Urban Planning Crisis Headquarters is our organization’s service that supports citizens seeking to engage in urban development processes. This year, residents of New Belgrade’s blocks 61-64, organized as “Our Block,” requested our assistance in response to a new urban plan proposing significant reductions in green space in favor of commercial construction. Excluded from decision-making, the community opposed this proposal. Together, we organized a workshop to inform and empower them on their rights, participation in official channels, and critical analysis of the plan. We regularly hold tailored workshops like these, designed to meet specific community needs.
The primary beneficiaries of this initiative are residents of New Belgrade’s blocks 61, 62, 63, and 64, who are directly impacted by the proposed urban plan. We collaborated closely with their self-organized group, “Our Block,” at every stage of the process. “Our Block” served as our key partner in achieving these outcomes.
This workshop was conducted alongside the early public insight phase of the urban plan, which represents the initial stage of formal public participation. It equipped citizens with essential knowledge regarding planning procedures, the nuances and limitations of formal public participation, and opportunities for engagement. Participants learned to read and analyze planning documentation, draft official objections to the proposed plan, and organize and mobilize their community. These resources and tools will be instrumental as the urban plan development progresses.
The local group will continue to inform their neighbors about the potential negative impacts of the plan while fostering community cohesion. This workshop has strengthened trust and partnership between our organization and the community, and we are committed to ongoing collaboration throughout the remainder of this planning process.
The determination of the residents of New Belgrade’s blocks 61, 62, 63, and 64 is unwavering. As one citizen expressed, “Our fight does not stop here! The institutions have heard our voice, but that is not the end. We are the ones who will decide what our living space will look like.” Another resident passionately stated, “You will not build, you must plant! This is our block, our green zone, our life. New Belgrade is a symbol of a different urbanism, thoughtful planning, and collective life.” These statements reflect the community’s commitment to preserving their environment and shaping their urban landscape for the better.
