adopted by the planning committee in September 2010 and implemented from 2011 to 2014.

With the "Lights on" campaign on November 28, 2012 on the so-called "Suermondt-Gasborn-Promenade", the new lights went on at the "Harscampplätzchen" just in time for the start of the dark season. The dark corners of the square have disappeared and the illumination of the large trees makes the square visible even in the dark. Most of the measures in the program have now been implemented.

New benches have been installed along Harscampstrasse, inviting people to rest and linger. Suermondtplatz can now also be crossed from Wespienstraße, which has become very popular. Pruning of the green areas has opened up the view of the surrounding area. This has significantly improved the quality of the public space.

The measures listed below have also helped to improve the quality of life and the quality of stay in the neighborhood:

• the new recreation area in front of the Marienschule with bench, litter bin and bicycle racks,
• Enlargement of the pedestrian area at the junction of Harscampstrasse / Gottfriedstrasse with improved crossing options for pedestrians and renovation of the tree bed,
• the renovation of the small square at the junction of Harscampstraße and Schildstraße with the removal of the unkempt grass bed and the new bench surface,
• the upgrading of the "Harscampplätzchen" with new benches and replacement of the play equipment, widening of the pathway and maintenance measures for the green areas as well as the new lighting mentioned above,
• the pruning of the trees and the new benches at Synagogenplatz,
• and the maintenance of the tree bed and the new bicycle racks in front of the city library.

In the Gasborn and Suermondt districts, for example, EUR 50,000 was spent over a period of three years on "small measures" to improve quality of life and safety.

As part of the "across the borders" cultural program in 2011, visitors were able to get to know the district better. In three urban morphological walks [in the evening and during the day] with the architects Markus Ulrich and Joachim Schmidt - archigraphus office - the urban space was playfully alienated as part of a small focusing art action: colorful ladders changed their location, light accents traced past spaces in the twilight, the unfamiliar was explored and the hidden was discovered. Together with the pictures from the art project, the history of the Suermondt district's development will be published in a small reader that can also be downloaded from the Internet.

One component of active citizen participation in the development of the Gasborn and Suermondtviertel master plan was an information flyer. In addition to information on opportunities for participation, residents and tradespeople in the district were surveyed.

The survey asked about satisfaction with the neighborhood, the relationship to the neighborhood, the quality of the services and facilities, what is used and the naming of problem locations.

Around 2000 flyers were distributed nationwide and the questions could also be answered online. 85 responses were evaluated.

The results of the survey serve as an initial orientation as part of the status analysis and were presented on site at the Future Coffee on March 3, 2009 in the Beekstraße elementary school.

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