Interior Ministry forms Urban Affairs Advisory Board
The Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced the formation of an "Innenstadt" advisory board, aiming to address the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic on inner cities across Germany. This strategic initiative will focus on creating resilient city centers over the next eight to ten months.
The advisory board will comprise representatives from various sectors, including trade and real estate associations, the catering industry, municipal associations, federal ministries, and academic experts in economic geography and retail marketing. Notable members include Dr. Sina Hardaker and Dr. Alexandra Appel, who have been researching and presenting on retail resilience and city center recovery strategies during the pandemic.
The primary objectives of the "Innenstadt" strategy are to build resilience in retail and regional economic sectors, foster adaptability during crises, promote digital platforms in retail, and enhance regional resilience in cities like Würzburg. The strategy also emphasizes mobility and digitalization in inner cities, as well as tackling topics such as temporary solutions, immediate measures, vacancy management, new forms of participation, and strategies for dealing with new working environments (Industry 4.0).
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) highlighted the potential transformative impact of the pandemic on cities, stating that it will change the face of our cities and that the expected changes will have significant impacts on the vibrancy and functionality of our inner cities.
The "Innenstadt" advisory board's efforts signify collaboration between academia, regional policymakers, and retail stakeholders to build resilient city centers post-pandemic. However, further information regarding the full roster of advisory board members was not found in the search results.
This initiative represents a proactive approach to urban development, aiming to turn the pandemic challenge into an opportunity for sustainable city center development.
The "Innenstadt" advisory board's work involves collaboration with academia, regional policymakers, and retail stakeholders to formulate a policy-and-legislation approach towards building resilient city centers, as part of the policy-and-legislation sector in politics. The board's objectives, such as promoting digital platforms in retail and tackling topics like vacancy management, fall under the general-news umbrella, particularly focusing on the general-news topic of urban development.
