BACkground

The Municipality has prepared a human-centered urban development strategy for 2050, which builds on existing physical and social structures, proposes the use of participatory methods and innovative solutions and has sustainability as one of its primary goals. As well as having a separate responsible center for the implementation of the SDG’s, it is experimenting with different techniques for citizen engagement (Trondheim Municipality, 2019). This, in accordance with the vision of the United Nations, envisage cities that are participatory, promoting civic engagement and engender a sense of belonging and ownership among all inhabitants (United Nations, 2017).

The Municipality of Trondheim assumed responsibility for the area of Østmarka 2017 next to the psychiatric department of the St. Olavs Hospital. Only a few years ago the housing of Østmarka was part of the hospital itself and even earlier it used to be a civic neighbourhood. The site has an area size of 12,000 m2 and 10 empty buildings on it in total. The buildings are heated and supplied with electricity as well as water (Fargemarka Boligprosjekt, 2020). The 48 apartments and two commercial buildings on the site have been empty for approximately two years by 2020, waiting to be masterplanned and redeveloped. Meetings with the Municipality suggest that the area will be under development for the next 10-

20 years. It is expected that it will take 1-2 years before the Municipality will decide on a plan for the area, which will then be presented to the politicians, extending the process even longer (Eierskapsenheten, 2020). Therefore the buildings are likely to stay empty for at least a couple of years more. The site is located on a valued open green area, which is valued by local residents. A map of the area is provided in Figure 6.