- Increasing Integration in Cities by tweaking institutional Arrangements    235 kb by    Landeiro, Clara & Morais de Sá, Ana & Trigueiros, Tiago | clandeiro@civil.ist.utl.pt    Short Outline Are current institutional models effective in enhancing urban integration forces? A review of Portuguese waterfront regeneration efforts is made and guidelines for new institutional arrangements proposed in line with urban sustainability principles. Abstract The paper examines the question of whether sustainable planning can act as a catalyst of urban change, transforming derelict waterfront areas into places of social, institutional and spatial integration. It is contended that these local regeneration initiatives can help create the momentum for replicating new institutional arrangements that can act as integrative forces operating throughout the city. Urban regeneration efforts in waterfront areas place particular problems to the different urban agents that want to intervene to make their cities 'better'. These areas are typically urban spaces where a multitude of agencies with different jurisdictions coexist, and where conflicting regulatory powers and ill-defined responsibilities often block waterfront urban regeneration efforts. On the other hand, they present unique opportunities due to their intrinsic value (environmental and landscape values, creation of a sense of identity, providing for restorative environments) and to their potential regarding conversion of obsolete uses. The paper identifies legal and institutional barriers to waterfront regeneration efforts in Portugal and assesses the performance of the different stakeholders against the principles of sustainable development. A brief review of different institutional models that have recently been proposed in Portugal is undertaken. A waterfront development case within the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon is presented to show the inability or inexperience of institutions in working together with different partners, or otherwise devise mechanisms that can bring together the different stakeholders. It is argued that this is one of the major blocks to waterfront planning initiatives. An alternative institutional model that could enable effective multi stakeholder urban strategies is proposed addressing major barriers identified in waterfront development in Portugal and aiming at promoting processes that will act as integration forces within the city as a whole. Keywords Urban regeneration, Institutional models, Waterfront areas, Stakeholder involvement, Sustainability Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2006: Cities between Integration and Disintegration   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper