10%

Lviv: A city embraces innovation, even amidst war

January 18^th, 2023

The first time Maksym Terletsky came to Lviv, he was an elementary student in the nearby town of Khyriv.

"To be honest, it was far from love at first sight," recalls Maksym. "It was too noisy, crowded with people.”

Ten years later, he returned for university and formed a slightly different impression.

"It was still a noisy and lively city, but this time I noticed other things. Lviv is a very ambitious and vibrant city.”

Maksym, who works on Lviv's innovation and planning felt overwhelmed by the city during as a child, but upon his return as young man during his university years, he was taken by its vibrance and energy. UNDP Ukraine / Serhii Perepelytsia

It is hard not to notice Lviv's energy and charm, with its picturesque buildings and European feeling, blending and reflecting different cultures. The city is deeply rooted and bounded with traditions of western Ukraine, which is why it’s always had a vivid cultural scene.

But in the 2000s, as a smaller western city lacking the industrial base of Kyiv, Kharkiv or Odesa, Lviv struggled to develop its infrastructure, facing water shortages, power cuts and limited mobility. Economic growth was hindered by a lack of investment. A turning point was 2004, when many immigrants and expats returned to rebuild a new democratic Ukraine. Lviv also connected with Polish and German cities, which supported city renovation through various government-funded projects.

With a population of around 721,000 Lviv is the largest city in western Ukraine and the sixth largest in the country. Photo: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

Now, Lviv is hip and modern, well known for its vibrant city life, emerging local craft businesses, festivals and, most of all, its open-mindedness and craving for innovation. For the last decade, the compact city has attracted IT specialists from different parts of the country, opening start-up hubs, revitalizing abandoned areas and even was shortlisted for European Youth Capital last year.

Lviv: A city embraces innovation, even amidst war

"Indeed, Lviv tries to grasp best practices from European cities and transform them in the way most convenient for its residents," says Maksym.

With its efficient digitized transport system and numerous parks, the city and its planners are putting the well-being of its residents front and centre. Photo: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

These achievements are the outcome of moving mountains by local authorities and civic sector activists. Lviv became an innovation champion and strategic frontrunner in urban planning. By placing creativity at the core of the city’s development, the municipality team came up with the “2019-2027 breakthrough strategy”. In it, Lviv strives to be identified with notions of trust, respect, social cohesion and cooperation, piggybacking on the experience and best practices of Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cologne, Helsinki, Tallin and Vilnius.

Maksym is now an acting director with the City Institute, a strategic arm of the municipality and the one behind Lviv's innovations and planning scene. Over the last years, he has visited dozens of cities abroad to explore and compare urban challenges between those cities and his own.

Mobility and accessibility are key priorities for the Institute. Its key goal is to develop the city on a human scale, making it a comfortable place to live and work. By the end of 2021, the team had completed numerous projects, like making city streets inclusive for everyone and revitalizing the Pidzamche district –a previously abandoned area that now serves as a playground for kids and relaxation zone for residents. A former glass factory was transformed into the facilities of one of the most prominent breweries. Now, with a bakery and workshop spaces, it’s a true creative space known as !FESTrepublic.

The Institute’s team of 20 works on revising existing ideas and projects. Their progressive strategy was a main factor behind Lviv’s selection as part of the joint EU-UNDP Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Urban Imaginaries programme in December 2021. Their focus would be enhancing the work already happening around mobility and youth opportunities.

At the time, it seemed impossible to temper the spirit of a city with such ambition for positive development.

“Lviv has all the ingredients to become one of the most comfortable places to live, even despite the war,” says Olena, a resident.

With Lviv having been shortlisted for European Youth Capital in 2021, and its selection as part of the joint EU-UNDP Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Urban Imaginaries programme, the city seemed unstoppable. Photo: UNDP Ukraine / Serhii Perepelytsia

Then the war hit.

Frequent air raid sirens shattered Lviv’s calmness. Shops, galleries and some cafes closed their facilities and moved to safer places – basements – until the threat of cruise missiles vanishes, at least for the moment. The city and surrounding areas have been targeted by missiles at least 25 times.

The current state of Lviv hangs between the fragile feeling of safety and the resilience shown in the face of war. The city hosts around 125,000 internally displaced people and acts as a temporary landing place for those who flee or come back to the country, because of its infrastructure, public services and transport, and proximity to the border. The influx of people is a big challenge to the city’s infrastructure, but Lviv’s public services remain available, and even more services have emerged for the displaced.

Innovation is not something you can pause. The municipality keeps evolving and adapting, as before, but now with the new vision and strategy in mind.

“With the war, city planning and strategies have changed,” explains Maksym. “Thanks to the synergy within local authorities, the municipality was prepared to host internally displaced people and provide needed utilities and public services.”

In April and May, the city opened a few temporary shelters, and started working towards more durable solutions, such as modular shelters.

“We are from eastern Ukraine. Our home was destroyed, and we have no place to live now. Here we have at least some necessities and feel safe, although we need to think about how to live in the new reality and what to do next,” said Natalia.

As people fleeing violence sought refuge in Lviv, the municipality began looking at innovative ways to provide shelter. Photo: UNDP Ukraine / Serhii Perepelytsia

The City Institute had to put many of its regular projects on hold. Seventy percent of its work shifted to responding to war-affected populations and urgent needs. It transformed several local schools into additional temporary shelters, filling them with household items like washing machines, beds and mattresses. Many of these items were provided through M4EG, which pivoted to support these new realities.

“No matter when the war ends, we all will deal with its consequence for years,” admits Maksym. “We're embracing uncertainty, and simultaneously believe that the city should be innovative and ready for experiments as never before".

To stay resilient, 30 percent of their work remains strategic planning and work on their regular projects.

In early September, Maksym and the team renewed their Urban Imaginaries participation, now embarking on a new journey by exploring human-centred design.

“Now, with most projects back, we are shifting to the strategy of small steps. We don’t jump on big projects but tap into smaller activities. At this point, it is critical to understand where Lviv residents are and what they think, feel and believe.”

Even amidst war, Lviv remains lively. Maksym winds through its streets to his inspirational place near the city fountain.

“We have big expectations as the city seeks to be more agile and responsive to its residents, especially during the war,” says Maksym.

Photo: UNDP Ukraine / Serhii Perepelytsia

Once an innovative, resilient city, always an innovative resilient city.

Footnotes

Urban Imaginaries is part of the joint EU & UNDP Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Facility, an EU-funded initiative that promotes inclusive economic growth and innovation in the Eastern Partnership countries.