Development project for city districts along the Weisseritz river.
The "Development project for city districts along the Weisseritz river" is a programme for urban renewal and urban development, which intends to strengthen the conditions of development in the western part of Dresden. This programme contains an area of approximately 300 ha and is one of the largest of such areas of urban renewal. The "Development project Weisseritz" is necessary, because the present deplorable state of affairs, abuses and obstacles in the project area can't being changed and can't being remedied by common means and methods of urban renewal. The project uses given funding possibilities and development objectives.

· above-average high amount of urban brown fields and estates, which lying fallow (especially commercial areas)
· above-average high amount of empty residential areas and non-used commercial areas
· bad technical and social infrastructures (condition of roads, schools, nurseries …)
· concentration of deplorable state of affairs and abuses of urban development in some residential districts and a lot of neglected and "forgotten" urban spaces.

The flood of Weisseritz river in august 2002 strengthened the present obstacles and deficits of development. However at the same time the flood was the starting point of a changed awareness and perception of the Weisseritz river. In the summer months the river width is about 1 to 2 metres; the average stream flow is 4 m³/s. After the flood in August 2002 - with a maximum stream flow of 490 m³/s - the river leaved behind a "way of destruction", but also a changed consciousness regarding the forces of water as well as the chances and potentials of development of bank zones.
One of the most important objectives within the "Development project" is the linking of the revaluation of city districts in the neighbourhood of Weisseritz river with measures of flood protection and prevention. In this sense the prevention of flood damages is the reason, a need as well as a central objective of ecological reconstruction of sections of Weisseritz river.
First measures of reconstrution of river banks along the existing and the former river bed shall be planned and realized In the framework of partial project "green belt Weisseritz". During the duration of the "Development project Weisseritz" the reconstruction of river banks will be begun. The moment of conclusion of these measures is dependent from financial and technical conditions.
The improvement of surrounding of residential areas, a higher quality of urban space is not the only objective of the "Development project Weisseritz".

Funding/subsidies with an amount up to 22 Mio. € from the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) are available till the end of 2006 to realize the mentioned objectives. The City of Dresden participates in this financing volume with a quarter of this amount. The project is being steered by office for town planning of the City of Dresden.

· reconstruction of a historically precious observation tower above the Weisseritz river
· new building of a sports ground for a school
· new building of a nursery
· demolition of different buildings (municipial ownership) at a large urban brown field to prepare the development and use of this area
· giving support to investment projects of small- and middle-sized enterprises

· further planning of partial project "green belt Weisseritz"
· realization of first measures within the partial project "green belt Weisseritz"
· revival of a large, with toxic waste contaminated brown field
· revaluation and shaping of surrounding of new built railway-station
· new building of a nursery and a youth club.