The Urban Reform of The Historical Center of Huesca: Toward New Initiatives of the Citizens for Intervention

Abstract

Since the sixties of the past century the historical urban center of Huesca has been
suffering a population loss and a serious urban, heritage and socioeconomic degradation due
to the city expansion towards new residential neighborhoods with more facilities and services.
Its designation as Historical Site in 1971 seems the initial step towards its recovery. Since then,
several urban planning tools have been launched by the public administration in order to
address such problems. However, the results have always been neither those planned nor
those expected.
The main aim of this article is to review the process of urban deterioration and assessment
urban, social and economic impacts produced by those plans undertaken in the historic center
of Huesca during the last two decades. The method of qualitative character follows the sequence
of an impact assessment process. In parallel, Re-GEN Huesca is presented, which is an initiative
inspired in the results obtained from this investigation, as a reaction to some functional,
aesthetic and health deficits affecting residual spaces. Its objective is to develop an Intervention
Plan to manage vacant lots under the principles of the minimal investment and the maximum
participation.