Which of your public domains gets renewed in Budapest? – Part 2.

32 developmental projects are supported in Budapest, each district gets at least one, index.hu reports.

The general assembly of the capital voted about the results of TÉR_KÖZ competition of 2016, in which the districts of Budapest could apply for urban development actions. The aim of the competition was to establish new public domains, buildings that are open for everyone, and enhance public life. In the case of public domains, pedestrian, cyclist-friendly and smooth, barrier-free design has a vital role. 32 projects received support out of 42.

District XII

In connection to the alteration of Böszörményi street, the district plans to reneovate the front gardens, facades and portals on that certain stage. The first phase of the alteration renovated the parts in front of the city hall, now it would spread to the whole stage of Böszörményi street from Apor Vilmos square and Nagyenyed street.

The capital did not agree with them on the renewal of the facades, so they suggested 250 million for this project instead of the demanded 494 million.

District XIII

The district has been planning the revaluation of the area near Rákos-stream, between Béke street and Röppentyű street, and to give it public functions. Now they have received resources for it, 100 million forints.

The plans were already known from angyalzold.hu website, and, according to it, there will be a boardwalk, cycle path, runway, dog track, fitness and a new pedestrian bridge in the continuation of Hajdú street.

District XIV

The ambitious plan of the district is that they would like to establish a pleasant promenade, a linear park with social functions on the asymmetric part of Vezér street (between Fogarasi street and Szugló street) on the side used less frequently by cars. A part of it has already been finished, but on the side closer to Fogarasi street there are still (as the Hungarian saying goes) “Balkan-like conditions” with an unpaved road full of pits, without any pavement. The judges provided only a fragment of the demanded 417 million forints, exactly 100 million, so the landscaping will probably not be completed on the entire stage, but it can start something.

The other winning project of Zugló is the expansion of the sports ground on Mogyoródi street: the extension of the already improved district sport center with new fields, table tennis, and a new climbing wall is also among the plans. The provided sum is also smaller here than the demanded one (100 million instead of 185): the capital agreed with the sport functions’ installment, but did not with the establishment of a stage and picnic spots.

District XV

District XV focused on Rákos street in Rákospalota, both its suggestions are related to this public domain, but it received (partly) support for only one of them. From this sum, the development of the squares along Rákos street (the crossing of Népfelkelő, Bezerédj Pál and Dessewffy streets) would happen with the extension of the pedestrian areas, forestation – from 100 million forints of support instead of the demanded 250.

District XVI

The competition would expand the cycle track along the Szilas-stream – which gained great popularity in a short period of time – toward Náplás lake, with an inn at the lake, a new viewing platform, and a public garden would also be constructed, which the capital supports by HUF 180 million.

The intention is obviously commendable, as many people visit the greatest lake of Budapest even without a cycle path.

District XVII

One of District XVII’s projects practically serves as a twin project to District XVI’s one: it also aims for the availability of the Náplás lake by cycle along Náplás street, accompanied by a road traffic park and a street workout park near the Rákos stream. Though the judges were not thrilled by the idea (according to them, it misses the social function along with the traffic development), but they still provide 230 million forints for the project (even if the district actually asked for 317 million). The project is more valuable if it goes together with the neighboring district’s plans, because not only Náplás lake would be accessible from multiple directions, but the cycle paths along Szilas stream and Rákos stream (the latter is planned to be improved from union sources) could be connected.

Rákosmente’s other project received a little bit more than that – 260 million forints –, by which a new public house would be constructed on Rákoshegy, near the iconic water tower which would also go through some renovation. According to the plan, the neighboring Szent István park would also have been restored, and the establishment of some new parking lots were also planned, but these suggestions were not supported by the judges of the capital city.