4.2 Selection Criteria

According to the climate projections described in CCAAPT, the precipitation regime is expected to be more intense. The temperature projections as well are not so promising, as it is expected a rise of air temperatures and an increasing number of hot days. Based on these indicators, the CCAAPT has developed a Vulnerability Assessment Plan, which has pointed out areas in the city that are expected to be more vulnerable towards heat waves, droughts and flooding in the future. Three of these spots are included in the focus area. For instance, the area around the Palace of Culture is expected to be more sensitive toward flooding events, Mother Theresa Square and the area around Elbasani Street are predicted to experience more heat waves and droughts (Municipality of Tirana, 2015).

On the other hand, there are cases where the flooding is not so much attributed to the intensity of precipitation, rather to the poor performance of the sewage system, even during normal rain events. The intersection between ‘Deshmoret e Kombit’ and ‘Gjergj Fishta’ Boulevard is in particular sensitive when the main collector of this artery has a blockage and fails to perform properly. The pocket parks in residential blocks and the street inside the focus area are exposed to pluvial flooding as well. In such cases, especially vulnerable are the shops located in the underground level of the buildings (Shqiptarja.com, 2018).

The proposed focus area has all the likelihood of becoming a frontrunner on the implementation of WSUD. Being the most frequented district of the city, with a central location easily from different parts of the city, this area has a reputation for setting trends when it comes to the public life in the city. In such cases, the WSUD implementation can be an indicator for promoting healthier communities. Furthermore, the Bllok district is especially visited by tourists. Improving the quality of public life and space through WSUD implementation would transform the district into an even more attractive touristic spot in the city.

The focus area has potential on increasing the quality of public space, improving the mobility network, becoming more pedestrian friendly, eliminating the flooding events, and offering a better quality of life to its residents and the inhabitants of Tirana. On different levels, all these issues can be addressed at the same time by WSUD.

Figure 44 | Orthophoto of Focus Area Source: ASIG, 2018

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