/ The day after - reestablishing trust and urban renewal of Kiryat Shmona’s downtown, through a public participation planning process, involving stakeholders and residents
The town-center is the backbone of the local economy
A prospering and flourishing downtown:
-  Will lead to a collective success of small businesses
-  Will entice many clients of shops and entertainment to come
-  Will attract further businesses and private investment, which will strengthen Kiryat Shmona
-  Will be a catalyst for further urban renewal and development.
The Method: Charrette – public participation in planning process
The charrette combines creative, intense work sessions with public workshops, a collaborative planning process that harnesses the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a feasible plan that represents transformative community change.
The Partners: The Ministry of Housing, Koret Foundation, M.A.T.I - Business development center Kiryat Shmona, citizen organizations in K.S., the Galilee Development Authority, shop and office owners, K.S. residents, youth and students from Tel Hai College. The charrette will be led by an interdisciplinary professional team from MIU.
In order to build:
§  Shared Vision - Creating a vision in a collaborative decision will turn the opposition into support
§  Mutual Trust - between the resident, stakeholders and the authorities
§  Feasible Plan - creating wide support and producing a plan that will contribute to all
§  Holistic solution - rising from mutual agreement and leading to success and renewal
§  Initiating participation and responsibility sharing among community groups
Anticipated Outcomes:
§  Urban Renewal - strengthening and developing the social and economic forces of the city.
§  Empowering the community by providing residents and business owners with the opportunity to be involved in planning
§  Enticing private investments that will follow the public investments
§  Launching new developments in Kiryat Shmona.
Time Table and Budget:
First stage:
Charrette process: three months
Detailed planning for execution: four months
Second stage:
Reconstruction of the public space: eight months
Third stage:
Private Development Construction and Renovation
Project Budget (full budget attached):
Participatory planning process: (bulk from NGOs) $ 116,000
Detailed planning: (bulk from local and central Gov) $ 109,000
Construction Stage: (bulk from local and central Gov) $ 660,000
Private investment anticipated in the downtown $ 3,300,000 / The second Lebanon war occurred one year ago and found Kiryat Shmona once again in the center of an ongoing battle-taking place across the northern boarder of Israel. This situation is very familiar to the residents – moving to the bomb shelters and departing the city a few days later, in search for security.
MIU - The movement for Israeli urbanism volunteered to assist the city and during a tour with the town engineer in the disserted town, we asked ourselves:
§ What will bring back the local families this time, and the next time?
§ What will make citizens want to continue living in a distant and unpredictable place?
We believe that local financial prosperity and high quality of urban life are two of the foremost factors that generate a sense of local pride and belonging, and contribute to forming a sustainable continuity and motivation to return.
Meanwhile, a year has passed, and despite the national recuperation, the predicaments of economic development typical to northern Israel, have remained unresolved.
The Project : Urban Renewal in Kiryat-Shmona
MIU would like to offer a course of development and rehabilitation, which will build the local pride and trust by a public participation planning process- involving the residents and stake holders in K.S.
With the cooperation of the mayor, Mr. Haim Barbibai, and his professional team, we chose the long-standing downtown as a first change-generating project, which will lead to further urban renewal in Kiryat Shmona.
MIU- Movement for Israeli Urbanism
The members of MIU believe that transforming the cities of Israel into a quality urban environment is essential for creating a successful and sustainable community in our country.
We founded MIU in order to create a change in the Israeli urban quality of life by use of :
§  Humane planning that prevents deterioration and atrophy in the cities
§  Promoting sustainable, opportunity-providing, local development
§  Advancing democratic planning processes
MIU is a part of a community of organizations that advance environmental quality in Israel; yet, MIU is the only organization that focuses on changing the quality of the urban built environment.
We urge you to take part in the process, to join us in the fascinating journey which will lead to participation of the residents and stake holders, social organizations, foundations, economic and civilian groups and professionals in Kiryat Shmona