Networks and cities' news

Making every step count: Last-Mile Logistics for City Centres

According to Laetitita Dablanc, Director of the Gustave Eiffel University Logistics City Chair, “city logistics represents more than the mere transportation of goods within urban areas. It can be defined as any service provision contributing to efficiently managing the movements of goods in cities and providing innovative responses to customer demands (City Logistics).

Sharing and strengthening our good practices– summary of our third Quarterly Network Report

After one year of network activity, through meetings and dedicated workshops, we have explored the management of complexity,
gentrification, adaptation to climate change, new supply models and the creation of a city centre identity. Governance, integration, decision-making tools, sustainability and inclusion have been transversal drivers of our learning pathway. This quarterly report gives insight into the exchanges taking place on a local level and the best practices of each network partner. 

Delve into the learnings and exchanges of this quartier summarised below. 

Read the full report here: https://www.calameo.com/read/00597960952ac86ccde1f 

Diving into planning—the second Cities@Heart Quarterly Report

The second quarterly report of the Cities@Heart network covers significant progress and initiatives in revitalising city centres, focusing on a wide range of topics such as heritage, culture or technology. The report highlights the ongoing efforts and insights gained from collaborations aimed at fostering vibrant and sustainable city centres. Taking a pragmatic approach, the report presents practical strageties city stakeholders can impliment to improve the vitality of urban centres

Reviving the night: How city centres are transforming after dark

Strolling through a city centre's high street at night can be quite an unexpected experience. After dark, a variety of services and activities come to life, from waste collection to the delivery of goods to shops, utilising the quiet hours for retail preparations. Just a few blocks away, music spills out from bars, mingling with lively chatter from bustling terraces. However, several factors can impact the vibrancy of city centres at night. There is no doubt that city centres face the most significant challenges of the urban night-time economy.

From the contrast of differing functions to noise pollution to the promotion of cultural and business activities, city centres are a prime testing ground for solutions that can enhance their attractiveness at night for both residents and visitors. The implementation of a night strategy can increase the perception of safety, while promoting community spirit and sense of place among different categories of residents.   

From activation to planning : the Cities@Heart Quarterly Report

The quarterly report of the Cities@Heart network encapsulates significant progress and initiatives in revitalising city centres across urban landscapes in the network. The report highlights ongoing efforts and insights gained from collaborations aimed at fostering vibrant and sustainable urban hubs.

"All things, to all people, at all times", the Cities@Heart Baseline Study

Covering themes from nightlife to the circular economy, the 30 URBACT IV Action Planning Networks began their journey of integrated urban development in June 2023. This baseline study, conducted from September to December 2023 in ten different countries, compiles urban analyses and site-specific visits to create the project roadmap for the URBACT Cities@Heart network, aiming to generate actionable knowledge for revitalising city centres.

The purpose of this baseline study is to define the framework for learning, knowledge exchange, and capacity building over the project's two-and-a-half-year duration. It establishes a clear methodology for focusing, categorising, and sharing network learnings.